Today is Valentine’s Day, the day of love where many of us celebrate our love for others and shower them in cards, flowers and gifts with the aim of showing them just how much we care, value them and of course love them. And it feels great being on the receiving end of those gestures doesn’t it! I know I like it.
But I wonder how many of you take time to take care of yourselves and practice the very important act of ‘self-love’. Do you?
Are you aware of how you treat yourself on a day-to-day basis and would you treat your loved ones in the same way?
You’ve no doubt heard the expression… if you want someone to love you then you need to love yourself first. And I’m sure that’s true. But loving yourself isn’t just important for attracting a partner. Acts of self-compassion, kindness and taking care of yourself are all vitally important if you wish to have a happy and healthy life, both physically and emotionally.
So, with this is mind, here’s 5 ways to help take care of the well-being of yours truly:
1. BE KIND TO YOURSELF
Have you ever paid attention to your internal dialogue – the way you speak to yourself.
Do you say things like?…
I hate my body
I’m so silly
I look old and tired
I’m a failure
I can’t do anything right
If I could just change this or that about my face, then I’d be happy.
Would you speak to a friend like that?
Do you hear yourself saying things like?…
They don’t like me
I won’t get the job
I’m sure they think I’m not any good at this.
If they knew me, they wouldn’t like me.
Ask yourself – is it true? Do you have evidence of that, or is it just idle chatter?
When you observe your internal chatter and catch yourself speaking in a negative manner, try to intercept it and tell yourself something positive instead.
Also, consider any times you may speak or think negatively about others.
You can’t change anyone else and there is no point blaming them for your current circumstances – no one else is responsible for your happiness.
Blame, resentment and animosity only fester and create tension within in us.
Remember, no-one is coming to save you at the end of the day. That’s for Disney Movies. It’s down to us to be accountable for our own actions.
We are responsible for our personal health and wellness.
Please don’t think I’m being all negative…that’s not to say that as human beings we can’t help each other. Of course we can, and we should. But if you’re expecting someone else to make you happy, you’re going to be waiting a hell of a long time.
The only thing you can change is YOU!
Help yourself to help others.
Love yourself and others will love you too.
2. SET BOUNDARIES
Are people taking advantage of your kindness or generosity?
Do you feel as though your relationships are a little one-sided and that you’re always the one doing the giving, making plans or reaching out?
Are you always the first person to pick up the phone?
Do you walk away from spending time with certain people feeling drained and exhausted?
If so, perhaps try setting some boundaries… say “no” if you really feel you don’t want to do something, and don’t over commit
If you have a tendency to be over-generous and it’s getting you into financial difficulty, stop spending money on others if you can’t afford to.
3. ALLOCATE SOME ‘ME TIME’ EACH DAY
Set a little bit of time aside each day to restore, replenish and just be you.
We are human beings, not human doings after all, so just BE.
You don’t have to meditate as such, you could:
Sit in silence
Gaze into the garden
Lie down and listen to an audiobook
Have a hot bath with candles, Epsom salts or essential oils
Massage yourself with a soothing body oil.
4. GET MOVING
Exercise is good for your body and your mind. We all know the saying… ”Healthy body, healthy mind”. That’s because exercise:
Helps to reduce stress
Releases feel good hormones
Positively influences blood sugar balance which is beneficial for:
Weight management
Hormone balance
Energy Levels
Mood
You don’t have to become a triathlete. You could:
Take a brisk walk in the park with a friend or alone
Try a yoga class, boot camp, tennis, swimming, weight training, jogging or anything active really.
Whatever you enjoy doing. If you enjoy something you are far more likely to stick to it.
My advice is not to over commit yourself which is likely to set yourself up to fail.
Instead start small, then build on your success as you get stronger
5. Finally, of course my favourite subject…NOURISHMENT
Are your current eating & drinking habits serving you?
Do you have boundless energy?
Do you eat “real” food?
Do you hydrate yourself adequately?
OR
Do you feel tired, have low mood or anxiety, rely on sugar and stimulants to get you through the day?
Do you consume high amounts of processed, ready meals or takeaways?
Do you drink too much alcohol, feel rubbish afterwards, end up craving carbs for days after and then do the same thing the next week?
Do you want to change your daily habits, develop a kinder way to nourish yourself and nurture your long-term health and sense of well-being?
If so, click the link and treat yourself to a free 30-minute health evaluation so you can begin your journey today.
