Love is in the air in February especially with Valentine’s Day this month. Do you treat yourself to something special on that holiday? It’s time to make yourself as a top priority and practice self-love.  Loving yourself is the most important love because it’s the only true lifelong relationship. You are deserving and worthy of being loved just as you are; you are more than enough. Self-love is showing the same respect and consideration to yourself as you do to others. One way to show yourself some love is to practice self-care. By practicing self-care, you give yourself a chance to step away and breath to avoid burnout. It’s not just physical energy and stamina but focus and mental acuity that are threatened by doing too much for too long. Being too busy for important things like exercising, socializing, and relaxing will take its toll. Self-care helps you recharge, manage life’s challenges, and hit the reset button — which boosts your mental and physical health. Self-care comes in many different forms practices and is up to the individual to select what works for them. Some relax with mani-pedis, massages and scented candles. Others choose working out, enjoying hobbies, seeing loved ones, talking to a counselor, practicing yoga, taking art classes, spending time with animals, taking a nap, enjoying a meal, or even just being outside. Finding the right self-care is something that everyone deserves. Remind yourself that self-care isn’t a selfish or indulgent act; rather it’s essential to nurture and sustain better physical and mental well-being

10 Self Love Strategies that Pay Off

Put Yourself First When you put yourself first, you are better equipped to care for others. Women are accustomed to putting others first but making this a habit takes a toll on your mental and emotional well-being. Take time to decompress and recharge by spending the day just relaxing or doing what brings you joy and fulfillment. Free Yourself from Comparisons We’re naturally competitive, but comparing ourselves to others can be counterproductive. You are an original, so comparing yourself to others is pointless. Focus on yourself and your journey, and the shift of energy will be freeing! Embrace and love the things that make you different and special. Free Yourself from Others’ Opinions Don’t worry about what society thinks or expects of you because you can’t make everyone happy.  Anxiety is a waste of time that will only slow you down on your journey to being the best you. Be Kind to Yourself There are plenty of harsh words in the world without adding yours to the mix. Stop the negative self-talk immediately and speak kindly to yourself! You’ve grown so much, have become stronger from each new challenge, and learned from those disappointments. You’ve come so far, so celebrate yourself often, not only on your birthday! Forgive Yourself It’s time to let go of the things that you did that made you feel bad, embarrassed, and ashamed.  Learn from past experiences and believe in your ability to change. You can’t change the things you did in the past, but you can control your future. Build a Supportive Community Realize that you can’t do everything yourself. You need the support and love from people who radiate positive energy to stay motivated and on track. It’s important to surround yourself with a community you value whether you’re building a network or planning a fun event. Conquer Closet Chaos Tidying up is therapeutic since purging old things will make room for new ones to come into your life.  Letting go of clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc., that remind you of an unpleasant time and create negative vibrations is a wonderful way to liberate your mind!  Love yourself enough to realize the best is yet to come. Do What You Love Doing what you’re good at is the ultimate self-esteem booster which goes hand in hand with self-love! Participating in a hobby, you’re good at will boost your endorphins and showcase the best version of you. If you love to cook, then cook! If you love to run, then grab those sneakers, and run. If you love to garden, then go dig in the dirt and plant! Discover Your Happy Place Think of a place, real or imaginary, where you are content to just be and visualize it: the colors, sounds, smells, tastes.  Sit there quietly, embrace the here and now, and allow your mind to destress, so you see things from different perspectives to make sound decisions. The best thing ever is you can access your happy place from anywhere! Your happy place is safe, secure, and problem-free, where your mind is calm and embraces positive feelings. Be Realistic and Patient No person in the world is happy every single moment of every single day. Allow yourself to be human. It’s OK to make mistakes and feel emotions, good and bad. Self-love is ever-evolving, needs to be practiced daily, and can take a lifetime to master. Remember to be kind and support yourself through difficult times. You have this! How do you incorporate self-care into your busy life?  What are your favorite ways to practice self-care? Do you have any practices that don’t cost any money? What are the benefits you get from taking care of yourself?