“When you give joy to others, you get more joy in return. It would be best if you gave a good thought to happiness that you can give out.”— Eleanor Roosevelt.
Often, we are caught in the web of life. Things happen. And we choose to put ourselves on the back burner. It happens to the best of us in the roles we choose. But choosing to spend time with
ourselves is as important as everything else. As I got caught up in the rut of work and the roles of
parenting my twin boys, I realized that at some point in time, I was choosing to ignore my needs
and things that mattered to me. And one fine day, I decided to set boundaries and give time to
myself. The changes were, of course, not visible overnight.
10 habits for self-love
Self-love isn’t hard to follow; all you need is practice. Here are 10 habits for self-love that you can start following today.
Start your day with a smile
There is so much that you can your day when you just smile. Smiling is known to release dopamine which is a mood booster. The next time you find ourself feeling low, crack a smile and see what happens. Better still, look at the mirror once a day, smile at yourself, and give yourself a high five for how long you’ve come, as Mel Robbins, an inspirational author, suggests.
Sleep for at least 7 hours
A foggy mind or an inability to focus throughout the day is an indicator that your body needs some rest. An adult needs at least 7 hours of sleep to be able to function well through the day. Unwind before you sleep. Whether it is indulging in aromatherapy, a quick foot massage that relaxes all your nerves, or just listening to calming music. If insomnia is your best pal, try maintaining a sleep diary that helps you log in to how many hours of sleep you have clocked in. Have a warm water bath to relax your tired muscles so that you can sleep well.
Move your body
Exercising daily is known to give your body a good feeling. If you are not a gym person, go for a walk or just do some light exercises that can help you get tired enough to get some sleep. In addition, it helps you to feel fitter and better. There is so much that you can do.
Start your day with 5 minutes of stretching. Take a walk after dinner or just practice some yoga asana. Research opines that regular exercise can help reduce stress and anxiety and lower the symptoms of depression while boosting self-esteem and happiness.
Practice Gratitude
What you accept comes back to you in multiple folds. That breath you took means you are alive. The beauty that you see around you is a gift of nature that not everyone can see. Be thankful for it. Maintain a gratitude journal and list three things at least in it every single day that you are grateful for and watch your life change. We often don’t acknowledge what we are grateful for, and when we do, we realize that we can focus more on the positives in life than the negatives.
Focus on that breath
Feel that anxiety seated on your shoulders in the middle of the day. Breathe it out. Set everything aside, find your calm place, sit down for a few minutes with your eyes closed, and focus on your breathing. Inhale to the count of 5 and exhale to the count of 5. Do this for a few minutes and watch how your body responds. If meditation helps, try it because it promotes calm and well-being.
Stop comparing
Everyone has their own battles. Stop comparing yourself to everyone, and that is half the battle won. Comparison often leads to more discontent, a feeling of lower self-esteem, and even depression and anxiety. It takes practice to stop comparing yourself to others, but to your benefit, it includes having inner peace and happiness.
Do a digital detox
Mindless scrolling can numb you out. Plus, there is so much information out there on social media that can completely overwhelm you. Switch off your phone for at least a few hours. to start with. And increase the time as you progress. Take a week off social media if needed. It can help you feel rejuvenated and relaxed. Be completely offline, and make sure that your friends and family know that you are on a digital detox so that they can help you in that journey of inviting calm and peace into your life.
Declutter
A cluttered space is often a negative space. If you cannot declutter daily, keep it a weekend task. Simple. Set a timer for 30 minutes and start with one room. It could be your closet or any other room. Keep a box that you can dunk in all things that you don’t need anymore. Put everything in its place and toss or give away any extra clutter that’s not serving you anymore. My rule of decluttering is simple, and if I have not used it for 3 months, it means I don’t need it anymore.
Plan your week
Do you often feel that you are doing everything, but when you look back at the end of the day, you realize that you have accomplished nothing at all? Happens to the best of us.
Start on a Monday, or keep aside a Sunday evening for this. Start by making a basic list for the
following week. It is okay not to stick to the plan at the start. Just block out time when you know
your primary focus will be work and nothing else.
Meet up with friends and family
Our calendars are often filled with calls, to-do lists, and work-related things throughout the week. This gives no room and space for your loved ones. Catching up with family and friends can be therapeutic and make you realize how much you are loved. I recall an instance when I was in a job that demanded more than 18 hours of my time every single day with no weekends off! I quit it only to replace my calendar with impromptu lunch dates, coffee meets, and movies. It was healing. And if you like to be on your own ( I do, too sometimes!), head out for a coffee or lunch alone.
In addition to these techniques that promote self-love, it is equally important to have self-care
rituals in place. Whether it is indulging in a relaxing body massage once a week or fortnightly
or just catching up on reading or unwinding with your favorite hobby or music. It’s easy to
neglect self-care in a fast-paced world. Whatever rocks your boat to unwind, ensure that you
make time for it. Add it to your to-list and make it a priority to do it. Once in three months, re-evaluate your goals, as they give you a sense of accomplishment. What are your habits for self-love?
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