In the midst of life’s demands and constant hustle we’re pulled into, it’s easy to overlook the most important relationship we have – the one with ourselves. Nurturing self-love is a necessity for overall well-being which is why building some self-love habits or getting into a habit of self-love, even though you haven’t had a chance for it before, is the best choice you can make.
Self-Love Habits: 9 Ordinary Actions For Overflowing Self-Love
So this post is an exploration of essential habits that pave the way for a profound connection with oneself.
Let’s delve into the transformative power of activities and actions that cultivate and reinforce self-love to become a habit.
Note: Although I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), engaging with this website does not establish a professional social worker-client relationship. The information provided here is for general purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. While we strive to ensure accuracy and reliability, this content is not a substitute for professional guidance. For specific concerns, issues, or situations, it is essential to consult a qualified professional and present your situation. Read the full Disclaimer here.
SELF-LOVE HABITS
1. AlLOW YOURSELF REGULAR SELF-CARE
Taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being is paramount, but many of us have difficulty providing that for ourselves.
This is a habit that we have adopted since we were young, so it’ll take some time to shift things around and learn to truly be there for ourselves by meeting our needs and finding healthy and sustainable ways to feel good and not just experience a plain pleasure on occasion that’s devoid of any purpose or intention.
It’s often used just for getting a little more relaxed, but it doesn’t create a solid foundation and habits that can propel us forward in life or create a rhythm of real self-care and self-love.
So begin allocating time for activities that bring you peace, calmness, joy, fulfilment, and relaxation. Activity itself and its form aren’t important. It’s what’s right for you.
Whether it’s a warm bath, a walk in nature, or simply reading a book, taking a personal development program, or talking to the people you care about, these moments contribute to your overall well-being and stability.
However, you should focus on expanding your consciousness, healing and nurturing the body, feeding the soul, and self-exploration and self-discovery to get to know yourself better, as this journey of knowing oneself will never end.
This is important as you don’t want to make a mistake and focus only on pleasure, especially the one with a short-term effect that doesn’t have the capacity to bring transformation to your life and help you evolve to overcome yourself or your circumstances.
Check out these helpful resources:
Paid link: The 5-Minute Self-Care Journal for Women: Prompts, Practices, and Affirmations to Prioritize You
This journal offers quick and easy self-care practices to meet your needs amidst a busy life.
It stands out with 150 uplifting prompts promoting growth mindset, mindfulness, and positive intentions.
Spend just 5 minutes on self-love with its effortless questions, affirmations, and actions.
Plus, its user-friendly design makes reflection recording enjoyable.
Paid link: Self-Love Journal for Teen Girls: Prompts and Practices to Inspire Confidence and Celebrate You
If you’re a teen (or get this for your teen if you’re a parent) start the new year by encouraging yourself to embrace self-love and confidence.
The Self-Love Journal for Teen Girls offers affirmations, reflective prompts, and creative activities that can help you understand your emotions and celebrate your uniqueness.
With uplifting quotes and practical exercises, it’s a powerful tool for fostering self-awareness, self-worth, and self-care.
Paid link: A Year of Self-Care: Daily Practices and Inspiration for Caring for Yourself (A Year of Daily Reflections)
This is a 12-week anxiety and self care journal that will help you process what’s occupying your mind and gently re-frame your thoughts, so you can manage your worries before they get to spiral out of control. This could potentially help if you’re feeling anxious even to start self-exploration.
It was designed to meet you where you are and guide you to developing a practice of dedicating a few minutes a day to reflect on your thoughts, detect the sources of your anxiety, and prioritize your overall wellness and mental health. This is dedicating a few minutes to yourself you really need.
It has:
- Daily Journaling Pages
- Self-Care Ideas
- Therapy Reflections
- Emotional Support Cheat Sheet
- Fear-Setting Exercises
- Habit Trackers
- Monthly Progress
Paid link: SELF-CARE ACTIVITIES FOR WOMEN: 101 PRACTICAL WAYS TO SLOW DOWN AND RECONNECT WITH YOURSELF
Prioritizing well-being is crucial, especially for women who often/usually prioritize others.
“Self-Care Activities for Women” offers a variety of ways to relax and find joy, covering emotional, mental, physical, social, and professional care.
With 101 simple activities, from creating a joy playlist to cooking a healthy meal, this book encourages making time for ourselves and cultivating a habit of self-check-ins.
Paid link: Self-Love Workbook for Women: Release Self-Doubt, Build Self-Compassion, and Embrace Who You Are (Self-Love Workbook and Journal)
Embrace who you are with this guided self-love book for women of any age and any background. You’ll embark on your journey of self-discovery by learning what self-love is, and then immersing yourself in exercises to help you build your self-esteem and improve or elevate your relationships.
This very successful self-Love workbook created by a fellow Megan Logan, LCSW is designed with a clear intention to empower women on their journey of self-discovery and self-love. So if you like my approach to self-love you’ll probably like this. Because as you’ll see that I always emphasize that to increase self-love we need some practice and endurance and to show consistency.
The self-love workbooks typically include exercises, prompts, and activities that encourage self-reflection, self-compassion, and self-care, in addition to practical tools and strategies for setting boundaries, managing stress and anxiety, and cultivating healthier habits.
By getting a self-love workbook, you’re benefiting from a valuable resource that can empower you to take control of your mental and emotional health, develop a more positive and compassionate relationship with yourself, and in the end, improve your overall well-being.
I’ve collected a few helpful Self-Love Workbooks in my post: The Best Self-Love Workbooks To Help You Finally Break Free From Self-judgement Through Self-Compassion And Self-Acceptance.
You may want to also check out alternatively (or combine the 2 workbooks):
Paid link: Self-Love Workbook for Black Women: Empowering Exercises to Build Self-Compassion and Nurture Your True Self (Self-Love Workbook and Journal)
As an African American woman, juggling many roles can leave little time for self-care. With this in mind, here’s an empowering self-love and self-care workbook designed to help you prioritize your joy, healing, and growth, with affirmations and exercises that nurture your authentic self.
Embrace self-love, build inner peace, and cultivate confidence while exploring themes of self-compassion and community.
Paid link: SELF-LOVE JOURNAL FOR WOMEN: Prompts and Practices for Your Journey to Self-Worth, Self-Care, and Self-Acceptance (Workbook and Journal)
Self-love journals often include prompts for self-care activities and practices. By prioritizing self-care and making it a regular part of your routine, you can nurture your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
This Self-Love journal includes prompts and practices for taking a path of self-worth, self-care, and self-acceptance.
Women everywhere encounter unrealistic societal expectations that lead to feelings of overwhelm and discontent with themselves. However, discovering the path to self-love and embracing our uniqueness can significantly alter our perspective on life, and this guided journal is designed for just that.
RELATED:
- THE BEST 11 SELF-LOVE JOURNALS FOR BREAKING FREE FROM ALL UNNECESSARY RESTRICTIONS FINALLY
- THE BEST BOOKS FOR SELF-LOVE AND HEALING (18) FOR UNLEASHING SELF-LOVE
- IS SELF-LOVE THE BEST LOVE YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELF? (+46 REASONS WHY)
- SELF-LOVE THINGS TO BUY FOR ADULTS ONLINE (13) TO ELEVATE LOVE FOR YOURSELF
- SELF-LOVE MEANING: MISCONCEPTIONS SHATTERED
- 100 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT YOURSELF ALWAYS
- WHY SHOULD YOU START LOVING YOURSELF? (5 MAJOR MOTIVES)
- 7 IDEAS FOR SELF-LOVE GROWTH THAT IS EXPONENTIAL
- HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOU’VE STARTED LOVING YOURSELF (5 SIGNS TO LOOK FOR)
- WHY IS SELF-LOVE IMPORTANT IN A RELATIONSHIP? (7 OBVIOUS REASONS)
2. FOCUS ON SETTING BOUNDARIES FOR YOURSELF
Learn to say ‘no’ when necessary and establish boundaries that protect your time and energy. This isn’t about other people; it’s about you.
You have to get real with yourself first, and then think about others and your interactions or relationships with them.
I’m talking about knowing when to do or not do certain things, managing your time versus spreading yourself too thin, learning what works for you and what doesn’t, having balanced discipline, staying consistent and in alignment with your values, intentions, and decisions, and so on.
Once you focus on this, it’ll be easier for you to communicate your needs and wants to others, as well as to remain consistent.
Also recognize that it’s okay to prioritize your needs, meaning that being there for others should come at the cost of overextending yourself, exhaustion, or ignoring your own life.
Remember that setting healthy boundaries is a powerful act of self-respect while at the same time being fair to others, as they have the right to know where they stand with you.
3 Biggest Mistakes With Self-acceptance
3. INCORPORATE MINDFUL REFLECTION IN YOUR LIFE
Spend time reflecting on your thoughts and emotions and being more aware of your internal dialogue. This allows you to identify the patterns that don’t serve you and replace them with those that do.
Staring at the internal dialogue or how you talk to yourself is crucial because if it’s focused on shaming yourself, being too hard on yourself, or punishing yourself, then you’ll be setting yourself up for failure as you won’t be able to do things in life that bring you what you really need and want.
This is because you won’t be able to allow yourself to try different things, make mistakes, fail, and be anything less than “perfect.”
It’s important to make paying attention to your thoughts and self-talk a habit, considering that creating more awareness around this will help you not only care for yourself better but also meet your goals.
That’s because you’ll adjust the criteria for success and balance out the urge for winning/succeeding or doing things “right” by allowing yourself to learn and adapt along the way while going for what you want.
You’ll probably find useful:
- WORDS MATTER: 69 THINGS TO SAY TO YOURSELF FOR SELF-LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
- 64 POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS FOR SELF-LOVE AND SELF-COMPASSION
- 68 SHORT AFFIRMATIONS FOR SELF-LOVE TO SUPERCHARGE YOUR SELF-LOVE JOURNEY
- 52 INSPIRING SELF-LOVE AND SELF-CARE QUOTES TO TRANSFORM YOUR MINDSET
- 47 SELF-LOVE AND EMPOWERMENT QUOTES FOR DISCOVERING THE POWER OF SELF-LOVE
4. BE IN YOUR BODY AND NOURISH IT
When there’s a challenge with self-love, you may be “living” outside of your body due to being too intuned with others (meeting their needs and expectations), or you may be devoid of contact with your emotions that live in the body (by not even knowing they exist or not distinguishing them by type or quality).
And here, meditation or mindfulness exercises can come in quite handy to center and ground you.
By focusing on yourself, you can have better interactions and create better relationships with others, considering that you know more about where you end and others start, and vice versa.
At the same time, you need to pay attention to what you consume (not just food but also information, content, treatment, and care), ensuring it contributes to your overall health and not the opposite.
This should be consciously chosen, not just going with the flow of what you’ve adopted so far if it doesn’t serve your best interest, as it’s even poisonous for your body.
A well-nourished body positively impacts your mood, energy levels, and self-esteem.
So engage in activities that promote a healthy body and a strong mind-body connection. Whether it’s yoga, meditation, or regular exercise, these practices enhance your physical and mental well-being.
The connection between your body and mind is integral to self-love, especially because once you get your body to “obey” your mind, you’ll get a chance to make the best decision for yourself.
6. TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE YOURSELF AND TO ASK WHAT YOU TRULY DESIRE
Acknowledge and celebrate your unique traits and characteristics (including imperfections and flaws) as well as your accomplishments so far, both big and small, because by recognizing your successes, you reinforce a more positive self-image (or a more realistic one) and build self-esteem and confidence.
Don’t just wait for others, but be your own cheerleader, cheering on your journey of growth and self-discovery.
This is crucial, as we all need to move past rigid social expectations, norms, and conventions if we want to live authentically. We cannot expect anyone to understand and support us.
That is not their business, nor is it yours, as getting approval from a whole bunch of people isn’t what you need; it’s just a mere perception.
Now, this doesn’t mean going towards separating yourself from your important social circles, unless they’re jeopardizing your well-being and sabotaging your progress.
However, it may require you to take a leap of faith and go for what you really want, even if not a single person supports this, because sometimes (or oftentimes) no one but you can know what’s best for you.
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7. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE INFLUENCES AND EXAMPLES
Evaluate the relationships in your life and prioritize those that uplift and support you.
This doesn’t mean getting rid of people who have challenges in their lives.
It’s about assessing what it is that each relationship brings into your life, how it changes you, where it can go, and so on.
Distance yourself from “bad” influences and surround yourself with people who encourage your personal development and know the value of collaboration versus those who just declare this, but in reality all they want is to compete and grab for themselves.
A positive social circle contributes significantly to your overall well-being, as you’ll be more likely to:
- match their aspirations,
- set bigger goals,
- expand beyond the known, and feel the support you need to overcome temporary challenges standing in the way of what you really want in life.
3 Biggest Mistakes With Self-acceptance
8. DECIDE ON CONTINUOUS LEARNING
Embrace a mindset of continuous learning and growth, considering that your personal expansion and transformation will never stop.
This doesn’t mean you should never be satisfied with yourself and your accomplishments, or that you shouldn’t reap rewards and enjoy everything you’ve achieved.
It doesn’t matter if it’s learning more about who you truly are, acquiring new skills, exploring new hobbies, or expanding your knowledge; the pursuit of personal development shouldn’t stop and will reinforce a sense of accomplishment and self-worth.
This way, you create a habit that strengthens self-love through self-exploration, self-acceptance, and self-reliance.
Also, self-love is rooted in authenticity, which means that the more you get to know yourself and upgrade accordingly by discovering what makes you tick, the more you’ll accept and love yourself for who you are. And this is done by opting in for continuous learning.
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9. PRACTICE TRUE SELF-COMPASSION AT ALL TIMES
Self-compassion isn’t about excuses and avoidance; it’s about understanding and holding space for yourself.
And also about pushing yourself to be better, not accepting just what you’re being offered but asking for more of what’s really good for you, and not settling for less than you know you deserve.
It’s of utmost importance to be kind to yourself, especially in moments of difficulty or “failure,” as you won’t be able to move past these challenges and create something better for yourself in the future if you were to keep yourself in the loop of harsh self-criticism, self-talk, and judgement.
It’s okay to treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding that you would offer to others facing challenges.
This is because self-compassion is in a way a cornerstone of self-love, considering that only when you can be there for yourself when times are tough and things don’t go as planned can you truly accept and love yourself.
MORE SELF-LOVE RESOURCES
Self-love resources are tools, materials, or support systems designed to help you develop a positive relationship with yourself by learning about yourself and knowing yourself better, enhancing self-esteem, and cultivating a sense of self-worth.
I have several blog posts that feature different self-love resources that you can check out:
- THE BEST BOOKS FOR SELF-LOVE AND HEALING (19) FOR UNLEASHING SELF-LOVE
- THE BEST 14 SELF-LOVE JOURNALS TO BREAK FREE FROM UNNECESSARY RESTRICTIONS
- THE BEST 12 SELF-LOVE WORKBOOKS FOR BREAKING FREE FROM SELF-JUDGEMENT THROUGH SELF-COMPASSION AND SELF-ACCEPTANCE
- 7 SELF-LOVE JOURNALS FOR WOMEN (TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE THROUGH EMPOWERMENT)
- 11 SELF-LOVE POETRY BOOKS: LOVE, LINE BY LINE THROUGH POETIC PROSE
- 9 SELF-LOVE GAMES FOR ADULTS TO TRY AND POWER-UP YOUR WELL-BEING
- THE BEST SELF-ESTEEM JOURNALS AND WORKBOOKS FOR ADULTS (7) TO TRANSFORM SELF-PERCEPTION
- SELF-LOVE THINGS TO BUY FOR ADULTS ONLINE (13) TO ELEVATE LOVE FOR YOURSELF
- GOOD SELF-LOVE GIFTS: 12 GIFT IDEAS FOR SOUL NOURISHING
- THE BEST 8 SELF-LOVE GIFTS FOR FRIENDS HAVING A HARD TIME WITH IT (OR YOU)
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FINAL THOUGHTS ON SELF-LOVE HABITS
Incorporating these self-love habits into your life is a transformative journey towards a more fulfilling and positive existence.
Additionally, by building the habit of loving yourself you’re not just nurturing yourself but creating a ripple effect that touches every aspect of your life.
Finally, self-love is not about perfection; it’s about acceptance, growth, and embracing your uniqueness, which means that you should clebrate the progress you make, acknowledge the strength within you, and be gentle with yourself on this transformative path.
I’ll see you in my next post! Here’s one:
3 Biggest Mistakes With Self-acceptance
