Finding resources to help you learn to love yourself and recognize your worth is pretty easy. There are plenty of books, TV shows, blogs, and accompanying products to help you transform the way you think about and see yourself—but sometimes the actual process can seem daunting and fruitless.
You can’t expect to read a self-help book and wake up the next morning to discover all your insecurities have vanished. It’s important to be realistic about your journey and patient with yourself as you begin to try to shift to a more positive mindset.
Breaking down the life-long process of learning and continuing to love yourself into smaller, more manageable steps, might give you the kick-start you need to begin your journey. Try to incorporate these five simple habits into your regular routine to encourage self-love and embrace the positivity waiting in the world around you!
Positive Affirmations
You may feel a little foolish at first, but using positive affirmations is an effective way to weave positivity and self-confidence seamlessly into your daily life, and soon your default way of thinking. It’s easy to look in the mirror and tell yourself you aren’t good enough; it’s harder to stand in front of it and acknowledge everything you have to offer the world.
Say the affirmations out loud every morning, or if you’re too self-conscious try writing them down. Come up with new ones every day or week or put a few of your favorites on post-it notes and stick them on your bathroom mirror. Read them before you go to bed each night or post them on social media and share your progress with loved ones.
Buy a small notebook and throw them in your purse—or even tattoo them on your body if that’s your thing—and carry them with you wherever you go! A little daily positivity can make a lot of difference in the long run.
Get Moving
All of the great things you hear about exercise aren’t just part of an elaborate hoax to get you to pay for a gym membership—they’re really true! Establish a daily workout or weekly exercise routine and reap the benefits. Physical activity helps you look good by keeping you in shape, and feel good, with the rush of endorphins that floods through you after you’re done.
If the gym isn’t really your thing or it’s hard to find the time, go for a walk before you make dinner to breathe in some fresh air and stay active! Do little things throughout the day to integrate movement into your routine. Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work or spend an hour cleaning your house—we all know how much running around that involves.
Cultivate your body and mind at the same time with yoga or active meditation. There are a lot of ways to sneak a little extra motion into your daily schedule; accomplishing any of them is a reason to be proud of yourself.
Limit Screen Time
We bet you’ve heard this one before. Constantly staring at your phone or laptop, and checking social media can have a negative impact on your mental health as well as your eyesight! Social media can be fun, but too much of it is just going to compel you to compare yourself and your life to others.
Don’t fall into the trap of believing everyone you follow lives a glamorous, carefree lifestyle that you can only dream of—you’re only seeing what people want you to see. Make an effort to put your phone down an hour before bed, or only let yourself check Instagram twice a day.
Limited screen time will encourage you to do other things you love to enhance your life, live in the moment, and appreciate something you might not otherwise see—what’s directly in front of you.
Eat Healthy
This one is pretty simple—eat good to feel good!
Healthy food will nourish both your body and your mind in significant and unexpected ways. Choose nutritious meals and snacks to fuel your body, instead of relying on cheeseburgers and ice cream to take your stress away. Greasy, salty, decadent food may be satisfying occasionally, but are you really going to be able to love yourself if you’re constantly feeling bloated and full of fast food? Probably not.
Let’s be clear, this isn’t about the number on the scale. Any weight that is healthy for your body type and makes you feel beautiful is where you should be! It’s about being mindful. Set small goals like limiting your carb intake, cutting out soda, or aiming for two veggie servings throughout the day. Don’t obsess over what you eat, because that isn’t healthy either; just focus on choosing your food with care.
Don’t forget to treat yourself every once in a while though. You’ll probably find that when you eat healthy, you’ll appreciate it more when you do indulge. Energize your body and your mind with nutritious, delicious food and watch your mood improve with every bite. After all, you are what you eat, right?!
Make Time for Hobbies
Hobbies are to your mind and soul what a healthy diet and exercise are to your brain and body! Nourish your passions the same way you do your body by devoting a little bit of time to them each day or setting aside a chunk of time each week.
Let your creativity flourish with writing or painting, or spend some time recharging in an entirely separate world with your favorite fantasy book. Express yourself through dance and purge yourself of negative emotion. Do whatever you need to do to decompress and focus on yourself because sometimes life gets overwhelming, and that’s when we become more vulnerable to negativity.
Practice your favorite skill or challenge yourself to learn something new—whatever you do just have fun with it!
The road to self-care and confidence doesn’t have to be long and arduous. Make it natural by easing your way into it with daily habits that foster positive thinking.
Want to jump start your new lifestyle by grabbing hold of an inner and outer beauty you didn’t think you had? Book a boudoir photo session today to boost your confidence and dive right into a sea of self-love!
