10 Ways to Practice Self-Love and Why It’s Important

Do you know the feeling of being in love and being loved by somebody? Whether it be from a family member, a significant other, a child, and even a pet, we receive love in all shapes and sizes. Yet the first and most important person most of us tend to prioritize less, especially when we get “busy”,  is ourselves. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, it’s critical that caregivers realize the value of practicing self-love.

Self-love is a state of appreciation for oneself. Yet it’s difficult to practice, especially as we tend to be our own worst critics. It can make you more self-aware, understand why you’re feeling a certain way, pinpoint your unique needs, and teach you to put yourself first, just as you do for a loved one. This will not only protect you from relying on others to find happiness but also help you shrug off all of the things out of your control.

After all, if you don’t stop and pay attention to your own well-being and needs, it may take a toll on your relationships.

Here are a few ways to practice self-love every day of the week, at any time of day!

1. Turn off your alarm clock on a Friday night and allow yourself to sleep in on a Saturday morning and let the sunshine, not an alarm clock, wake you up.
2.  Treat yourself to a nutritious and delicious breakfast in bed.
3. Rather than starving yourself or following a fad diet, stick to an 80/20 diet, which involves eating 80% healthy foods, and 20% comfort foods.
4. Eat out or order dinner for yourself once a week.
5. Get nostalgic and listen to throwback albums or playlists on Spotify or Pandora whenever you’re doing something less than fun, like cleaning, organizing your garage, doing the laundry, or paying the bills.
6. Speaking of cleaning and doing laundry, you have so much on your plate as a busy caregiver and may struggle to get your own chores done when the time comes. Order a cleaning service company to make your home spotless, or drop your laundry off once every month to save yourself some valuable time.
7. Turn on your favorite album and relax in bed with a box of chocolates, a glass of wine, and any other feel-good food.
8. If you like to sing in the shower, do it often! Taking a moment to sing each day can instantly improve your mood.
9. Not enough of us take advantage of going to the spa. Whether it’s for a massage, mani/Pedi, or facial, think of it as an important investment in yourself, rather than a luxury!  +
10. It’s easy to get caught up in the fantastic photos your friends are posting on social media, right? Get dolled up for a personal photoshoot with a friend and update your profile!

Self-care and self-love should two key pillars of a healthy caregiver lifestyle. How do you practice self-love?