Finding ways to feel like the best possible version of yourself is important, no matter where you are in your life. Having love and respect for yourself will help you with everything you do—from your work to your personal relationships. If it feels difficult to recognize positive thoughts about yourself, here are four tips that can help.
What is self-love?
Self-love is the state of being appreciative of oneself. This can mean that you have a high respect for your well being and happiness, all while making yourself a priority.
What is body positivity?
Body positivity refers to the way you view yourself, regardless of what society considers the popular standard. While many factors can influence your body positivity, it typically means appreciating your body (“flaws” and all), feeling confident, loving yourself, and accepting your shape and size.
Ways to practise self-love and body positivity
Embrace your womanhood. Talk of menstruation is too often considered taboo, which can make embracing your period more difficult than it needs to be. It is important to recognize that menstruating is entirely normal, and is nothing to feel shameful about. Some ways you can take control of your period are by practicing self-care and finding comfortable products to improve your period experience.
It can be something as simple as providing yourself with extra rest, taking a warm bath, or using a heating pad. Side effects of periods can be unpleasant, and these methods of self-care can help alleviate them. Finding new products to better support your flow can also prove to be beneficial. A flexible and reusable cup is an excellent way to manage your flow better with peace of mind; menstrual cups can provide a more comfortable experience, as well as up to 12 hours of stress-free leak protection.
Work up a sweat. Studies have shown that 11 per cent of adult women in the U.S. are unhappy with their bodies. But there are plenty of positive changes you can make to improve the way you view yourself. While many see exercise as a means to lose weight, it is important to know that physical activity is beneficial for a variety of reasons. Finding positive motivations to exercise, such as the desire to become stronger or to simply feel grounded, can help encourage you (plus, endorphins are never a bad thing for your mood). Be sure to only participate in activities that make you feel good, but also do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone a little.
Schedule “me time.” Uninterrupted time for yourself can prove to be beneficial for self-love. This can be whatever you want and need it to be, whether it’s watching your favourite movie, opening a book, or taking up a new hobby. Try exploring new activities such as photography, painting, or writing.
If writing sounds appealing to you, consider investing in a Bullet Journal. This is an excellent way to channel your thoughts and emotions through personalized pages, all designed by you. Between tracking your daily mood, using it as a calendar and planner for future events, or even just creating collections of books and movies you’re interested in, these journals are an excellent place to store and organize your thoughts.
Use self-affirmations. Self-affirmations are positive phrases that you can use to boost your self-confidence. It is thought that to be truly happy, you have to first love who you are—and affirmations can help you on that journey. Examples of affirmations to increase your self-love include:
- I am beautiful.
- I have the power to change.
- I am deserving of happiness and success.
- I am proud of myself and my accomplishments.
- I believe in myself.
After all, the most important relationship is the one you have with yourself.