Self-love is not just a concept. Self-love is about taking care of your body, mind, and soul’s needs. It means treating yourself with compassion and kindness. Self-love is being aware of what we deserve and not settling for less. Self-love means being present in your own life and showing up for yourself every day even though you may feel like you don’t deserve it. Isn’t that what we do for the ones we love? So why not do it for ourselves.
Practicing self-love can be challenging, especially when you have low self-esteem. Luckily there are simple ways to boost self-love. Read on for 20 tangible ways to practice self-love.

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” Oscar Wilde

 1. Stop negative self-talk

Negative self-talk is very common, but it really limits our ability to love ourselves truly. It is a toxic habit that can damage our self-esteem and self-confidence. Stop the cycle of negative self-talk and start talking positively to yourself.

 2. Not comparing yourself to others

The more you compare yourself to others, the lower your confidence and self-esteem will become. When you stop social comparison, you will be able to focus on yourself and cherish your life.

 3. Embrace your uniqueness

Instead of comparing yourself to others, you should embrace and accept who you are as a human. Trying to fitting is the best way to lose yourself, your identity, and your purpose in life. You may have some flaws, but you also have gifts, talents, and beliefs. All of these make you one of a kind. Don’t be afraid to embrace your uniqueness. Dare to be different

 “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

 4. Walk away from toxic relationships

Toxic relationships can destroy your self-worth, make you feel insecure, and doubt yourself. Walking away from toxic people will give you your power back to love yourself better.

 5. Forgive yourself for your mistakes and failures

Forgiving yourself and letting go of the past is essential to living a healthy life. It allows you to take control over your life, to be at peace. Self-forgiveness is as important as forgiving others. It is an act of compassion and kindness towards yourself. It is not giving up on yourself despite your flaws and mistakes.

Related: 45 Powerful Self-Love Quotes to Remind You of Your Worth

 6. Set healthy boundaries in your relationships

Boundaries are emotional and physical limits we set for ourselves within relationships. It helps us say “no” to things that we are not comfortable with or that may negatively impact our lives and mental health. Setting boundaries is an act of self-love that dictates how we want to be treated by others.

 7. Wear clothes that make you feel good about yourself

Our clothes can have a huge impact on our self-esteem. Wearing the wrong size or an awkward size can trigger insecurity and frustration. When it comes to clothes, always go for what you think (not others) looks good on you. Being comfortable in what you are wearing is a simple way to boost self-confidence and self-love.

 8. Make time to do what you love

We often tend to be generous toward our loved ones. Why not do the same to ourselves. Doing what makes you happy is a simple way to practice self-generosity and show yourself you are worthy and deserve happiness.

 9. Take care of your body

One of the best ways to practice self-love is to take care of your body. It means you should embrace healthy habits such as eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and avoiding any behaviors that can harm your body.

 10. Learn to rest

 “Not many of us know how to allow our body and mind to rest. We are always struggling. We cannot resist being active, struggling all the time. We struggle even during our sleep.” Thich Nhat Hanh

We can safely agree that most people find it hard to rest. We worry that taking a break might make us look bad, but resting doesn’t mean you are lazy. It is a necessity. Our body and mind need to rest to recharge. Resting comes in different forms and shapes. It can mean taking a nap, reading a book, watching tv, taking a bubble, or walking away from a situation that drains us. The most important thing is to choose what makes you relax and helps you find peace.

You may also like: 11 Simple Ways to Be Kinder to Yourself

 11. Practice gratitude

Practicing gratitude is one of the best ways to express self-love. It helps our minds to focus on the positive things in our lives, including ourselves. Furthermore, gratitude makes us feel good and happy, which also boosts our sense of self-worth.

Related: 5 Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude Daily

 12. Celebrate your achievements

Celebrating our successes and achievements is an overlooked yet powerful way to boost self-confidence and stay motivated. Taking a moment to celebrate even small wins can make us feel good and happy. It can also reinforce our belief that we are on the right path, which helps cultivate a positive mindset.

 13. Take a break from social media

Social media can be draining. Heavy social media use can harm your mental health and lead to loneliness, depression, fear of missing out, poor life satisfaction. Practicing self-love means you learn to withdraw yourself from anything that can cause you harm or make sure it does not affect you. So it is important to take a break every now and then and refresh your mind. It is also necessary to set boundaries to use social media with purpose and in a healthy way. If you are ready to take a social media break, here is your ultimate guide to social media detox.

 14. Let go of toxic habits

We all have bad habits, but some of them are toxic and can cost us our health, happiness, self-love, confidence and hold us back from thriving in life. Check these 5 Insanely toxic habits you might be guilty of and few tips for quitting them now for a happier and healthier life.

 15. Surround yourself with people who treat you with kindness

One of the best things you can do to yourself is to surround yourself with people who know your value, appreciate you, and treat you with kindness. It will genuinely boost your self-esteem and encourage you to be kind to yourself.

Related post: 60 Random acts of kindness

 16. Treat yourself

You can treat yourself in many ways. It can be as simple as getting a massage, getting your nails done, and offering yourself a quick getaway or a retreat. You can also indulge in a treat like buying yourself some flowers or going to your favorite restaurant.

 17. Ask for help when you feel the need

Another part of taking care of yourself is recognizing when you need help. Help isn’t weak. It’s human. We all need help sometimes. Whatever you’re dealing with, reach out to a trusted friend, or find a therapist to talk to regularly. You don’t have to suffer in silence.

 18. Write a love letter to yourself every now and then

Writing a love letter to yourself might sound weird at first, but this exercise will help you effectively embrace your strengths and qualities and boost positive emotions. Writing to yourself with kindness and compassion can also help bring acceptance, healing, and peace.

 19. Start journaling

If you haven’t started journaling yet, it’s never too late. Journaling is an excellent tool for self-love and self-care. Besides, using self-love journal prompts can help you build confidence and self-esteem.

         Related post: 35 Journal Prompts for Self-Love

20. Speak words of affirmation to yourself

Self-love affirmations are short uplifting words that you can repeat like a mantra to help you show yourself some love. These encouraging messages will promote confidence, self-esteem and help you believe more in yourself.

Here a few self-love affirmations you can use daily:

  • I am beautiful inside and out.
  • I am doing the best I can.
  • I deserve love.
  • I am loved by others and by myself.
  • I accept and love myself as who I am.
  • I love myself unconditionally.
  • I am learning from my mistakes.
  • I choose to let go of the past.
  • I believe in myself.
  • I am beautifully unique.

Words are powerful, so do not hesitate to create your own affirmations and make them personal.

          Related post: 75 Powerful Self-Love Affirmations

Final thoughts :

There you have it. I challenge you to commit to trying some of them and give yourself an extra dose of self-love. Self-love is not a destination. It is a never-ending journey to embark on and make a step every single day.

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About the Author

Hermione M.

My name is Hermione. I am the founder of WomenH and I write about women's health, wellness, mental health, and personal growth. I created this platform to inspire women to take care of themselves mentally, physically, and emotionally to become their best selves. Thank you for stopping by.

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