A guide on self-love for women.
Photo by Rikonavt
By Quintavia McKay
Self-love.
Composed of both a noun and a verb is the action in which one must display deep adoration unto themselves; but it’s not as easy as it may sound.
The necessity of self-love is heavily essential during womanhood when coincidentally the concept of burnout, social media usage and work-life balance are at an all time high.
To say this hasn't been the topic of 2020 and 2021 is an understatement and social media has been flooded with ways to connect with one’s inner self and embrace the love you may be looking for.
We’ve found identified a few things that are both beneficial in establishing a daily routine based in self-love. As you continue to evolve, older forms of displaying self-love begin to shift though many stay the same. Here are some great forms of self-love:
Self-care
First and foremost self-love has to coincide with self-care because your body is definitely a temple from the inside and out. This is the time to focus on the mind, body and spirit.
2. Journaling
Do not think of this as a plain old diary, because this step is done with intention. The intention to reflect at the end of day/month on feelings of uncertainty or certain situations that have put a damper on your emotional health. Journaling should never feel like a chore but second nature on the path to unlocking emotional trauma that may be disguised in unhealthy habits (ie. laziness, insomnia, passive aggression, etc.).
Get fancy with your journal. Love it like you need to love yourself from the inside out.
3. Spending time with who and/or what makes you happy
Time is something you will never get back, so make it memorable and enjoyable. Spending time doing what makes you happy can be a big stress reliever. It can be physical or mental activity that requires little to no effort such as a new hobby, watching your favorite TV show or a picnic with friends. That human interaction with one person can be just enough to get you through the week.
4. Exercise
It may not seem like the ideal thing to do but you would be surprised by its benefits. It can be as easy as a simple jog in the park or morning yoga to get your day going. Get up and get active!
5. Give yourself grace
If 2020 has taught us anything, it was to be easy on ourselves. Learning that you are both your biggest critic and biggest fan is really an eye opener. Work hard but do not overwork yourself and be sure to celebrate those small accomplishments because they matter too. You must learn to accept who you are and understand you serve a purpose in this world and how you choose to benefit from it.
6. Address your fears
Recognize what your fears are and use it as fuel to be more positive. Learn how your fears affect you in your everyday life and think of different ways to combat against them. You can talk to someone about this or seek any professional insight if you feel it's too much or find a family member or friend to help you overcome it.
7. Affirmations
The tongue is powerful! Saying affirmations in the morning when you wake up helps set the tone for your day and can be used as goal setting for the week. Learn to speak positivity over your life even during your darkest days. Affirmations plus hard work helps you to embody all of who you are and where you want to be.
8. Take a break!!
Whether it be a day to yourself, a small staycation or meditation time in the middle of your day, TAKE THAT BREAK! Give yourself the peace you desire.
Self-love is a necessity for women in all walks of life. Self-love prevents burnout or doubts you may have, so make the time to do embrace who you are within. And if you don’t do anything else today choose to love yourself first.