George K.
We hear the phrase “love yourself more” countless times throughout our lives, but most of us never truly understand what it means or what it takes to actually love yourself. Some people may not even understand what the struggle is like because they have never experienced it themselves. The truth is, you might unintentionally spend time hating yourself without realizing it, and the more you hate or dislike yourself, the more angry, frustrated, and confused you’ll feel.
Feeling insecure, having negative thoughts, not having fun on your own, or having a hard time being happy are all signs you dislike yourself. You might even feel angry all the time without a tangible reason. If you’re experiencing any of these signs, it’s time to re-evaluate your life and start taking action towards loving yourself. However, the main question is, what does it take to love yourself?
The first thing you must acknowledge is that this process is no easy task, and it requires a lot of work and dedication before you start seeing changes in your life. Once you reach that goal and understand yourself, your perspective of life, and how you deal with others will see some improvement. Here’s how you can start loving yourself more.
Move More Often
The perfect way to show yourself some love is by exercising. However, for many people, it’s not possible to spend an hour or two at the gym or even do a few workouts at home. If you’re extremely busy and can’t find the time to exercise, dedicate 20 minutes to walking. You don’t have to walk for miles; all you need is to do is move every couple of hours. Take a walk before you go to work, or during the day. Alternatively, you can do some light stretching during your working hours to keep your body active. Moving your body will release all the stress your body is holding inside, instead of releasing it as anger or anxiety. Although a few minutes of movement will seem like nothing, it helps you take a step forward towards loving yourself.
Avoid Reading The News
Many of us spend hours reading or watching the news to be updated with what’s happening around the world. However, many studies claim that too much news affects your overall mental health, especially because many are fear-based and of no use. Instead, read the headlines to stay updated, and spend the rest of your time reading something that benefits your mind. The folks at Lovely Refinement recommend reading books and articles that promote a better understanding of yourself. Many books and blogs teach you about anxiety, self-love, self-esteem, and dealing with emotions. Reading, understanding, and acknowledging yourself and your emotions will improve your lifestyle and how you perceive yourself.
Have a Healthy Diet
The list is endless when it comes to the downside of junk food, but the main issue is that it affects your overall mental state. When you regularly eat processed or junk food, your body will not provide enough energy to carry out your day-to-day activities. After a while, you will not be productive and start feeling anxious or stressed because of it. That’s why you must provide your body with healthy food and drink a lot of water. When you take care of your diet, you will have enough energy to work, exercise, and complete all of your daily tasks, which will eventually promote self-love.
Quality Time
A lot of people don’t fully understand the concept of quality time. Quality time is not the time you spend watching TV, playing video games, or scrolling on your phone. It’s the time you spend alone, meditating, reading a book, eating a nice meal in a restaurant, or the spa. It’s the time when you relax and empty your mind after a long day at work or with the kids. You can dedicate 5 to 10 minutes every morning or evening to meditate or just lay down and do nothing. By doing this, you’re allowing your body and mind to take a break and breath, which will make your day less stressful.
Self-love is not simple, but it’s essential to practice. Eating junk food, spending most of your time watching TV, and scrolling your social media feed can make you develop a dislike for yourself. Loving yourself means taking care of your mental and physical health without focusing on your faults or insecurities. Start by giving yourself a break and reevaluating your life so you know how to improve it.
