There is only one person with whom you share every single second of your day, and that is yourself. Building a loving relationship with yourself can be a long and complicated journey, but it also opens up more joy and freedom in your life.
Self-care is basically thoughts, feelings and actions that tell you that you are ok exactly as you are, that you have a place and a right in the world. That your worth is not measured in what you do, but in the fact that you are.
Unfortunately, many of us have a learned idea that we are not good enough as we are, or feel guilty when we put our needs first.
1. Make time for self-love
Set aside time that week to do the things that make you happy. It may seem trivial, but it can be easy to forget. Sit down and think about what really makes you happy when it comes down to it. Is it time alone with a book and a cup of coffee? Or is it with a close friend by your side?
It can and must look in every imaginable way. There is only one requirement: that it feels good inside you.
2. Set boundaries
Setting boundaries, both physical and emotional, is about taking control of how you treat yourself and how others treat you.
When you set boundaries, you learn to prioritize your needs while giving yourself the opportunity to say out loud what your needs are.
You can practice setting boundaries by:
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Say "no" and remind yourself that you shouldn't feel guilty.
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Make decisions for yourself - not on behalf of other people's opinions.
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Stand up for yourself and your needs when you feel you need to.
You must always set limits. Your boundaries can change over time, and setting new boundaries doesn't require an apology.
3. Talk to yourself as you would talk to a friend
You make mistakes. There are times when things don't go as planned - you forget to call your friend or oversleep and miss a meeting - it happens to all of us. But maybe you tend to overanalyze even the smallest mistakes, over and over again.
Instead, try to take a step back and consider yourself as if it were your best friend who was in the same situation. How would you normally support a good friend who had made a mistake? Would you call that person an idiot or give them a hard ride?
No, right? You would probably say something like, "It's okay" or "It's not that bad." Learn from it! And use it when you talk to yourself.
