7 Simple Self-Love Practices to Start Today

You are the only person that you will be with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the entirety of your life.
As you move through life, different people will come and go... you might be familiar with the saying ‘people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime’... this is very much true for the majority of the relationships in your life, except for the one you have with yourself.  

Taking care of yourself, loving yourself and treating yourself with the respect you deserve will allow you to grow through life with resilience, motivation and grace. Self-love is more than just a new phenomenon and new trend where you have a warm bath, light your favourite candle and get a massage, it is the foundation of a happy, healthy and fulfilled life. Although certain acts of self-care rituals are ways of expressing love for yourself, they are not necessarily how you build and cultivate a deep sense of self-love. 

When you think of it, the relationship that you have with yourself is THE most important relationship you will ever develop. And we all know, relationships take time and hard work to get to a place of ease and trust... the relationship you have with yourself is no different.   

As the saying goes... ‘you can’t expect someone to love you until you love yourself’, but learning to love yourself may not be as easy as it sounds. The good news is self-love is an actual skill you can develop and nurture through every day actions and how you treat and speak to yourself. When you understand the importance of self-love, you begin to treat yourself with the respect and compassion you deserve. 

Why you should be practicing self-love... 

When we cultivate a strong sense of self-love, we make decisions for ourselves from a place of love and respect. We allow ourselves to reach new heights and trust that we will make the right decisions to propel us to places we have never been, while looking after ourselves and our well-being in the meantime. It empowers us to take risks when needed and say no to things when they might not be the best thing for us. 

Stress and feelings of anxiety often stem from a lack of trust in our ability to face the challenges life often throws at us. When you are kind to yourself, treat yourself with compassion and trust in your skills, you begin to face life’s twists and turns with greater ease and resilience. When you approach challenges with a calmer mind and a more grounded perspective, you will experience reduced feelings of stress and anxiety. This all stems from self-love.  

7 Self-Love Practices You Should Start Today:  

 1. Daily Affirmations

The words you say to yourself matter, and how you speak to yourself matters more than you think. Pay attention to the narrative you tell yourself first thing when you wake up in the morning. Every day, pull a mantra from The Mantras, a deck of 52 powerful affirmations by Roxie Nafousi x The Head Plan. Speaking an empowering, positive affirmation to yourself will allow this to seep into your subconscious and set an empowering, positive tone for the entirety of your day. The words you choose to embrace shape your mindset, influence your actions, and ultimately determine how you perceive yourself and the world around you. By integrating these mantras into your morning routine, you create a ritual of self-empowerment that encourages self-love and resilience. 

 2. Daily Gratitude  

Every day might not be good, but there is good in every day... taking time to look for this good might just be the difference between what you call a ‘good’ or a ‘bad’ day. Just 10 minutes a day, that’s all it takes. This small commitment can have a profound impact on your overall outlook on life and well-being. We have made this practice super simple and attainable in The Head Plan Gratitude Journal, every morning when you wake up, and every evening before you go to bed, take the time to ground yourself and bring yourself back to the present, practicing gratitude. This stems deeper than #grateful on social media, by truly practicing gratitude you prime your mind to notice the good that surrounds you, no matter how small. 

3. Soul-Food 

You wouldn’t plant a seed and expect it to grow into a beautiful plant without watering it and giving it the love and attention it deserves... so how could you expect to flourish without nourishing yourself? Just as a seed needs time and care to blossom, you need to invest in your well-being to truly thrive. Take time to find things that fill your cup and leave you feeling fulfilled and satisfied... this might be a walk with a friend, some time alone with your journal, spending time in nature, watching your favourite show or going for a browse around the shops. Whatever it is that allows you to show up as your best-self, schedule it into your Head Plan Journal and prioritise these activities. By scheduling these activities, you’re not only allowing yourself the space to recharge but also reinforcing the belief that you are deserving of joy and fulfilment. 

 4. Spend time with yourself 

Coffee catch-ups with your besties, a romantic dinner with your other half, a lunch date with your colleagues…. We’ve no doubt you carve out plenty of time in the calendar for the people you love most. But ask yourself this, do you carve out anytime for yourself? 

If you don’t, it’s time to start. Plan a date day with yourself that’s jam-packed with all the little indulgences you love. Spending time with yourself allows you to reconnect with your inner thoughts, personal needs, and your thoughts without external distractions. In the moments of quiet and solitude, you can reflect and refine your current goals, set your intentions and ensure you are meeting yourself and your needs.  

Stick to an evening ritual... carve out ‘me time’ to unwind and restore your energy after a long day. Spend time with your journal, jotting down your innermost thoughts and feelings, pay attention to how you felt during the day, note any patterns and any triggers, how can you make tomorrow even better?  

5. Mindful Hydration  

If you were to ask yourself this... what is the first drink you reach for in the morning? Is it tea or coffee? If you were to be honest with yourself, you could probably go a full day without drinking plain water, right? Tea, coffee, fizzy drinks, juice... anything except water! Although these beverages might contain water, they won’t provide you with the adequate hydration your body needs. Whether it’s sipping away on your Daily Drench during your work meetings, during your workout, on your afternoon walk or just taking a few mindful sips while you relax, focusing on mindful hydration is an act of self-love that enables you to show up for yourself in the simplest way. Trust us, your body will thank you for it – you will feel more energised, focused and ready to take on the day.  

6. Relationship Re-Evaluation  

As you go through life you realise the people who will be there for you during difficult times, who shows up when you need them, who motivates you to achieve your goals and who you don’t need a social battery to be around... these are your people. In order to truly love yourself, you need to truly love the people you surround yourself with. This week, we encourage you to re-evaluate the current relationships in your life and make sure you are prioritising spending time with those who lift you up and make you feel whole. Although it can be challenging, you might need to pull back on some friendships to allow you to pour more into those that really matter. Be honest with yourself, and put yourself first. This is your sign to cut that toxic relationship out of your life!  

7. Revise Your Boundaries 

So... you always make time for others and support them when needed, but how often do you make time for yourself?

If you keep agreeing to celebrate every acquaintance’s birthday, take on the extra tasks in work which cause you to work extra long hours and answer your phone at all hours as soon as you get the first notification, you might need to start setting stronger boundaries! Take a step back and rethink your current boundaries... stop saying yes to things that leave you feeling drained or stuck for me time.  

By incorporating these seven simple practices into your daily routine, you can nurture a healthier relationship with yourself, creating a positive foundation for all aspects of your life.  

Remember, the relationship you have with yourself is the most important relationship you will ever have. Every time you say no, you are actually saying yes to yourself! Have patience, live with intention and show up for yourself every day... we believe in you... it’s time to