5 Self-Care Steps For Learning To Love Yourself

#1 Have One 5-Minute Daily Habit You Refuse to Compromise On

With your favorite skin cream, perform my famous lymph node massage (see earlier posts) for 5 minutes, listen to one new song a day, take 5 minutes in the morning to write down your to-do or grocery list or go outside and sit alone with your thoughts or just be in God's presence for 5 minutes.

#2 Make Exit Strategies on Your Phone

Stop scrolling mindlessly on your phone, exposing yourself to tempting apps that draw you in, taking you further into mindlessness. How much time have you lost scrolling? Seriously, have you sat down at 5 p.m. to just check a few things on your phone and two hours pass and when you blink it burns because you haven't blinked in those 2 hours.

#3 Share What You Want Out Loud

Do you realize that sharing your plans out loud to another can inspire you to carry those plans out via accountability? So, whether it be creating a donation box of unused items, finishing that book you started 3 years ago or, taking a 10-minute walk each day, tell someone, be it your spouse, partner, best friend or the mail carrier!

#4 Combine Hobbies and Hangouts

This is the simplest form of multi-tasking. Let's say you want to start a new book or take up a creative task such as painting or crocheting. You are probably thinking, I don't have time for special down time like that but, what if you did? Combine these special down times with another activity you already implement in your life such as socializing. Socializing has been slated as one of the most meaningful ways to prolong our lives so why not get with your BFF and create a small book club where you each take turns reading a chapter of that book or you learn to do a simple crocheting pattern together. Think of them as your wing-man.

#5 Energize Your Morning

Rather than checking your phone first thing in the morning, take 5 minutes to do some toe touches (as far as your body allows), bending at the waist from side to side, stand on your tip toes and stretch your arms to the ceiling, pointing your fingers up, up, up, let your head fall ear to shoulder (never pull), then let your head roll back as if you were looking straight up at the ceiling, gently let your head roll to the other side (ear to shoulder) and finally let your head roll with chin to chest. Repeat. Once your body is stretched and awakened, spend 5 minutes waking up your mind. This can be done in prayer, repeating encouraging words to yourself about what you want to accomplish today or affirmation of what you accomplished the day before. Out loud, acknowledge all of the things you are grateful for, be it family, friends, a comfortable home, good food to eat, your job, the ability to use your senses, healthcare and medicine, peace, fresh air and fur babies!

Bottom line? Love yourself. You are not a machine, you are a fragile human being not only capable of loving but needing to be loved. Love starts by loving yourself first. Nurture your mind and body everyday. It doesn't take a lot of time.