Learn How To Practice Self Care With These 9 Self Love Exercises
Unlock a list of self love exercises to embrace self love.
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Life can get busy, and it’s easy to put yourself on the back burner when juggling responsibilities. If you ever felt disconnected or struggled to make time for yourself, you’re not alone.
In this blog post, you will learn how to date yourself with 9 self love exercises that help you to nurture a deeper connection with who you are, improve your well-being, and enjoy quality solo time whenever you need it.
This post is all about self love exercises.
9 Self Love Exercises to Practice Self-Care
1. Make a Gratitude List
In can be easy to lose sight of the abundance in our daily lives. Gratitude is a powerful practice that encourages us to shift focus from what we lack to what we already have.
What It Is: A collection of things, people, experiences, or moments that you appreciate. (Ex. the warmth of a cup of coffee in the morning)
Research shows that regularly acknowledging the things you’re thankful for can rewire your brain to focus on positivity, reducing feelings of anxiety and depression.
Gratitude practice can foster a deeper sense of contentment, shifting your mental framework. The mindset shift has an effect on your relationships, work, and personal growth. Helping you to approach challenged with abundance and possibility.
Tips: Try incorporating gratitude to your daily routine. Keep a notebook by your bedside or use a notes app on your phone for easy access.
You can also get the gratitude journal, made for gratitude practice.
You only have to spend 5 minutes each day to write down 3 things you are grateful for the day. Perfect for your busy life!
2. Mindfulness Practice
In today’s world, it’s easy to get our minds pulled to a thousand different directions. Your 9-5, your relationships, and maybe a side hustle that you have. This is where mindfulness, particularly in the form of meditation, becomes a powerful tool.
What it is: Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to your thoughts and feelings, sensing your body from head to toe. It’s all about grounding yourself to the present moment.
Meditation can be practiced sitting down, walking, or lying down. Practicing mindfulness and reduce stress, deepen your breathing all while teaching us to stay in the present moment.
Tips: Try a 5-10 minutes meditation in the morning or before bed. You can find guided mediation videos on Youtube or other platforms.
For Youtube, I recommend the following channels: Great Meditation, Lavendarie, and Boho Beautiful Yoga
There are also apps you can download on your phone: Insight Timer (Free), Headspace (Paid)
3. Write a Letter to Your Younger Self
Writing is a form of therapy. It can also help you to understand yourself better. We might not notice this but a lot of experiences we had as a child are subconsiously influencing our daily life.
What it is: Write a compassionate letter to a younger version of yourself. What would you tell them?
Writing letters to yourself can provide healing and foster self-compassion by reflecting on personal growth. Alternatively, you can also write a letter to your future self, your loved ones, or someone you need to forgive.
Tips: Try focusing on the advice, encouragement, or love you would give yourself.
Additionally, if you want to write a letter to your future self, I highly recommend this website. It allows you to write letter to your future self and have it send to your email in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or any specific date you would like to receive it.
4. Go on a Solo Date
How much time do you really spend with yourself? And I am not talking about being in your room or on your bed scrolling your phone before you sleep.
When was the last time you took yourself on a date outside to explore new places or try a new cafe?
What it is: Take yourself out, whether to a café, park, or movie
In case you need some idea on what to do or where to go. Try out the following ideas:
- Spend time in a book store to explore your next read
- Bring your journal to a park, just sit there and connect with nature
- A new café just opened around the corner? Go there and try it out!
- Spend time in a museum and reflect on the pieces
- Pick a movie at the cinema and have fun watching it
Going on a solo date can build self confidence and helps you to enjoy your own company. Connect with yourself at a deeper level.
Tips: Plan a solo date at the beginning of each month so you have something to look forward for.
5. Try Out a New Habit
One of the best self care activity you can do is starting a new habit. This blog is a platform that aims to encourage you to work towards your best self.
Not only is starting a new habit a fun and chic thing to do, it’s also a great way for self improvement, by learning something new!
What it is: Starting a positive new habit like journaling, cooking, baking, or exercising.
Starting a new habit can keep your life exciting, it also promotes personal growth and builds self discipline.
Tips: Pick a new habit to integrate into your routine for a week and see how it feels. You can always try a different one or stick to it if it brings joy to you.
6. Practice Affirmations
Self doubt, negative self talk, and limiting beliefs can hold up personal growth and happiness. Positive affirmations can transform your life by empowering you to reshape your internal narratives.
What it is: Repeating positive, uplifting statements that express a desired reality or belief.
Examples:
- I am capable of achieving my goals.
- I embrace my uniqueness.
- I speak gracefully and confidently.
Practicing affirmations can boost self esteem and foster a positive self image. It can also rewire the brain, effectively challenging the long held beliefs that may be limiting.
Tips: Write down 3 affirmations and repeat them to yourself each day. Focusing on personal growth.
7. Build & Stick To a Routine
Routine does not mean boredom, it offers a framework for daily life, providing a sense of predictability and promoting self discipline.
What it is: Routine is a curated schedule, with tasks, personal practices, all together to creative a cohesive structure.
Here are what a routine could includes:
- Work commitments
- Exercise
- Meals
- Leisure activities
- Self Care rituals
Having a routine adds structure and stability to your life, having a predictable schedule can avoid anxiety and provides a sense of security, knowing what to expect from your day or week.
Tip: Begin by planning a 15-30 minutes morning routine. Implement stretching exercise, meditation or journaling to your practice.
8. Shadow Work
Part of the journey of personal growth is to know and discover yourself, especially your subconscious mind that is affecting your daily actions.
Popularized by psychologist Carl Jung, shadow work invites you to explore the darkest corner of emotions, fears, and unresolved traumas that lie beneath the surface.
What it is: Practice of exploring the repressed or denied unconscious, which may include anger, jealousy, fear, or shame.
Practicing shadow work can help you better understand your emotional triggers and patterns of behaviour. As a result, you will gain acceptance, creating space for forgiveness, both for yourself and others.
Tips: Journal about emotions, fears, patterns that you want to understand better and reflect on them. I also recommend going on Pinterest to find prompts to give you a head start.
Example Shadow Work Prompts:
- What made you start doubting yourself as a kid?
- Who hurt you the most and can you forgive them?
- What emotion(s) do you tend to avoid?
- What makes you feel insecure and why?
- What are your toxic traits in relationships?
9. Listening to Self Help Podcasts
Self help podcasts often provide a platform for people to share their insights, experiences, and strategies to foster self awareness.
What it is: Audio programs that centre into topics like personal development, emotional intelligence, and mental well being. Often featuring expert guest, inspiring anecdotes, and actionable advice.
exposing yourself to positive and diverse perspectives can prompt you to reconsider your approach to life’s challenges, leading to personal breakthrougs.
Tips: Find a podcast on a topic that you’re curious about and make it part of your morning routine (During your commute or walk)
Here are some of my favourite podcasts:
