Imagine a hectic day, when you’re busy running around from the moment you open your eyes until the moment you go to bed. It shouldn’t be too hard to imagine. Sometimes it seems like every day is a repeat of the day before and we’re constantly trying to get something or other done. The life that we’re leading is our own, yet how much do we really take care of ourselves in our daily lives? As it turns out, the verdict on that is still pending. Sure, we eat, sleep, and take care of our most basic necessities. But what about our emotional needs, our psychological needs? When we look in the mirror in the morning we say “Of course, I love myself,” but sometimes we don’t really actualize that love. Is it that 24 hours isn’t enough to squeeze in self-love??
I love myself, but do I really show that to myself? The first step is asking this question and answering it honestly. Love takes effort, and we need to make that effort to feel just how valuable we are. “Human beings love that which they make an effort for and they make an effort for the things they love,” says the esteemed author, Erich Fromm. That’s why if you love and value yourself, you have to make room for yourself in your daily life and make an effort to take care of yourself. The more you make room for yourself, the more you’ll start taking care of yourself. Most of the time, we seek the love and attention we need from others. But the love and attention that we crave is already within us. You know how you complain about not having enough time? Don’t believe the inner voice that says that. Everyone has at least a little bit of time they can spare for themselves. The first step is to believe this and take action. Love, after all, knows no boundaries.
This might seem daunting at first. So, take a breath. You have plenty of time to spend on self-love practices. Why not start by planning out your day? Not planning your day can often make you run around in a panic, trying to complete one task after the next. But if you plan out your day right, you can start making room for the self-love practices you need in your schedule. Once you start these practices, you’ll quickly experience the joy they bring to your life.
Our days are often packed with different routines. Some of us experience this as parents, some as students and some as part of the workforce. All these different roles come with a multitude of changing responsibilities. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make some time in your schedule for some self-love and self-care practices. Here are a few practices that might help:
Revolutionize your day by setting a new alarm for yourself in the mornings. Wake up 30 minutes earlier than you normally do. 30 minutes out of 24 hours is really nothing when you think about it. You can do it!
Here are a few examples:
Plan what you’re going to do after you wake up:
Pause throughout the day:
Get ready for bed:
You can add weekly or even monthly routines to your “Check-Up Moments.” Here are a couple of things you can do:
Much of the time we could potentially spend on our own well-being and health, we end up spending on other things. At the end of the day, we often complain about how tired we are. So, re-examine your day and how busy you really are.
How much of it is manufactured and how much of it is real? There are times when we’re truly busy. But these times can’t become so common that they become routine. So, try some of the suggestions above, instead of filling up your free time with more things to do. You’ll be amazed at how good this will make you feel.