5 Ways To Love Yourself

This valentine’s day it’s time to start loving yourself. No amount of flowers or chocolates can improve your well-being as much as you can. By following these five tips, I hope you can start to look out for number one.

1. Eat!

Stop punishing yourself. You already know it is

mportant to eat 5 portions of fruit and veggies a day, to drink water and to cut back on carbs… But you don’t have to follow these rules to the point where you go insane from lack of chocolate. It will (most likely) make you very unhappy to do this. My point here is to consume in moderation. Don’t go mad, but enjoy a dessert in a restaurant and don’t feel bad about that decision for the next week. However, by all means try to be healthy. Because believe it or not, what everyone is saying is right, it does make you feel good to eat well.

After doing some research I’ve found that lemon water can be a great way to keep healthy. Nutritionists claim that drinking it helps with digestion and clearer skin, but it also fills you up before a meal so you don’t over-consume. I tend to squeeze half a fresh lemon into a pint of water first thing in the morning before breakfast, it makes me feel ready for the day. Also, it tastes great!

2. Find fun ways to exercise.

I get it. Exercise can be hard, everywhere you look there is something or someone telling you that it is important, and you know this, but you just don’t know where to start. You may be embarrassed to go to the gym or run down the street in full view of the public. I was once in the same position. It can be daunting, but remember that you are doing this for yourself and it is nobody else’s business.

If anything, people will probably admire you for trying to keep fit, and wish to be the same. I love running now (especially outside), it is a great way to relieve stress and feel a sense of freedom, and it is totally free!

If running doesn’t sound up your street, my advice to you is to find something that gets you motivated to get up and do, something that you enjoy rather than being a chore. A few years ago, I found that penny boarding is an effective and easy way to exercise whilst having fun. Or, try finding something to do with a friend or partner, like (attempting to) play tennis once a week. Or maybe go for a walk or cycle through the park every Sunday. It doesn’t have to be difficult.

3. Stress less, take a break!

With the pressures of life constantly playing on your mind, it is easy to admit yourself to the world of stress. I know the feeling all too well, you feel guilty for leaving responsibilities until the last minute, to the point where you think it’s impossible to get them done in time. My advice to relieve some of this panic, is to try to take a break.

Even if you’ve procrastinated all day, if you’re stressed about something, take a break. Watch some Netflix, draw, or make a sandwich (whatever you’re feeling) and relax your mind. Then, take a deep breath and get stuck in. Think about your work from a bigger perspective, is it life or death? Chances are that the answer is no. You do not need to worry. It will get done or it won’t.

Stress doesn’t fix the problem, so try to keep a calm mind, this will make you more likely to create focused, higher quality content. Also, go and give someone you love a big old hug… it is a great stress reliever, trust me!

4. Sleep Zzz

Yes sleep! We all love it and hate it. It is advised that we get around 8 hours of sleep every night. Believe it or not this is really important. We all know that foggy feeling you get when you’re over tired, like your brain is disconnected from your body. (hint: it doesn’t feel great) It’s obviously best to avoid this at all costs, especially if you’ve got a lot to get done in a day. Instead of bedtime Netflix binges, try listening to music or a podcast instead. Without watching a glaring screen, it will be easier to fall asleep sooner. Also, this may seem daft or obvious, but try going to bed earlier. I find that if I’m in bed at an earlier time, even after scrolling through social media for an hour, I manage to go to sleep at a reasonable time.

5. Be More You

I mean, don’t get me wrong, if you’re an axe murdering maniac, then by all means be less you. But please don’t hold back from doing something crazy. The restraints of society tell you that fitting in is the only way to be happy. This couldn’t be further from the truth for a lot of people. To be happy, let your personality shine through. Chances are, standing out from the crowd will get you further in life than altering yourself to become someone you’re not. Act appropriately, but always stay true to yourself. Sometimes it’s okay not to act your age. So, you do you babe. Be different confidently. Take up karate. Eat ice-cream for breakfast. Smile on the Tube.