7 Creative Ways to Practice Self-Love
A close-up of a sunflower facing the bright, rising sun surrounded by a field of other sunflowers off in the distance.
I often remind my clients that as we move towards change and take a step towards our own personal growth, we have to give ourselves grace through every stage of the process.
Because while change and newness can be both energizing and exciting, it can also be scary and overwhelming.
Your mind and body crave safety and familiarity. And as you start doubling down on your personal growth to break old patterns and become an upgraded version of you, things will definitely start to feel uncomfortable.
So what can we do to care for ourselves a little more in these seasons of growth and expansion?
I’ve rounded up 7 of my favorite (and creative!) ways to practice self-love so that you feel supported through your personal growth.
Pause before saying “yes.” A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post all about how saying “no” and setting boundaries is a beautiful act of self-love, however I hear from my clients over and over that it’s hard to jump from trying to “do it all” to saying “no” straight away. If you find yourself overworked and overcommitted, practice self-love by pausing and being intentional before you say yes to a request that is asked of you. Within that pause, ask yourself, “Do I really want to make this commitment or do I simply feel like I have to?” If it’s a whole-hearted yes, say yes. If it’s not, protect your peace and say “no” clearly and kindly.
Do something creative. Children are encouraged to create and play, but as adults, we tend to lose those creative juices to the pressures and responsibilities of life. A beautiful way to love yourself through a season of growth is to invite some fun and joy into your life by simply being creative. Not sure where to start? Grab some markers and doodle. Bake something from scratch. Write a poem. Start a vision board. The only goal here is to get into a flow and create something for fun.
Keep one small promise to yourself. Do you find yourself regularly showing up well for others because you don’t want to let them down and then when it comes to you and your goals, you cast them aside? Practice self-love by committing to taking one tiny step forward on something that’s important to you. Make one small promise to yourself and follow through. I learned this technique from Dr. Nicole LePera, The Holistic Psychologist, and it’s been a regular practice in my life to learn to love myself well.
Celebrate something you’re proud of. Celebrate your wins! Big or small. Share about a recent success with a friend. Drink your favorite kombucha out of a wine glass (my personal favorite) and acknowledge the work you’re putting in. It only takes a minute to do so and the resulting good feeling will last all day.
Get dressed and ready for the day. I feel like a completely different person on the days I get dressed and ready for the day compared to the days I end up lounging and working in my pajamas. Don’t get me wrong, I love a pair of comfy sweatpants, but I feel a world of a difference with a bit of makeup and styled hair. The whole makeup and hair routine might not be for you and that’s okay! Lean into whatever your version of getting ready for the day and treat it as an opportunity to love yourself so that you feel good.
Leave one weekend day entirely unscheduled. Unscheduled to me simply means no formal commitments. If you wake up and feel like going to the gym? Do it. If you decide you want to go grocery shopping? Great. Beautiful weather and you want to take your kids to the park? That sounds fun! The key here is to allow yourself to go with the flow and do as you please. I love these days because I get to decide in the moment what I want and need versus always having a packed schedule with commitments to other people. Tending to your needs and on your own time is a way to love yourself.
Eat more vegetables. What the heck do vegetables have to do with self-love? When I was a teenager and into my early 20s I thought eating vegetables was a punishment, and something I’d only do as part of a weight loss plan. I’ve now shifted that mindset where I see eating healthful, nourishing foods not as a punishment, but an act of self-love. I feel my best and am nourishing my body well when I choose to add more vegetables to my life versus forcing them on my plate. Love yourself well by nourishing yourself well.
Which one of these was your favorite and which are you going to try? Perhaps your first small promise to yourself could be to add more vegetables to your next meal! And then go ahead and celebrate that win.
That’s a 3-for-1 self-love deal! You’re welcome.
On the left: Text reads “Personal Growth for Modern Corporate Women, Commit to yourself & growing into the next version of you.” Below is a radio button that says “Tell me more!” and by clicking the photo, you are directed to a page where you can learn more about coaching with Lauren.
On the right: There is a picture of Lauren, smiling, sitting on a park bench with her laptop.
