Your self-esteem or sense of self-worth are tied directly to how you feel about and care for yourself. We’re talking about every aspect of you – your mind, your body, and your spirit. When you take great care of yourself, you demonstrate that you value your health and wellbeing. You must prioritize yourself.
Simple self-care habits can make a tremendous difference in your day-to-day life and experiences. Imagine if you never take care of yourself. You’re going to start feeling overwhelmed, stressed, depressed and maybe even angry. It impacts how you feel about yourself and others.
An excellent book on self-care is The Art of Extreme Self-Care: Transform Your Life One Month at a Time by Cheryl Richardson.
Conversely, if you do something every day to take care of you, then you face the world each day with a better ability to stay positive, focused, and strong. If you’re presently struggling with your self-esteem, simple self-care steps can help you improve it.
Let’s take a look at a few habits you can embrace to take better care of yourself:
1. Nourish Your Body
Many people spend their days grabbing the food that they can, when they can. Busy lives mean packaged foods and drive-thru windows. Choose one meal to really feed your body. Give it the healthy nutrients that it needs. You might try a green drink every day for a snack or a smoothie for breakfast.
“Instead of acknowledging that you need “to eat better,” you may recall how particular foods make you feel, and recognize that you have more energy when you avoid meat or dairy products and consume more vegetables.”
Richardson, Cheryl ~The Art of Extreme Self-Care
2. Move Your Body
Start moving your body more. If you’re sedentary, that means walking more. Do something every day that strengthens your body and gets blood flowing to your vital tissues. It impacts your emotions as well as your health.
“I know that a quiet, meditative walk along the water will clear my head, lift my mood, and give me access to wisdom and insight rather than the misguided musings of my thinking mind. I also go there to feel more connected to God; the yearnings of my soul; and what I need to live an authentic, passionate life. In many ways, the ocean is my church.”
Richardson, Cheryl ~The Art of Extreme Self-Care
3. Find Quiet Time
Many people spend their entire days in noisy environments. In the car the radio is on. At work people are talking. At home the television is on. Find at least 20 minutes each day for silence. You can journal, draw, knit, or meditate. It doesn’t matter what you do. You can combine your quiet time with your daily walk if you want. The point is to spend some time with your thoughts and to start listening to your inner voice. Cheryl Richardson says”
“I feel deprived because I have no time to myself,” for instance, you might say: “I feel deprived of solitary, uninterrupted time away from my children and husband, which allows me to do something just for me, such as read a good novel, have lunch with a friend, or take a quiet bath.”
Richardson, Cheryl ~ The Art of Extreme Self-Care
4. Learn Something New
Learning engages you and helps you get passionate and excited about your life. Find something that you’re interested in and curious about. You might want to learn how to dance or how to invest in the stock market. Maybe you want to learn more about Japanese history or how to make jewelry. Start pursuing your passions by learning.
5. Spend Time with Loved Ones
Set the intention to spend quality time with friends and family – people that make you smile and feel great about yourself and your life. If you don’t feel like you have those people, seek them out. Join a group that interests you, volunteer, and get involved.
Taking care of yourself is essential to feeling good about yourself. Find simple things that you can do on a daily basis to improve your self-care. Exercise more, eat more healthily, laugh, and learn.
