5 Ways to Love Yourself More

Love Yourself

Find a method of loving yourself that works for you.

Loving yourself works a lot like a river. If the river is going to remain strong and wide, it needs a vast network of streams and smaller rivers — in this case, good habits — flowing into it on a regular basis. When you form and stick to these good habits, you’ll find you’re able to live a happier, healthier life. Since everyone is different, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for learning to love yourself more; everyone relaxes in different ways and needs different amounts and kinds of socialization to be happy. As a result, you might need to experiment a little to discover what works best for you. No matter who you are, however, many of the basic foundations of loving yourself are the same. Here are a few habits you can form to begin loving yourself more.

1. Be intentional about your actions.

One of the major elements of learning to love yourself is being intentional about your actions. Is there something you’ve been putting off doing to take care of yourself, or is there a self-care activity you’ve always wanted to do? Instead of procrastinating or letting yourself get busy, focus on how you can do that today — and then make it happen!

2. Go to regular health checkups.

Loving yourself also involves taking care of your body, so you should commit yourself to getting health checkups regularly from both your dentist and your primary care physician. This ensures health concerns, whether it’s cavities, gum disease, or your cholesterol levels, are detected before they become major issues. Avoiding your regular dental evaluations, for example, can land you at the emergency dentist.

Although many people strive to be health-conscious, your oral and overall health are equally important; in fact, they have a big impact on each other. Even if you stick to a healthy diet and exercise routine, an unhealthy mouth can cause major health problems in the long term, increasing your chances of major health issues, like heart disease and stroke. As a result, it’s healthier and safer for you to care for your health on all levels. Visit your primary care physician for a checkup at least once a year and your dentist for an evaluation at least every six months.

3. Take the time to relax.

Taking a little time out of each day to simply relax can reliably lower your stress levels, which, in turn, helps you feel more positive and improves your blood pressure. Everyone relaxes differently, so you may need to try several different activities before you find the right one — or even spice it up from night to night if that works best for you. You may choose to read, paint, or watch TV at home, but for more extroverted people, relaxing might involve inviting a friend over for dinner or going out to see a movie or a play.

4. Spend five minutes exercising every day.

Exercise is a vital part of keeping your body healthy and can even improve your mental health by decreasing depression and anxiety, but it can be difficult to fit into a busy schedule. Choose a type of exercise that interests you and fits your ability level, whether it’s yoga, running, or simply walking through your neighborhood, and begin by committing yourself to five minutes of exercise every day; although it’s short enough to fit into even the busiest schedule, five minutes will add up to a good chunk of exercise throughout the week. If you’d like, you can gradually increase the amount of time you spend exercising to reap even more benefits.

5. Allow yourself to finally align your teeth.

If you’ve always been interested in straightening your teeth but have never gotten around to it or have avoided spending the money, you should allow yourself to finally align your teeth. While most people often think of orthodontic treatment as exclusive to teenagers, you’re never too old to straighten your teeth. It can help you love your smile, improve your self-confidence, and may alleviate symptoms that can result from a misaligned bite, like frequent headaches or jaw pain. If you’d like to learn more, you can schedule a consultation to discuss your treatment options and receive an estimate for the cost of your treatment.

Although we often think of mental and physical health as entirely separate, the reality is they’re tied together, each affecting the other to some degree. As a result, learning to love yourself involves caring for both your mental and physical health, and it’s not always intuitive. It takes work to figure out what works best for you, and you must commit to forming new habits, but you’ll reap the benefits by feeling healthier, happier, and more positive overall — and you’ll learn a lot about yourself along the way.