It’s been a while since I’ve talked about the importance, and better yet, the benefits of self-love. Why is it so important? Because it keeps you aligned with yourself. The benefits, on the other hand, are almost endless. It allows you to take time to let your body rest and catch up with the demand of everyday tasks. It lets you see yourself for who you really are: one of a kind. And it allows you to take care of and appreciate yourself in a world that’s otherwise harsh and cruel.

Now I know that sometimes it can be hard to find ways to indulge in a little self-love. We can be too busy. We can be the toughest critic on our own life who feels we don’t deserve it. But, in the same harsh reality, we are the ones we have to rely on. To be there for ourselves no matter what. We need to show ourselves that as much as we try and screw up, as much as we try and it seems to not be enough, that it is okay. We need to appreciate ourselves for what we do rather than beat ourselves up for the things we can’t do.

So how can you practice more self-love? Well, there are really so many ways, but I’ve got a list of my five favorites. They are simple enough to start practicing now, and it’s also a great start to making self-love a part of your everyday routine. So here we go.

1) Try something new.
Find something that you have always wanted to try, or have been curious about. Then dive head into it! What is something that makes you happy? Really think about it. For me, it can be something as simple as baking, or gardening, or learning something new. Lately, I have been finding myself wanting to try a dance class or an aerial silk class. It may seem silly to you, but it is something I think will bring me joy(:

2) Give yourself a day off.
Look, I know we’ve all gotten to the point where our schedules barely allow us the time to complete, well, our schedules. But here’s the thing. If you always go, go, go, but still end up not finishing all your 1,386,927 things on your to-do list, that’s fine! What isn’t okay is not taking at least five minutes a day to just do you. So better yet, take a whole day to catch up on some much-needed self-love(:

3) Have a girls or guys night.
We are social beings by nature, that’s just how we work. And I get that some of us work better solo. That’s 100% okay. But it’s important to get out once in a while with people who love you and to forget about the real world for a bit. Be in the moment. Same goes for those who work better with others. Take some time off from your significant other and enjoy being with the ladies or gents who your life wouldn’t be complete without(:

4) Do something for yourself without guilt.
This one is hands down life changing! Have you ever wanted to do or buy yourself something but found yourself weighing the pros and cons of it? (Guilty!) Well, sometimes life is about risk. Sometimes you should just go for it. Ask yourself, “Will it make me happy?” If the answer is yes, do it! No need to ask if it’s right at this point in time or if it would be a smarter decision not to. Do it for yourself and without any guilt(:

5) Write down all the things you like about yourself.
Be real with yourself. Take the time to be caring and authentic about the positive things about yourself! It doesn’t have to be a three-page essay. But I want you to give 100% of your effort into writing down at least five things that you like about yourself. It can be your strength, caring, tenacity, whatever you come up with! And then I want you to read this list to yourself every day. This is who you truly are. Not those other negative things you think or hear(:

And that’s it! Five simple ways to start practicing the self-love you deserve now. Comment below what the five things you like about yourself are. Be proud(:

Until next time, remember to have fun and make life as simple as could be!

XoXo-Branndolynne