You First: How to Show Up for Yourself Every Day
On your journey of self-love, showing up for yourself can change your life forever. When you show up for yourself, you become your own best friend and make decisions that foster your personal growth and well-being. When you put yourself first, you invest in habits, goals, and rituals that elevate your mind, body, and soul. Show yourself grace, speak kindly to yourself and remember: this life is yours. Prioritising your needs and desires is not selfish; it’s essential. It all starts with you. So don’t be afraid to put yourself first!
Start with the Basics
Hydration, nourishing meals, and restful sleep are the foundations of self-care. Keep a water bottle at your side as a reminder to hydrate throughout the day. Anticipate your busy schedule by preparing delicious, balanced meals in advance, and curate a calming nighttime ritual that will help you relax and unwind at the end of the day. To do your best, you need to feel your best, so treat your body with the same intention and care you would offer a beloved friend.
Make Time for Self-care
PSA, self-care doesn’t make you selfish or vain; it’s an essential for your mental and physical well-being. Self-care can be anything that makes you feel happy, healthy, relaxed, or confident. Prioritise practices that replenish you, body and soul. Savour nourishing meals, move your body in ways that feel good, and cherish your hair, skin, and body with products that make you feel radiant. Feed your mind with inspiring books and podcasts, and create small daily moments that make you feel truly cared for.
Commit to your Goals & Habits
When we break promises to ourselves, our self-worth fades. If this becomes a habit, we begin to believe we aren’t worthy of our own trust, and this destroys our self-esteem. You will only start to thrive when you commit to your goals, routines, and habits. Those who are successful and confident are so because of the habits they practice every day. Building habits and routines can be challenging, but anchor yourself in your vision: What kind of woman are you becoming? What do you want to achieve? Set gentle reminders, track your progress, and celebrate every small victory. Your promises to yourself are sacred - keep them, and watch your self-worth blossom.
Honour your Emotions
Allow yourself to feel every emotion without gaslighting yourself and suppressing your feelings. It’s okay to feel negative emotions, but it is also OK to be happy and feel good about yourself: allow yourself to cry, to vent, to share vulnerably with trusted friends or in the pages of her journal. Savour joy without guilt, laugh deeply, celebrate your own achievements or do something just because it makes you happy. Feeling all these emotions is part of the human experience, so be honest about how you feel and allow yourself to feel everything, good and bad, without judgment - Honouring your emotions is an essential act of self-respect.
Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is not only healthy - it’s empowering. For all the people pleasers, this might seem impossible to understand or even change, but this is something you need to practice and implement into your life. Practice saying no, and notice what energises you versus what drains you. Define your boundaries with clarity, and honour them as you would any critical commitment. Be intentional about who you surround yourself with; release relationships that aren’t healthy, that make you feel bad about yourself, or that don’t respect you. Communicate your boundaries, and those who truly love and respect you will honour those boundaries. Most importantly, let your boundaries remind you of your own worth.
Give Yourself Permission to Rest
Hustle culture has taken over to the point where resting is considered lazy or unimportant. But life is about balance, and with work comes rest for both your body and mind. You can’t do your best if you don’t feel your best. You don’t have to live at full speed all the time, so take a nap, mute social media, enjoy a bath, cook a nice meal, read a book, lie in bed, watch a movie, or simply do nothing. Breathe deeply, savour the quiet, and remember that your worth is not measured by your productivity.
Practice Self-Forgiveness
We all make mistakes - this is the most human truth of all. Release the pressure to be perfect. When you stumble, respond with compassion and curiosity, not criticism. Reflect on what you can learn, then gently let go. Treat yourself as you would a dear friend: with patience, grace, and forgiveness. Accept your imperfections as part of your unique elegance.
Achieving self-forgiveness can be difficult, but seeking professional help can be a great way to practice self-forgiveness with support and on a deeper level.
Be Unapologetically Yourself
The most radiant way to show up for yourself is to be unapologetically you. Embrace your individuality - dress in ways that express your style, make choices that align with your values, and seek joy on your own terms. Design a life that reflects your vision, not the expectations of others . It's not about anyone else, so don't let anyone dictate your self-worth, dreams, or happiness. There is something beautifully freeing about showing up as yourself and living a life that makes you happy.