Simple ways to practice self-love

Self-love… it’s something that’s become essential to our mental health and wellbeing for a healthy and happy lifestyle; and rightly so, with over 2 in 5 Australians (aged 16-85) estimated to have experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life. So, how can you improve your mental wellbeing?

We’ve put together a few techniques and activities you might like to use for practicing self-love. Remember, try and find what works for you – everyone’s different.

Connect to a world you love

For some of us, our happy place lies in the words and melodies of our favourite authors and artists; it can be a fantastic way to connect into the world that you love.

You may prefer to read fantastical stories, go see a movie, get stuck into your favourite YouTuber, or chill out to a variety of your favourite albums.

Whatever platform you prefer, it is always beneficial to think about what activity in what setting brings you calmness, by creating a safe, peaceful place where you can slowdown, relax, and connect with what you love.

Practicing mindfulness and meditation

Get yourself into the right head space by giving yourself time throughout your busy schedule to dedicate to meditation, or a moment of mindfulness. The benefits are astronomical:

• Improve your sleeping habits and quality
• Gain a new perspective on stressful situations
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Increase self-awareness
• Lower your heart rate, blood pressure, and overtime, improve your overall health

There are many useful tools on the market to assist in your meditation moments and journey. Apps, such as Headspace, can be the perfect place to start. Not only are they conveniently on your phone for easy access, but the meditation sessions are also offered for all levels, including guided sessions to support you through your mindfulness practice.

If you are looking to slow down, reconnect, and just take a moment to yourself in our busy world, try our Yoga Calm class, which focuses on a Yin Yoga practice from the moment you step into the studio. Your teacher will cue long holds close to the ground to encourage mobility throughout your body. For everybody and every level, this class will reduce your stress and improve your wellbeing.

Celebrate your qualities and accomplishments

If we’re not experiencing a great deal of self-love lately, it can be easy to brush aside compliments and praise, because we’re not believing them. This is especially hard in times when we need encouragement most.

One way that can help you start to agree with what your friends and loved ones think about you is to write down it down. Maybe you’re noting down a compliment you received via text or thinking back to a moment where you made yourself proud.

There is an endless list of positive qualities about you. You just need to give yourself a moment to recognise them. Here are a few ideas to get your mind flowing – considerate, reliable, determined, responsible, animal-lover, good listener, artistic, diligent, adventurous, charitable, creative, reliable, appreciative, or health-conscious.

Seeing these qualities physically written in front of you can help reinforce and acknowledge what makes you so unique. That way you can start saying ‘thank you’ when receiving a compliment or positive feedback with a smile on your face that says, ‘I agree’.

Get active

One of the best ways to boost your mood and energy is through the self-care you show your body by being active. Whether you prefer to do it by yourself or with some of your friends, it’s shown that physical activity can have great effects on your body and mind.

Get outside! Try tennis, basketball, martial arts, jump in a pool, endure on a hike, join a social sports team after work, or spend some time at the gym.

If the latter is what you’re interested in, Virgin Active offers a variety of exercise classes for every level of fitness. Alternatively, if you prefer to lock in and work on your own gym program, we have plenty of equipment on our gym floors that can help you achieve your fitness goals.

Book your free pass today and see where your self-love journey will take you.