Celebrate Yourself Because You Deserve It
Are you doing an amazing job every day? Give yourself the recognition you deserve! Read on for our best suggestions for celebrating yourself.
Feeling post-holiday blues? Even if it’s not the holiday season, it doesn’t mean the celebrations have to end.
We can all use a little extra positivity in our lives. Amidst all the fuss around celebrating baby showers, friends’ promotions, heck, even dogs’ birthdays, we often forget to celebrate ourselves.
Selflessness is a wonderful virtue, but at the end of the day, to lift up those around you, you’ve got to lift yourself up too. Though big events like a graduation or a new job are times to celebrate yourself, it’s important to make space in your everyday life to show some self-love.
You’re already doing an amazing job at work, school, or home, so give yourself some positive feedback to back it up!
We’re often taught to push our needs aside to tend to our loved ones, despite the toll this can take on us. You might promise yourself today’s the day you’ll take a break and watch that movie you’ve been meaning to watch, but before you know it, you’re onto the next task.
Here at The Good Patch, we’ve put together a quick guide to getting your priorities straight and celebrating yourself for at least a few minutes each day.
What Is Self-Care?
When we think about celebrating ourselves, the term self-care might come to mind. But what exactly does that mean?
The awesome thing about self-care is that it has no definition and can work differently for everyone. To loosely define it, it might be helpful to think of self-care as all the actions we take to make our lives as healthy and happy as possible.
Celebrating yourself is an essential form of self-care that can manifest in many ways. For some, it will be a fixed routine they can follow each day, while others squeeze it in wherever they can. Regardless of how you do it, we’re here to encourage you to make it happen.
How To Celebrate Yourself
Beyond celebrating your achievements (which you 100 percent should do), there are many ways to show appreciation for the small things you do daily. Follow along as we go through our best tips for recognizing how far you’ve come!
Get Some Sleep
As we’ve discussed, there’s no harm in starting small. Many of us aren’t used to this whole self-love thing, so get the ball rolling with some much-needed shut-eye.
Experts recommend between seven and nine hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. If you struggle to fall asleep, give yourself a boost with the Dream patch before you cozy up under the covers.
Getting through each day can feel like a triumph on its own. After a long day, allow yourself a moment to unwind with a bedtime routine that treats you right.
Here are a few steps to add to your nighttime ritual:
- Take a nice warm bath
- Read a book
- Sip an herbal tea
- Do some meditation or light yoga
- Listen to a calming playlist
Feeling rested and revitalized in the morning is the perfect gift to give yourself; it’ll propel you through the day with the energy you need to be at your best!
Morning Affirmations
Now that you’re rejuvenated and ready for what lies ahead, there’s no better way to start your day than with some positive self-talk.
It’s easy to wake up feeling stressed about your to-do list and other responsibilities, so make an effort to celebrate yourself intentionally. Talk to yourself the way you would speak to a loved one! Positive self-talk means flipping the table on how we see many of life’s common happenings.
Rather than ruminating on something that didn’t go your way, seek out the things you have done well and praise yourself for them. Morning affirmations are statements you can say out loud or think that help put you in a good emotional state.
Research shows they have positive effects on both mental and physical health, so we’ve listed a few of our favorites here:
- “I have the knowledge to make smart decisions for myself.”
- “I have all I need to make today a great day.”
- “I am, and always will be, enough.”
- “I acknowledge my self-worth — my confidence is rising.”
- “I let go of any negative feeling about myself or my life and accept all that is good.”
- “I always attract only the best of circumstances and have positive people in my life.”
- “I am courageous. I am willing to act and face my fears.”
- “I have unlimited power.”
- “I am a powerful creator. I create the life I want and enjoy it.”
- “Every day, I discover interesting and exciting new paths to pursue.”
- “I trust my intuition, and I always make wise decisions.”
Further, set yourself up for a successful day by pairing your morning affirmations with our Daily Ritual Set!
Dress Up (or Down) for No Reason
The key to feeling your best is to put yourself in the right position to do so! If you enjoy it, throw on that new dress or fancy shoes you haven’t felt you an occasion for.
Even if you’re just heading to the grocery store, don’t be afraid to get all gussied up. Sometimes all it takes is seeing yourself at your best to remember how amazing you look.
On the flip side, if dressing up isn’t your thing, try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Nothing quite matches lounging around the house all day in your comfiest fit. Wear things that make you as happy as possible!
Do Something That Makes You Happy
Speaking of being happy, when’s the last time you did something just for you? With such fast-paced lives, many of us forget about the hobbies that drive us.
Maybe that means baking a new pie recipe, volunteering at a local charity, or picking up your old guitar. Whichever way, you deserve time dedicated just to you. Using our spare time to focus on our passions is essential and can be therapeutic.
Give Yourself a Break
Sometimes the best way to celebrate yourself is to stop for a sec. Whether you’re working, studying, or taking care of family, taking breaks throughout the day has proven benefits, such as:
- Boosts energy: Focusing all our power on one task can be draining. Changing pace for even 10 or 20 minutes can be just enough to recenter.
- Improves your memory: Short, repeated learning periods can improve both concentration and the memorization of new info.
- Lowers stress levels: Constant worry about responsibilities will lead to a build-up of stress, so take a rest to relieve it a bit.
- Higher productivity and creativity: Clearing your mind about the job at hand may be exactly what you need to come up with that breakthrough idea!
Reward yourself for all your hard work by allowing yourself time off. If you have trouble refocusing, we’ve made the Think patch for that.
Graciously Accept Those Compliments
Now that you’ve given yourself all the self-love and self-care you deserved, there’s no doubt people will notice the effects!
However, taking compliments with a “thank you” rather than being embarrassed or disagreeing can be one of the hardest steps in celebrating yourself. Accepting compliments and feeling the energy of that love and support is an important skill.
Take a Moment To Reflect
When it’s all said and done, it’s time to get meta. First, write down all the achievements in your life, big or small, whatever comes to mind. This may seem daunting, but set a timer and see what pops up.
Seriously, these don’t need to be major life events. If you’re proud of your 7th-grade basketball championship or joining a choir, jot it down!
Now, write down what you did to celebrate each of these accomplishments. Doing so will help you figure out the best way to celebrate yourself and what makes you feel the best you can.
Journaling like this every day is a big help for some of us, while others may benefit from doing it every so often. Whatever is best for you, recognizing your achievements and celebrations is a great way to stay motivated and build up your confidence.
In Conclusion
Do these tips seem like a lot? Luckily you don’t need to take all our advice! This list is here to help you in whatever way you need, so pick and choose until you find what works best for you.
Whether you find time to celebrate with 15 minutes to yourself at the end of the day or take yourself out on a fancy solo date, even the smallest moment dedicated to you is important.
Remember to be gentle with yourself, as this is a learning process and perhaps one you aren’t used to. If you need a little extra reminder, try adding to your list of affirmations — “I am accomplished. I deserve to and will celebrate myself!”
Sources:
How Much Sleep Do I Need? | CDC