In the crazy times we’re experiencing, it can be a struggle to make time for yourself and prioritize both your physical and mental health. That’s when the expression “show up for yourself” comes into play! But showing up for yourself is more than just taking a nice bubble bath every once in a while. It’s about committing to your goals and desires and putting yourself first no matter what.
By promising to show up for yourself, you’re prioritizing your physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health needs. This helps you renew your energies and regain motivation to put in all the hard work necessary to achieve your goals. Considering that we’re currently facing a self-love crisis, this is more important than ever. According to the Body Shop’s global self-love index, one in two women across the world feel more self-doubt than self-love. So we need to wake up! We need to start showing up for ourselves and honoring our emotions in order to experience significant growth. That’s why today’s post is dedicated to this topic. Keep reading to learn the best ways to start showing up for yourself today!
10 Ways To Show Up For Yourself
Get clear with your goals in life.
Self-reflection holds incredible power. When we take the time to assess our emotions and truly think about what we want from this life, that’s when growth starts to flourish. If you don’t allow yourself the opportunity to clear your mental mess, you’ll never be able to shift your mindset for the better and stay focused on your goals. Just like Dr. Caroline Leaf talks about on THIS episode of The Blonde Files, rewiring our brains for resiliency is a key step to moving forward. So sit down and analyze what you want to achieve in this life. What are your goals? What makes you the happiest? Where do you want to be in ten years? Ask yourself the tough questions and you’ll be able to show up for your vision with consistency.
Commit to your passions.
Sure, it’s alright to work a little harder to thrive. What’s not okay is to work so hard that you forget what you like! Showing up for yourself also means making time for your passion projects and hobbies. There’s more to life than just your responsibilities, so you should allow yourself to enjoy all of it. Think about a hobby or passion project that makes you happy. Now commit to doing it once or twice a week. In the future, honor that commitment. Research suggests hobbies help you protect your mental health! So strive for that work-life balance and honor your passions starting today.
Acknowledge and honor your feelings.
How will you know what you need if you never acknowledge what you’re actually feeling? You need to listen to yourself before you can show up for what you want. So don’t shy away from tuning into your emotions and making choices based on them. If your intuition is telling you that you need some time to wallow or to recharge and reset, go for it. We actually have just the episode about that! Listen to THIS episode of Real Pod to dive deep into the benefits of recharging and starting over. It’s all about listening to your mind and body. Honor your true emotions and do what will make you feel good all the time! If you’re feeling particularly stressed or overwhelmed, check out our post about the best stress management techniques at home.
Take action toward your dreams every day.
If you don’t hold yourself accountable for your progress towards your dreams, then who will? As Kat Von D reiterates in THIS episode of Recovering From Reality, self-accountability is the key to building a lifestyle that you love. So commit to your goals and take action on them every single day! It can be a baby step, it doesn’t matter. No matter how small or insignificant it might seem, you’ll never regret setting aside time for your dreams! Forward motion is forward motion, so just keep things moving in the right direction.
Don’t let yourself get burnt out.
We get it, it’s tempting to load yourself with extra hours or endless social commitments to feel like you’re doing it all. But that’s a recipe for serious burnout and a lack of sleep! You need to learn how to chill out and let yourself relax every once in a while. THIS episode of Lipstick On The Rim paints a realistic view of burnout and what it feels like. So don’t force yourself to go the extra mile if your physical and mental health will take a toll. Only you know your limits, so use them wisely!
Keep negative thoughts in check.
While honoring your emotions is tough, facing your negative thoughts is a whole other challenge. But you need to fully show yourself the depths of your mental mess if you ever want to get out of it! So first, you need to keep those negative thoughts in check. Every time a lousy feeling starts to arise, acknowledge it and let it go. How? Well, you can physically release it through a workout, gain better perspective by listening to a confidence-boosting podcast, or even journal about it. This will help you improve your mental health and elevate your self-talk. Remember that showing up for yourself is an act of self-love. And it’s not cool to think negatively of someone you love, especially yourself!
Practice self-care with consistency.
Self-care is the seemingly magical solution to all problems in life. Look, we’re not saying that doing one self-care activity every three months will lead to radical change. It won’t. But if you’re consistent with your self-care routine, then you’ll start to see the benefits it has on your mental health. A self-care practice doesn’t even have to be an elaborate at-home spa! It can be as simple as a bedtime routine, fitness routine, beauty routine, or mental wellness routine. For example, maybe you enjoy listening to this 30-minute walking meditation for manifesting, abundance and self-love or reading a personal development book. The key to self-care is to use it as a way to prioritize your physical and mental needs, recharge, and reset. So take time for yourself every day!
Say Goodbye to Perfectionism
Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. It can hold you back from pursuing your dreams, trying new things, and enjoying life to the fullest. Say goodbye to perfectionism and focus on progress instead. No one is perfect, and it’s okay to make mistakes. In fact, mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow. Check out this episode of Good Morning, Monster on how perfectionism affects the workplace, and why it’s important to try and steer clear of it! Celebrate your wins, no matter how small they may be, and be kind to yourself when things don’t go as planned.
Move Your Body
Physical activity has numerous benefits for your mental and physical health. Moving your body helps to reduce stress, improve mood, boost self-esteem, and increase energy levels. It doesn’t matter if it’s a yoga class, a brisk walk, or a dance party in your living room. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a habit. Your body will thank you, and you’ll feel more connected to yourself and your needs.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being present at the moment and non-judgmentally observing your thoughts and feelings. It can help you develop a better understanding of yourself and your emotions, and it can also improve your overall well-being. Make time for mindfulness practices like meditation, deep breathing, or journaling. These practices can help you feel more grounded and centered, no matter what challenges come your way. Remember, showing up for yourself is a journey, not a destination. Be patient with yourself, and keep taking small steps forward every day. Check out this episode of TSC: Him & Her on practicing meditation and how it can help increase your self-worth!
How do you show up for yourself?
That’s all we have for you on how to show up for yourself! Holding yourself accountable and protecting your mental health is essential if you want to reach your goals. It’s yet another act of self-love! You have to be your biggest cheerleader to unlock all of your potential. If you follow these tips and make yourself a priority, you’ll notice just how much your life can change with just a few little tweaks. How are you honoring your needs today? Do you struggle with motivation and self-commitment? Let us know your story in the comments. Now go show up for yourself today!