By Liz Javier, Orangetheory Fitness
February is the month of love. Who is the first person you think of when you think of who you love? Your family? Your kids? Your husband? Your wife? What about yourself? How often do you put yourself on the top of the list of people you love the most?
You are not alone! As we go through life, we spend so much of our time and energy taking care of others at work and at home, sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves.
Self-love is proved by psychology studies to be a simple way to fight depression, keep anxiety low, and can be key to healthy mental health and well-being. Poor mental health can also lead to poor physical health. They are connected.
Self-love doesn’t have to be selfish or feel like a luxury. The reality is that self-love is something necessary, especially for people who work too much or too hard.
When you take care of yourself and love yourself first, you become more capable of helping and love others around you at a higher level. Take care of your own needs first. Be honest with yourself. You know you the best; therefore, you know how to love yourself the best!
Think of your self-love and well-being as a bank account. You don’t want to overdraw your account. When you are taking care of things at work and home, you are withdrawing from your funds.
To keep a positive balance, deposit back into your account. These are the things you do to invest in yourself. Things like getting enough sleep, eating well, working out, getting a massage, taking a vacation, meditating, or anything that creates happiness in your life and increases self-love and self-worth. Deposit some goodness back into your life.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Prioritize your needs and stop dismissing them as they arise. Put them to the front of your to-do list.
- Create healthy boundaries with your loved ones. Plan “you time” and don’t let anything keep you from it.
- Start writing or journaling about how you feel how you want to feel, and the things you can do to get there.
- Start a gratitude journal. Write down 1-5 things daily that make you grateful. Include self-love items.
- If you do not have a current workout routine, there’s no better time than now! This doesn’t have to be alone … you can do it with someone important in your life to encourage their self-love.
Here are some ways to get started on that self-love and include your significant other or loved one:
- Start small with a walk around the neighborhood or an easy hike. This is a great way to both feel great and bond in a healthy way with your partner. Work your way to more challenging hikes or longer walks.
- Make these moments of connection and physical activity part of a regular routine and put it on your calendar as an appointment like you would for a doctor’s appointment.
- Take a fitness class together. Orangetheory Fitness is a great example of a fun, results-based training designed to help you achieve your goals. You do not have to have any previous fitness background to join the class, and a certified coach will show you everything you need to know. Plus, the small group setting is great for meeting people in your community with similar goals!
The most important thing is to get started today! You are the most important person in your life and should be #1 on your priority list always!
Editor’s note: Liz Javier is area director of fitness at Arizona Orangetheory Fitness.
