17 Ways to Love Yourself in 2017

If YOU are the most important part of your life, let 2017 be the year you make the choice to love yourself more.

“Loving yourself” will look different for each of us. It’s important to tap into your intuition to identify what you are longing for, as well as what nourishes you—and to let this be a guide for what self-love means to you.

Sometimes getting started can be tough; that’s why we’ve compiled a list of 17 ways to love yourself more in 2017!

Commit to one or two of these a week and notice the difference it makes!

1. Let go and accept what is.
The fastest route to changing anything in your life is accepting it. When you let go of “the shoulds,” the expectations, the resentments, and everything else we tend to hang on to, you discover the freedom to move forward.

2. Trust yourself.
Are there little things you’re doing that go against what you know to be true deep down? Take notice of this, and choose to trust your gut this year.

3. Engage in self-care.
Take a bath, light a candle, get a massage, and just breathe. You already know what nourishes your soul, so be sure to make those things an integral part of your life.

4. Keep it simple.
Get eight hours of sleep, drink more water, eat food that nourishes you, and commit to moving your body every day. It doesn’t need to be complicated!

5. Pause when you need a break.
We live in a society that often celebrates pushing yourself to your limits, but the only thing this is good for is burning out. Commit to slowing down in 2017 and pausing when you need a break, even if that just means pushing away from your desk for a few deep breaths.

6. Honor your feelings.
Make a commitment this year to not disguise or avoid your feelings. Honor what is showing up and allow it to be fully felt and processed.

7. Say no more often.
Stop saying “yes” when you don’t mean it. Trust yourself to know when the answer is “no,” and love yourself by speaking your truth.

8. Find your tribe.
Connecting with dear friends and family who support you is one of the most rewarding ways to love yourself. Call a friend, grab coffee, and just laugh with those you love this year.

9. Put the phone down.
When you’re cruising through life on autopilot, you can feel exhausted at the end of the day and not even know why. One of the biggest culprits is time wasted on your phone. Next time you’re waiting in line at the grocery store or at a red light, take time to pause, breathe, and soak up your surroundings instead of checking social media.

10. Do something for others.
Studies have shown that volunteering offers direct benefits for our mental and physical health. Find something you’re passionate about (walking dogs at the local humane society, picking up trash at your local park, or mentoring a young girl) and commit to taking action around it.

11. Do something you’ve always wanted to do.
You know that one thing you’ve always wanted to do (the thing that maybe pushes you a little or a lot outside your comfort zone)? Make 2017 the year you go for it.

12. Read a book.
Allow yourself time to dive into that book you’ve been wanting to read. I’m currently reading Regena (Mamagena) Thomashauer’s Pussy: A Reclamation and loving it.

13. Create something.
Whether you enjoy painting, writing, taking photos, or [fill in the blank], take time to let your messy creativity soar and see what comes out!

14. Buy yourself something nice.
It doesn’t need to be expensive! Treat yourself to something that makes you feel loved and luxurious; my personal favorite is fresh flowers.

15. Create a nightly ritual.
Having a nightly ritual offers huge benefits for quality of sleep, and allows some down time for you to do whatever soothes you most. Whether it’s committing to no TV after 8pm, reading before bed, or taking a nightly bath, commit to following a routine that works for you, and I promise you’ll notice the benefits!

16. Surround yourself with people who lift you up.
As Jim Rohn famously said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Take a close look at who you’re allowing to take up space in your life, and make the decision to only surround yourself with people who lift you up this year.

17. Set an intention, commit to it, and start now!
Following through on your commitments is one of the best ways to love yourself! Not only do you get to reap the benefits of fulfilling your intentions, but you also get a boost of self-esteem every time you set, commit to, and fulfill an intention.

Have something to add to the list? Comment below and let us know what it is!