Wellness Wednesday: Loving YOU
Valentine’s Day is here and the spirit of love is all around us. Though this is a time typically devoted to celebrating romantic relationships, there is one relationship that deserves equal attention and care — the relationship you have with yourself.
According to the Berkeley Well-Being Institute, self love involves appreciating yourself and prioritizing your well-being. Taking time to cultivate wellness can lead to reduced feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. There are several ways to engage in self-love and it looks different for everyone. Below are just a few ways to practice loving yourself.
Journaling
Journaling is simply the process of putting one’s thoughts and feelings down on paper. Positive Psychology outlines the benefits of writing down the contents of our minds, including helping us to process and manage difficult emotions like anxiety, stress and depression, and allows us to identify the root causes of those feelings. Journaling doesn’t have to be complicated – whether using a physical notebook or the Notes app on your phone, it only takes a few minutes each day. To get started, try this activity as part of your wind-down routine.
Positive Affirmations
With midterms approaching, you may feel anxious about performing well or unsure of your abilities. The use of positive affirmations, or encouraging phrases, helps to overcome these negative thoughts and feelings. Some examples include: “I am worthy of investing in myself,” “I am a successful person,” and “I am confident and capable.” While there are no strict rules for practicing positive affirmations, repeating them twice a day and tailoring them to suit your goals and reflect your core values can increase their effectiveness. When practiced repeatedly over time, positive affirmations help us engage in more beneficial thinking and behaviors, increase resilience and improve our outlook on life.
Take Time to Know Yourself
Rather than an endpoint, self-love is a journey that involves finding time to explore what makes you happy. This could be trying a new hobby, delving into your passions or expanding your knowledge by learning something new. Participating in activities you love can reduce stress, improve academic performance and increase empathy. As we age, we sometimes find it more difficult to find time for hobbies, or it is not seen as a priority. One strategy to incorporate more fun and play into our lives is to take a long-term approach rather than a short-term one. Instead of trying to do something everyday, fill the gaps in your schedule where you can, even if that means you can only do your hobby a few times a month.
Find Support When You Need It
Loving yourself involves recognizing when you need support and seeking it out. Learn about the Power of a Balanced Mindset with certified wellness coaches at our next event on Feb. 22. All NC State students also get four free individual coaching sessions per semester to set and work on their unique goals.
Another excellent resource is the Counseling Center, where students can access individual and group therapy, student-led drop-in spaces and educational workshops. If traditional in-person therapy doesn’t work for you, you can also schedule a telehealth appointment for free through the online platform Mantra.
Engaging in self-love is often easier said than done. As we approach the middle of the semester, academics eat up more of our schedules, it is important to remember to incorporate self-love as a priority on our to-do lists. Take time to appreciate yourself this Valentine’s Day, you deserve the same kindness and love you give to others.
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