Learning to love yourself is no easy task. It’s something that takes time, energy, and dedication. But don’t let this scare you! Anyone can do it, and the sooner you start, the better! The hardest part is getting started. So, here are a few activities that you can try to kick off your self-love journey!

1. Journaling

If you’ve never journaled, you’re missing out! Journaling is the perfect habit to create on your self-love journey, as it allows you to let out all your thoughts and emotions opposed to bottling them up inside. Whether positive or negative, these thoughts can later be reflected on once written down, leading to acceptance, awareness, and even self-confidence, which are all integral parts of your self-love journey.

2. Work Out

This next idea might not sound the most appealing, but trust me, it is so worth it. Taking time out of the week to exercise is the ultimate form of self-love, as it relates directly to self-care. The idea of taking care of yourself -- or your body, in this case -- is an essential part of learning to love yourself. Also, exercising has been proven to boost self-esteem and have a positive affect on your mental health. Your workout doesn’t have to be super vigorous either -- a walk in the neighborhood or yoga in the park can do the job, as long as you remember that you’re working out for yourself and not anyone else.

3. Have a Self-Care Day

Let’s dive deeper into the idea of self-care. Self-care and self-love go hand-in-hand, and it should be practiced as much as possible on your self-love journey. Having a self-care day can look like whatever it is that makes you feel good inside and out, whether that means having a spa day where you take some time to unwind, catching up on sleep that is long overdue, or indulging in your favorite foods on cheat day. However you choose to spend it, the day is ultimately centered around the idea of showing yourself how much you love you.

4. Take Yourself On a Date

Solo dates might seem intimidating, but it’s not nearly as bad as it sounds. Think of it as a fun way to spend a little extra time with yourself while doing something you love. No outside opinions, no first-date jitters, and definitely no one to rush you out of the house. Take yourself to dinner, the movies, or on a tour of the city to allow yourself time alone to figure out what you like, what you don’t like, and ultimately what makes you, you.

5. Commit To Yourself

This final activity is one that should seal the deal. Buying yourself a promise ring, also known as a self-love ring, is one of the best forms of self-love. You’re basically committing to yourself, which is a statement of its own. You’re committing to being patient and kind to yourself, and ultimately making a promise to love yourself unconditionally. Besides, who doesn’t love a new shiny piece jewelry?!