Self-love and self-care sound very similar but aren’t the same. You might be asking something like this: “Aren’t these just the same thing but with different names?” And that’s an astute observation! They do seem a lot alike. The key difference between the two is how they’re enacted. Self-love is a state of mind. It’s about focusing on loving who you are as a person, regardless of external factors. Self-care, on the other hand, is about the physical acts of taking care of oneself, usually prioritized over other activities. While self-care can be about taking care of yourself emotionally and mentally, it usually involves a physical act such as meditation. The difference is relatively small but critical. One is a mental act while the other is a physical act. So, knowing what the two are, what are some ways to practice self-love and self-care?
Let’s take a look:
Small Ways to Practice Self-Love:
- Saying self-affirmations
- Practicing avoiding negative language when talking about yourself
- Avoiding self-deprecating humor (and maybe even replacing it with self-uplifting humor)
Small Ways to Practice Self-Care:
- Drinking tea
- Meditating
- Using a face mask
- Reading a book (for fun and not for school)
- Listening to your favorite music
- Eating a good meal
For more resources, check out these awesome sites:
- Brain and Behavior Research Foundation’s article on defining self-love
- Life Hack’s article on ways to practice self-love
- Good Therapy’s article on the importance of self-love (and how therapy can play into that)
- Blurt It Out’s article on the differences between self-love and self-care
- The International Bipolar Foundation’s article on ways to start practicing self-care
Hopefully this helps narrow down your search for resources or encourages you to dip your toe into self-care and self-love practices. Remember, it’s always okay to do things for yourself. In a world that demands constant productivity and contributions to larger causes, sometimes taking a few moments for yourself is necessary to help you grow and maintain a balanced lifestyle.