PRACTICAL STEPS

for daily development of self-love

(from someone who's still figuring it out)

1. Start with Something Nice—For Yourself

You know how you wake up and immediately check your phone to see who’s texted or what the world’s on fire about now? Yeah, stop that. Instead, start your day by doing something kind for yourself.

• Drink water (coffee counts as water, right?).
• Play a song that makes you feel like the main character.
• Look in the mirror and say, “Hey, gorgeous 😘,” even if your hair looks like a bird’s nest.

Self-love starts with small, ridiculous acts of kindness—especially first thing in the morning.

2. Learn to Say “No” Without a PowerPoint Presentation

Once upon a time, I thought “no” was a two-letter word. (It is, but not the bad kind.) Learning to say No without overexplaining has been a game changer.

• “Want to join this thing you don’t care about?” No!
• “Can you take on this extra project that will make you cry?” Nope!
• “Do you want fries with that?” Yes!(Always yes to fries 😜)

Setting boundaries is one of the most underrated forms of self-love.

Saying "No" to others sometimes means saying "Yes" to yourself.

3. Write Love Notes (To Yourself)

Hear me out: I know writing a love letter to yourself feels awkward. But trust me, it works. Start small:

• “Hey, you survived Monday. That’s impressive.”
• “Your sarcasm is unmatched. Never change.”
• “That thing you’re insecure about? Literally no one else noticed.”

Stick these notes where you’ll see them. Fridge, bathroom mirror, laptop—anywhere you need a reminder that you’re pretty awesome.

4. Celebrate the Small Wins

Do you know what we’re really bad at? Celebrating ourselves.

We brush off compliments, downplay our achievements, and then wonder why we feel like crap. Instead, let’s start throwing mini parties for small wins.

• You folded your laundry the same day you washed it? That’s basically wizardry!
• You spoke up in a meeting? Go you, corporate warrior!
• You made it through a day without spiraling into existential dread? That’s worth champagne!

Treat yourself like a fan treats his favorite, because who else is going to hype you up for eating a vegetable or hitting “send” on a scary email?

5. Forgive Yourself for Being a Hot Mess

This might be the hardest part of self-love. You’re going to screw up. You’ll say the wrong thing, skip the gym, eat ice cream for dinner, and accidentally ignore a friend’s text for three days (or three months).

Guess what?

You’re human. Forgive yourself.

I remind myself daily: Self-love isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being kind to yourself when you’re not.

6. End Your Day with Gratitude—Even for the Weird Stuff

Before bed, think of three things you’re grateful for. They don’t have to be profound.

• “I didn’t spill coffee on myself today.”
• “My plants are still alive. Barely, but still.”
• “Netflix recommended a show I actually like.”

Gratitude is like exercise for your brain. It shifts the focus from “What went wrong today?” to “Hey, life isn’t so bad.”

Self-love is messy, imperfect, and kind of a pain sometimes. But every little step matters. The beauty is, you don’t have to do it all at once. Just try one thing today, and if it works, great. If not, try something else tomorrow.

And remember: Self-love doesn’t mean you think you’re flawless. It means you know you’re worth the effort—even on potato days. ❤️