None of us feel 100% all the time. Some days are tougher than others, and in some cases, days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months, and those feelings of stress, anxiety, sadness, and overwhelm become commonplace in our lives.
Whatever you’re feeling, it’s not too late to start turning your mindset around, and it all starts with affirmations.
When they’re repeated every day, affirmations can help instill the positivity and confidence you need to face life’s challenges head-on.
So, without further ado, let’s explore the 30 self-care affirmations you need today.
What Is Self Care?
Although self-care can look different to everyone, it’s the practice of making the right decisions for your own health and well-being using the knowledge and resources available to you.
Essentially, self-care is all about putting yourself first, setting boundaries, and being a little selfish.
There’s nothing wrong with being selfish. We all need to put ourselves first sometimes, especially if life is throwing you one curveball after another. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or burnt out, it’s probably time to put self-care into practice.
Although these affirmations are a great form of self-care, there are multiple ways to practice self-care, including:
The Physical
This could be getting enough sleep, eating healthier, drinking enough water, and getting enough exercise. If your mental health is causing you to neglect your health, working on your physical self-care should be a priority.
The Social
Then we have social self-care. Everyone has different social needs, but social self care can include spending more (or less) time with your friends or family, or making an effort to nurture existing relationships.
The Mental
Mental self-care is usually the most popular form of self-care, and again, it looks different for everyone.
There are so many different ways to stay mentally healthy, but your mental self-care could look like learning a new subject, practicing meditation, reading more books, watching films that make you happy, and fostering a more accepting and positive inner dialogue.
The Spiritual
Spiritual self-care is often misunderstood. Even if you’re not religious, you can still practice spiritual self-care.
Spiritual self-care can involve doing anything that helps you give you a deeper sense of meaning, exploring your own connection with the universe, and engaging in spiritual practices that give you a deeper sense of meaning and fulfillment.
The Emotional
Emotional self-care isn’t quite the same as mental self-care, but the two share some commonalities.
Your emotional self-care should involve ensuring you have healthy ways to express and process your emotions and incorporating more activities into your life that help you feel energized and positive.
You could even practice reaching out to people when you need support if this is something that you struggle with.
Although your self-care affirmations can do wonders on their own, we’d recommend exploring these other aspects of self-care. See which areas of your life need improvement, and commit to working on them.
Doing this alongside your affirmations will likely see notable and positive changes to your mindset and lifestyle.
Why Is Self-Care Important?
But what makes self-care so important, and why is it something we’re all encouraged to do?
Whatever it looks like for you, self-care has the power to improve your health, help you cope with illness, prevent disease and improve your wellbeing. Self-care can even help you find a purpose in life and foster a more positive attitude.
Other benefits of practicing self-care can include:
Increased energy
Reduced likelihood of burnout
Improved resilience
Reduced depression and anxiety
Strong relationships
More self-love
30 Self Care Affirmations You Need Today
I enjoy taking care of myself.
I make a difference in the world.
I’m not afraid to put myself first.
I enjoy looking after my mental health.
I always speak to myself kindly.
I praise myself.
Taking care of myself makes me feel calmer and stronger.
I deserve to take care of myself.
I make sure I get enough exercise and eat the right foods.
I am loving and deserve love.
I accept all of my feelings, including the good and the bad.
I pay attention to my feelings and can do what’s best for me.
I’m glad to be alive.
I’m grateful for the little things.
I feel lucky to be alive and to be me.
I have a lot of potential, and I believe in myself.
My life has endless possibilities, and I deserve to achieve them.
I can give myself compassion when I need it.
I deserve to be cared for.
I give myself rest.
I know how to be patient with myself.
I reward myself when I do things well.
It’s okay to just get through the day.
Looking after myself can bring me success.
I feel happiest when I put my own needs first.
I allow myself to just be ordinary.
I release any unrealistic expectations of myself.
I appreciate my body, and I take care of it.
I will choose to be kind to myself today.
I am my biggest cheerleader.
How To Use Affirmations
Now you have the affirmations you need to improve your life, you may be wondering, how exactly do I use them? There are many ways to use affirmations, but we’ll list some of our favorite (and most successful) ways.
Use your affirmations in the morning. As soon as you wake up, set aside five or ten minutes to repeat your favorite affirmations to yourself. If you want a more proactive way to do this, you can even write them down in your favorite journal. This way, you can also look at them whenever you need a positive affirmation to get you through.
Always start your affirmations with ‘I’ or ‘I am.’ You’ll notice that all of our affirmations start this way, and it’s because it makes our affirmations more powerful. Your choice of language can affect how your brain receives the messages and using ‘I’ or ‘I am’ lets your mind know that the message is for you and that it’s you that has the power to be a positive influence in your life.
You should always be writing your affirmations in the present tense. You probably need your affirmations in the present moment, so using past or future tense isn’t going to help you make a difference in your life right now. Use the present tense to help your mind accept that your affirmation is genuine and in the moment, and you’ll see more positive effects from your affirmations.
You should also make your affirmations short. You should keep your affirmations as brief and concise as possible; long affirmations can be confusing, and sometimes, they even feel ingenuine. Your mind will also process shorter chunks of messaging and information better, so at most, don’t let your affirmation exceed ten words. Short affirmations also make it easier for your mind to visualize your desired results.
You’ll also need to make your affirmations realistic. Setting affirmations like ‘I will be a millionaire in the next three years’ isn’t going to feel natural, and they’re not messages that most people can take practical steps towards achieving. If your finances are an area of your life you want to improve, you could simply say, ‘I have the power to improve my financial situation.’
You should also give your affirmations a more personal touch. Remember, when you repeat or write down your affirmations, you’re talking to yourself and your own situation. Repeating any old phrase may not resonate with you, so feel free to amend your affirmations and make them more relevant to your lifestyle.
Can Affirmations Change Your Life?
Affirmations are one of the most popular self-care tools out there, and they can be used in all sorts of areas of your life. The truth is, affirmations CAN change your life.
Did you know that approximately 80% of our daily subconscious thoughts are negative?
Now, if this is you, take a moment to think about how your negative self-talk impacts your daily life.
If you’re constantly reminding yourself of your own weaknesses and downfalls, you’re probably experiencing low self-esteem and shying away from opportunities.
Now, imagine what could happen if you could turn that negative self-talk into positive self-talk.
If you choose to switch up every negative phrase, such as ‘I am weak’ into ‘I am strong,’ you can take control of your own reality and self-image.
This can encourage you to be more confident and face life with a little more spring in your step.
Final Thoughts
Remember: the brain is a muscle, and if you’re repeating affirmations in this way, it can take a while for them to sink in. However, like all muscles, the brain can be trained.
Those negative thoughts that you automatically go to can be switched up, and you’ll feel more empowered and confident with regular practice. This is exactly what self-care affirmations can do!
Hi, we are Ben Easter and Paige Stephens-Easter, and we have been married for 10 years. Together, we have immersed ourselves in the world of personal development, with our full-time business - Lucid Shift Coaching.
We believe that mental health and mindfulness are the most important things in a relationship, and we need to cherish these things in order to be the best versions of ourselves.
Our core values include Play, Growth, Connection, Collaboration, and Authenticity. These apply to our work, relationship, and all areas of our lives where we want to see improvement.
Please enjoy our website and learn more about personal development through mindfulness, nurturing your mental health, and more.
