Whether you are in a relationship or single, self-love and self-care are always important as they allow us to make time to celebrate ourselves and do things that make us feel happy and positive.
My name is Sam Cheatle and I am the Head of Wellbeing Service here at Changing Faces. I talked to my team of practitioners about some top tips to show yourself self-love and self-care and this is what we came up with:
Positive Thinking
Write down positives qualities about yourself and think of a time you displayed these qualities. If you are struggling with this – ask your friends and family. They will have plenty to say about the wonderful qualities you possess. You may also like to keep those words with you – and if you are feeling a bit down, look at them to remind you how great you actually are.
See yourself as a whole person
When you look in the mirror, instead of focusing on the thing you feel is your worst feature (a thing we all do!) look at yourself objectively and pick out your best feature. Remember you are not just one thing, but the sum of all your parts. Look at yourself as a whole person.
If this feels hard, try out some of our confidence-building exercises like our motto tool first.
Make time for you
Spend some time with yourself – take yourself on a “self-care date”. Think of the things you really like to do which make you feel happy and relaxed. Whether it be enjoying a walk out in nature or having a pampering session, give yourself permission to do something just for you. You can be your own valentine.
Slow down
Do less! In our fast-paced world we all often try to do too much and rush around without thinking. Take some time to slow down – sit and reflect on all that you do, what have you achieved, what do you appreciate about yourself.
If you find it hard to sit still and reflect, try out some of our relaxation tips and resources.
Relieve anxiety and be in the moment
Look up! You might find some interesting clouds to look at or a lovely tree, or perhaps you’ll see the top of a building you’ve never noticed before or have the impulse wave at someone watering plants on their balcony. We often look down and focus on the task in hand (or our feet), but looking up can give us a whole new perspective.
Of course, we know that sometimes, even with the best will in the world, our attention can be diverted back to appearance-related worries and anxieties. If you’re struggling with this, we have some anxiety management techniques you can use.
Changing Faces offers a supportive wellbeing service to people affected with a scar, mark or condition that makes them look different. We provide a peer group chat and one-to-one wellbeing and counselling sessions to people to explore issues such as self-esteem, worries, coping with other people’s reactions, and dating and relationships.
If you would like to know more about how Changing Faces can support you, explore our website, fill in our contact form, or contact our Support and Information line which is available Monday to Friday 10am-4pm on 0300 012 027.