5 Self-Appreciation Acts to Add to Your Daily Routine

Self-appreciation is more than taking an extra 10 minutes to put on makeup for the sake of ka-artehan. It’s a deliberate, conscious action to recognize and validate your strengths – and even your perceived “flaws,” depending on where you are in your self-acceptance journey.

Gone are the days when society saw prioritizing oneself as purely selfish. Now, we understand that a smidge of self-love is so much better for you and the general public. Not sacrificing your well-being for others not only improves sleep and lessens stress, but encourages motivation, confidence, and determination.

Self-appreciation isn’t something you can do instantly – especially if you've been programmed for self-denial for most of your life. Here are some measures to love yourself more little by little, day by day.

The physical and mental benefits of exercise are well-known. Whether you’re a lunchtime walker or a full-fledged triathlete, any form of physical activity does more than work off a few calories. A 2016 study states physical activity is related to increased self-esteem. Endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin – hormones and neurotransmitters triggered by exercise – help you feel happy and satisfied, reducing your risk for depression and anxiety. Exercise also clears your head and improves critical thinking.

The American Psychological Association and the International Journal of Sport Psychology also discovered that long-term exercise builds confidence and keeps you motivated. Reaping these perks is a token of appreciation for your body.

Sometimes, your confidence needs a leg up from an activity you do well. After all, when you hit a hole-in-one, finally cook pasta from scratch, or reach your goal weight, you get a winner’s high that feels oh-so-satisfying.

Indulge yourself every once in a while. When you’re feeling low, do something you’re good at to give you the jolt you need to keep things rolling.

Taking a break might sound as simple as filing for a leave, but did you know that many women can't just switch themselves off? Thanks to an innate nurturing nature and cultural pressure, many Filipinas believe self-care is a bonus, not a right. Guilty leave syndrome is a very real phenomenon.

So, how do you unplug? Make the most out of your vacation days. Try to uninstall or mute as many notifications as possible – or, at the very least, work-related ones. If you’re on a trip, distract yourself from your concerns by crafting a busy itinerary and scheduling activities.

If you can’t take a dedicated holiday, just set aside a few minutes every day or even every week. A pamper sesh is always a fun and easy self-appreciation exercise. For example, delegate Saturday as your beauty day. Nourish your face with POND'S Watermelon Jelly Moisturizer. It has vitamin E and niacinamide to brighten and nourish your skin. We don’t know about you, but glowing skin always makes us feel good and giddy.

If you’re still on the first steps of self-acceptance, one of the first things you should do is establish boundaries. Close shop between 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. and ignore any meetings or messages from work beyond that. Set up your daily grooming regimen in a way that almost forces you to focus only on yourself – hide your phone, tell your partner or kids not to bother you, and install Do Not Disturb on your calendar if you must, even if it’s only for 30 minutes.

See how much of a difference it makes to your mood when you relish applying your Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Restore Body Lotion instead of just slapping it on or taking your sweet time to wash your face with Dove Facial Cleansing Mousse Brightening Care after a long day.

Gratitude has been an increasingly potent skincare solution in the last year. Studies show that being thankful makes you happier, counteracting psychological acne triggers such as stress and anxiety.

But more than its physical effects, looking at concerns with a sense of gratefulness can improve many other aspects of your life. According to a University of California Berkeley study, gratitude can better your health, spur empathy and strengthen relationships.

When counting your blessings, don’t forget to say thank you to a very important person who usually gets overlooked in these situations – you. Self-appreciation isn’t easy, so you definitely deserve praise!