Your love language is how you receive and feel most loved. Take the meaning of your top love language and choose your self-care practices based on it.

Dear Spirited Earthling,

Your love language signifies the best way you give and receive love. Self-care involves actions that support your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Choose self-care practices that correspond to your top love languages (acts of service, physical touch, quality time, receiving gifts, and words of affirmation). These practices will help you take care of yourself in the way you best receive love. While self-care can involve socialising, the ideas here focus on spending time alone. Spending time alone may seem daunting and undesirable to some, but embracing solitude can greatly improve your mental health, creativity, and self-awareness.

The Art and Benefits of Spending Time Alone

There are numerous benefits to spending time alone as you disconnect from external noise and connect with yourself. You have time for self-reflection, allowing you to understand your past and redefine your future as you improve your decision-making and problem-solving skills. There is also time and space for self-discovery when you can explore passions and interests. Both self-reflection and self-discovery improve your self-awareness.

Spending time alone provides a break from social pressures and expectations, benefiting your mental health. It can also boost productivity and encourage creativity because no distractions are taking your focus. Learning to entertain yourself and allow yourself to be bored once in a while promotes self-reliance and independence. Additionally, your emotional intelligence can be strengthened as you work on managing your emotions. You give yourself space to explore your thoughts and feelings and deal with them healthily, without always seeking external support.

All of these benefits support your mind (self-development), body (self-care), and soul (spirituality). Being alone does not equate to loneliness. Whether you are extroverted or introverted, it is important to recognise the value of spending time alone. It is definitely worth scheduling some ‘me time’ into your busy life.

The 5 Love Languages and Their Self-Care Practices

Choosing your self-care based on your love languages requires you to know which love languages you value most. The self-care practices under each of the love languages can benefit your mental, physical, or emotional health. When focusing on self-care and seeking solitude, it's worth considering a digital detox as well.

Acts of Service Self-Care Practices

Acts of service is a love language that involves actions done to help others, relieve their burdens, to make their day that little easier and happier. With self-care in mind, think about what actions you can take for yourself to do the same. It could be as mundane as making appointments you’ve been putting off or checking something off your to-do list. It could be as life-changings as dedicating time to brainstorming ideas for your side business or setting up savings funds and auto debt repayments.

Set goals with actionable steps
Declutter and organise spaces in your home
Do the chore you've been putting off
Make appointments you’ve been avoiding
Meal prep for the week
Exercise regularly
Have a skincare routine
Stick to a sleep routine
Learn something new or work on improving a current skill
Set boundaries and maintain them
Visit a therapist

Valuing acts of service is an appreciation of things being done for you, to help you. How can you help yourself or your future self today?

Physical Touch Self-Care Practices

Physical touch as a love language refers to the feeling of security and love that comes from physical contact. When applied to self-care, this could be achieved through activities that involve physical sensations and physical health.

Have regular massages or learn to self-massage
Dry brush your skin and moisturise
Have warm baths with essential oils and Epsom Salts
Invest in high-quality linen, blankets and towels
Invest in high-quality pyjamas
Make time to rest and get enough sleep
Eat healthily
Have a skincare routine
Move your body daily (stretches, Tai-Chi)
Explore a new trail (hiking, running, biking)
Get your hair or nails done
Do a home spa day with facemasks (DIY)
Learn self-defence techniques

Treasuring physical touch is an appreciation of your body and human touch. How can you make yourself feel safe while honouring your body?

Quality Time

Quality time is a love language that involves giving someone your undivided attention. For self-care, this translates to setting aside time for yourself, away from distractions. Quality time can also involve pursuing a passion or hobby, allowing for self-expression and a sense of fulfilment.

Meditate
Read or write
Paint or draw or craft
Go for a walk outdoors
Journal
Watch the sunrise and sunset
Take yourself on a coffee date
Have a movie night with your favourite meal and treats
Visit a museum or art gallery
Visit a planetarium or star gaze at home
Take a photography walk in your city
Visit the botanical garden or city garden

Loving quality time is an appreciation of time without distractions. How can you connect with yourself by spending time alone?

Receiving Gifts

Receiving gifts as a love language refers to appreciating the physical evidence of love. When applied to self-care, it can be treating yourself in some way.

Buy yourself flowers
Invest in your hobby
- Buy a new book
- Get a new puzzle or board game
- Purchase scrapbook pages and stickers
- Organise lessons to learn an instrument
Buy something you’ve been wanting to get
Enrol in a course (virtual or physical)
- Attend a cooking course
- Take a creative writing course
- Try a painting or drawing course
Buy a houseplant
Invest in your business
Gift yourself a day trip to somewhere you love
Create a self-care basket for yourself (skincare products, bubble bath, candles, favourite snacks, cosy socks)
Start a DIY project
Take yourself out to a new or favourite restaurant

Receiving gifts is valuing the physical gesture of love. What can you gift yourself that is special and won’t break the bank?

Words of Affirmation

Words of affirmation refer to the use of verbal compliments or words of appreciation to communicate love. In the context of self-care, this could involve practices such as self-affirmation and positive self-talk. These practices help to foster a positive self-image and combat negative thinking.

Practice guided meditations
Say affirmations and practice mirrorwork
Journal day to record things you are proud of or grateful for
Practice positive self-talk
Compliment yourself
Practice gratitude
Set reminders on your phone with affirmations
Tell yourself you love yourself

Cherishing words of affirmation is an appreciation of verbal expressions of love. What can you say to yourself to show yourself love?

Understanding the five love languages and relating them to self-care practices offers a fun and personal way of maintaining well-being. Self-care is not a one-size-fits-all concept, nor is it unchanging with differing moods, days, and life chapters. Meet your mind, body, and spirit where you’re at and give yourself what you need at this time.

Spirited Earthling is more than just a blog – it's a gathering place for kindred spirits drawn by an interest in self-discovery, the appeal of self-care, and a desire for a deeper connection to the world. Written and created for curious minds and spiritual hearts seeking meaning in everyday life, this blog aims to help you curate your wholesome personal growth with free weekly ideas and affordable resources for sale.

As you navigate your personal growth journey using the words and ideas shared here, consider sharing this blog with someone looking for inspiration or motivation on their own journey. We are all spirited earthlings, and can lift each other together with mindful, connected living.

Thank you for being part of this community.

Best wishes, warmest regards

Jordan

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Choose Your Self-Care Based on Your Love Languages