We've all heard it before "you have to love yourself before you can let someone love you". It can be annoying, but it's absolutely true. You need to learn to love yourself and put yourself first before you put your heart in the hands of someone else. If you love yourself first, the breakup won't be as crushing because you'll still have control over your own happiness. As someone who struggles with self-love a lot, I have compiled a list of things to do to give yourself the love you deserve after a broken heart.

1. Buy yourself flowers.

Check out the bouquets at Trader Joe's; they're pretty cheap and very beautiful. Seeing those flowers on your nightstand, every morning will brighten your day.

2. Take yourself out to eat.

It doesn't have to be anywhere nice and fancy. Just treat yourself to a good lunch at a place you love.

3. Be creative.

It doesn't matter if you're artistic or not; art is a great way to calm your nerves and distract your thoughts for a while.

(check out Sally Mustang on Instagram; she's thecoolest)

4. Go outdoors by yourself.

Go to your local park or beach and just be content with your own thoughts. For me, nothing compares to walking on the shore with the sand under my toes. The ocean is my happy place forever and always.

5. Clean up your living space.

Tidy up, get rid of junk, and organize your room. Loving yourself also means loving where you live. A nice made comfy bed and clean desk space will make you feel at home and relaxed.

6. Do something you love.

Listen to your favorite music and dance alone in your room or watch your favorite movie while stuffing your face with popcorn. Do something you love to do and will make you happy to do so.

7. Exercise.

Go to the gym, do some yoga at home, or ride your bike. Get moving and take care of your body.

8. Learn to meditate.

Meditation has actually helped me significantly on my journey of self-love. Taking a few minutes out of each day to focus on your breathing and recognizing how amazing life is, makes all your worries feel small and will definitely help you sleep at night. (Check out the app "calm" to get a guided meditation for 10 minutes every day.)

9. Become mindful.

Recognize your feelings and accept them. Don't push them back. Become aware of your feelings and understand why you're feeling that way to prevent bottling things up and exploding in the future.

10. Take care of your body.

Take a nice long bath, eat healthy foods, get a good night's sleep. Taking care of your body is the most important factor in loving yourself.

11. Be in the moment.

It's one of the hardest things to do when you're constantly stressed or worried about something. However, if you recognize your feelings, focus on living in the moment, and take things one step at a time, your days will feel a lot less exhausting.