There's nothing I love more than personality tests. You can find me on any given day reading about my zodiac sign, finding future careers based on my Myers-Briggs personality type, or taking BuzzFeed quizzes to see which Kardashian/Jenner I am (Kourtney, obviously).
But, the most useful test I've found thus far is the 5 Love Languages Test. While it's original purpose is to connect with others, I've taken a spin on it and used it to connect better with myself. As someone who has struggled a lot with self-love, this has changed everything for me.
Here are some tips on how to really practice loving yourself based on your Love Languages test results.
1. Words of Affirmation
This is something that we focus way too much on receiving from other people. Affirmation is something that we can so easily give ourselves. Some good ways to do this are to leave yourself positive notes around your room or keep a journal to write down each small success you have in a day. If you still just crave affirmation from others, know that wanting attention ISN'T a bad thing. Post that amazing selfie and let the comments roll in, ask your friends/significant other what they love about you, or even listen to some motivational talks on YouTube.
2. Acts of Service
We're all familiar with the phrase "treat yo' self", but what about "serve yo' self"? Think about what actions you like to take in order to show your love to others, maybe it's cooking them dinner or cleaning their room. Now, do that for yourself! Sometimes simply setting aside a day to get done with all of your chores and assignments is the best way to love yourself. As someone who gets really anxious when tasks pile up, I know that there is no better feeling than making a list of what I need to do and checking everything off.
3. Receiving Gifts
OK, here's where "treat yo' self" comes into play. If you're feeling down, go for some retail therapy or buy yourself a meal from your favorite restaurant! There are endless possibilities of what you could gift yourself, and you know what you want better than anybody else. As broke college students, sometimes we can't afford to spend too much money on ourselves, so some more financially friendly options could be to craft a cute decoration for your room or my go to - buying yourself a McDonald's coke.
4. Quality Time
Whether Quality Time is your love language or not, this is something that we should all try to do every once in a while. It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our lives that we stop focusing on ourselves. But luckily for us, this is something that is super easy to fix. Try waking up a little earlier every morning and just spend genuine time with yourself. You could meditate, exercise, journal, take a bath, listen to your favorite songs - whatever makes you feel the most in tune with yourself. Remember that spending time with yourself is just as important as spending time with other people.
5. Physical Touch
I'll admit, this one is kind of odd. I mean, you can't go around hugging yourself or holding your own hand. But you can control this a little more than you'd think. A great way to satisfy this love language is to get a message! This is super convenient for people who live on UK's campus because there is a Massage Envy location right off of Euclid Avenue. If you have a significant other, plan a fun movie night and snuggle up. If you have pets, snuggle up with them! And always make sure to give friends and family extra hugs any chance you get - I'm sure they'll appreciate it, too!
