Self-Love <3 Scavenger Hunt!

An Interactive Blog Challenge! I dare you to come play & relax while learning to love yourself!

The Background

In a way, you are the only human you can totally trust to be with you at all times, through thick and thin. No matter what happens with friends, family, pets or partners - you will always have you.

I’m certainly not the first person to ever say this: but, considering the truth of the above, I believe it helps along the way to choose to become your Own-Best-Friend.

Literally, it can help to be able to be by yourself and relax. To be able to enjoy, support & comfort yourself in your times of need.

Of course, that can be easier said than done. Factors like self-esteem, guilt, shame, body image, level of comfort with emotions in general all impact how friendly you feel with yourself.

But look, like any friendship, to give it a chance to happen, you’ve got to at least try, put some time in, find the things you enjoy, and forgive when glitches arise!

So today, I want you to have some fun and experiment with becoming your Own-Best-Friend. I give you – the Self-Love Scavenger Hunt!

Directions : Time starts at your wake-up; Time’s up at bedtime! See what you can accomplish throughout the day, add up your points, and then see what reward you’ve earned (listed below)!

1. Get a drink you know you will enjoy, preferably non-alcoholic. Do not drink it right away. Spend at least 1 minute – time it – using all your senses to enjoy it. How does it smell? How does it feel, holding it in your hand? What do you see (steam? bubbles)? Then swallow your first sip. What gives you pleasure about how it looks? Does it have any interesting sounds? How does it feel on your tongue? Can you visit any pleasant memories connected to this drink?

Points for hydrating yourself and for your enjoyment:

5 if it's a soda or sugary drink. 10 if it's water, tea, or non-sugary drink.

2. Find something that you know will make you laugh. Take 5 minutes - time it- to enjoy.

Points for enjoyment and boosting brain health: 7

3. Do something genuinely kind. Examples: put on gloves (safety first!) and pick up a little litter. Thank someone you’ve been meaning to thank. Or give a real compliment. Throw a little spare change in a meter you see running out. Buy a lottery ticket – and give it to someone else who you think might have fun with it.

Points for accomplishment and heroism: 5 points per kind deed, no limit.

4. Find a guided mindfulness meditation that looks appealing on YouTube, and try it. Ok to do one you know, or a new one. There are ones as short as 3-5 mins out there, or longer. Ask yourself how it made you feel afterward, and be honest. Even if you didn’t like it, at least you learned that!

Points for self-care: 10 points for a meditation 10 mins or less; 20 points for a meditation 10 mins or more, up to 60 mins.

5. Could be a hard one: Name three things you like about your body, three things you like about your personality, and three things you appreciate that you do well.

*If this is hard, it’s ok: instead, spend time figuring out three reasons why these things are hard to identify. Are you being too hard on yourself? Maybe you under-value something? See if you can talk yourself into being objective, not judgmental. Remember: it is not being full of yourself just to identify, like a news reporter, a fact about you, like, “I play piano well.” And it’s ok to feel happy about being able to have and share these positive qualities with the world.

Points for kindness towards yourself: 18.

6. Also could be a hard one: Take a moment to remember something, not too too overwhelming, that did not go well. Offer yourself words, and even gestures of comfort/self-forgiveness, like a self-hug, snuggling in a soft blanket, or making yourself a soothing cup of tea.

What words can you say to help yourself feel better? How does it make you feel, to comfort yourself? See if you can identify the emotions doing this makes you feel. If it’s hard, explore why. Are you treating yourself like you would treat someone else?

Then, see if you can try to let it go. If you need ideas how, try an act like writing it down and tearing it up, or saying it outside and imagining the breeze carrying it away. Follow with a deep breath and re-assurance it's over and you're in the present.

Points for kindness towards yourself: 25

7. Do something fun alone that you think most people do with others. For example, take yourself to a restaurant you like, go to a drive-in movie, visit an outdoor farmer's market. What was it like to do it alone? What were your feelings? What can you learn about yourself from this?

Points for the novelty of adventure: 20

8. Learn something new: check out a non-fiction website like National Geographic or Science Daily. Pick a topic you like and learn at least one new thing. Pick a language you don’t know and learn a useful phrase. Alternately, try at least one new food you’ve been curious about. How did it feel to do this?

Points for the novelty of adventure: 10

9. Do an act of grooming for yourself slowly, with care. Think thankfully about the act as you do it: be thankful that you have the ability to do it, that you have the chance to enjoy it. Think about why you are thankful for the part of your body you’re attending. Suggestions include: applying lotion to your hands, brush your hair, take a leisurely bath/shower.

Points for self-care: 15.

10. Change out at least one moment of your day of leisure screen time and replace with physical activity of your choice: take a brief walk, pick out a favorite song and sing/dance along, do some yoga, shoot some hoops, whatever might appeal.

Points for taking care of your physical health: 15 per time you trade screen for activity. Add 2 points per moment if you engage a friend/someone you like in sharing the moment with you.

REWARDS (that I can offer you here, designed as my humble offering to help you further enjoy your day!):

0-5 points – I shall say right now - a hearty ‘Good job!’

5-30 points – Excellent work! Now, Look at this:

For Dog lovers

For Cat Lovers

Bunny Lovers

31-60 points – Fabulous job! Find your favorite corny joke here and let make you laugh:

https://www.rd.com/funny/funny-jokes-national-tell-joke-day/

60+ Points – Amazing! Take a look at this TED talk by Jane McGonigal, and take your Self-Love work even further to keep improving your health and quality of life.

Thanks for taking care of yourself, and thanks for playing! <3