Match your love language to your self-care needs

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

If your top love language is ‘words of affirmation’, you respond best to kind words, praise, meaningful conversation and feeling that you are heard.

SELF-CARE GOAL Work on building yourself up with positive self-talk, silence your inner negative Nancy, resist the temptation to unfavourably compare yourself to others, unfollow people who make you feel ‘less than’, start a feel-good gratitude journal.

QUALITY TIME

If your top love language is ‘quality time’, you value the effort someone makes to put you first.

SELF-CARE GOAL Spend quality time with yourself. Take a solo walk along the beach, a soothing soak in the tub, curl up with a good book, or just make a cuppa and quietly contemplate life.

RECEIVING GIFTS

If your top love language is ‘receiving gifts’, you’re uplifted by thoughtful gifts and meaningful gestures.

SELF-CARE GOAL Treat yourself! It doesn’t have to be a major splurge. It could be those shoes you’ve been eyeing but more simply, it could be a regular coffee or margarita date with a friend. Work on building self-love gifts into every day.

ACTS OF SERVICE

If your top love language is ‘acts of service’, you appreciate it when your partner anticipates your needs and grabs the groceries, cooks dinner, unblocks the loo or just generally takes care of business.

SELF-CARE GOAL Perform acts of service for yourself! Take care of important health checks, nourish your body with good food and exercise, schedule time for activities that relax and rejuvenate you.

PHYSICAL TOUCH

If your top love language is ‘physical touch’, you crave that comforting skin-on-skin connection.

SELF-CARE GOAL Get touchy-feely with yourself! Move your body, stretch, realign your posture, go for a run – appreciate how it makes you feel. Give yourself a mani/ pedi, facial or mini massage at home or visit a beauty salon.