Hot girl summer? How about having a summer of self-love? AND a hot girl summer! You have so much love to give, and how much of that love are you directing toward yourself? How do you prioritize yourself with self-love this summer or always?

Whenever people say they don’t have time for something, they often mean it is not a priority for them right now. We build in time for different aspects of our lives. So when someone says, “I do not have time for that,” it is another way of saying, “that is not a priority for me.” What would happen if self-care were a priority for you this summer?

Here are six ways to bump yourself to the top of your list of priorities, where you belong, aka prioritize yourself with self-love

1) Freshen Your Surroundings

We are all guilty of putting items down instead of putting them away. Find a home for any misplaced objects in your personal or workspace. Clean the mirrors, vacuum the floor, wash your sheets, and organize your drawers. Notice how transparent surfaces bring clarity to your mind.

After cleaning, take this freshening one step further and treat yourself to a new plant! Plants create a soothing environment, reducing stress and rejuvenating the mind and body. Allow plants to surround you and naturally bring focus and healing into your life. If you do not have enough light for a real plant, a fake plant will work just as well. Find out which plant would best suit your space. A summer of self-love includes the environment you’re in, too! (Bloomscape, Soil & Clay, and The Sill are three of Team RW’s favorites.)

2) Self-Care, Down There

Hot and sticky summers can make for uncomfortable itching and irritation down in your honey pot. Get your hands on some organic plant-based salve from Momotaro Apotheca to cool and soothe skin. It creates a natural barrier of protection so that you may feel comfortable exercising, having sex, and even just wearing clothes on a hot summer day. This salve, when used with their daily probiotic, will help keep your vaginal pH in a healthy balance, while regulating digestion and supporting gut-immune health.

Momotaro Apotheca focuses on treating and preventing the cause of issues, rather than putting a Band-Aid on the symptoms. Ask your gynecologist which Momotaro Apotheca products are right for you, and treat your vagina like the queen it is.

Also, take some time for masturbation or any self-pleasure practice. I mean, can you even have a summer of self-love without bringing yourself to orgasm (if you want to?!)

3) Spa Day

Oh, how nice it feels to pamper yourself! Whether you want to stay home or go out, we could all use a good spa day now and again. If you want to splurge on yourself, you could get a manicure or pedicure, or a massage to relieve stress and feel rejuvenated. If you prefer the DIY spa, get yourself a face mask, paint your nails, or enjoy a long, cozy bubble bath surrounded by your favorite scented candle, and relax. You can listen to soothing music or your favorite podcast and enjoy a spa day solo or with a group of friends. Check out this DIY natural bubble bath recipe, and mark your calendar for “spa day.” See you on the bubble side!

4) Love Yourself to the Burpee and Back

Start exercising regularly (three to five days a week). Whether it’s a quick HIIT, a morning yoga routine, a dance session in your bedroom, or hiking a mountain, build more movement into your day-to-day life. Exercise to feel strong, empowered, and grateful for our mobile bodies. Those endorphins are a big plus, and moving around gives us great energy to take on whatever life throws at us. See? The summer of self-love will help us show up in the Fall as our best selves. Investing in your summer of self-love now will help you fill your cups/gas tanks and be ready for whatever is next.

If you’re having trouble getting started, just put on the outfit. Once your outfit is on, you can decide whether or not you would like to work out! You can do this solo or find a friend or “accountabilibuddy.” Commit, and honor it. Even the act of showing up for yourself is one of self-love. This small addition will bring wonders to your mind, body, energy, and overall happiness. Follow some workout videos online, or download this workout calendar to get started!

5) Water Your Friendship Flowers

Call a close friend or loved one. Go out for coffee, ice cream, or on a day trip with one of your best friends. Be present with them. Focus on enjoying each other’s company and whatever the day brings. If you’re fully vaccinated, you could go to a museum, aquarium, mini-golfing, to the beach, an amusement park, on a hike, or go shopping and dining in a cute town. Maybe even plan a weekend trip or short vacation. Remember that you are loved, and the world is waiting for you to experience it.

For the bold souls, reconnect with someone you’ve lost touch with over time. It could be a childhood friend, someone you knew at school, or even a relative. Reach out to them, embrace the potential awkwardness at first, and you may be surprised how easy it is to talk to them and how happy it makes both of you. You probably have more friends than you realize — you need to invite them back into your life. Brainstorm a list of people you were once close to but lost touch with over time. Pick one or two of them to call this week.

6) Eliminate Toxicity

The same way you de-clutter your physical space, you can do the same with your emotional space and the relationships you allow (or don’t allow) into your life. As critical as maintaining and developing friendships, it is equally important to eliminate toxic people who feed off your precious energy. Surround yourself with people who love you and want the best for you, encouraging the best parts of yourself to thrive.

Relationships change over time, and some may no longer serve you. Notice how you feel when you are around them. Do you feel safe and secure? Excited and joyful? Or do you feel judged, inferior, pressured, or uncomfortable? Do you have similar values and morals to the people you are spending time with? Can your differences be resolved with communication and understanding? Only the best people in your life deserve your energy. It is better to have a few gems than a plethora of snowflakes.

No one else gets to decide your worth for you. If someone is not treating you the way you know you should be treated, it is up to you to stop tolerating it. Learn to recognize what isn’t good for you and speak up or walk away. It may feel raw and difficult initially, but it will save your energy and happiness in the long run. Take a moment to think about whose ties need untangling or cutting from you.

How do you plan to move forward with the love you deserve? What feeling are you most looking forward to as you start to make some changes? For me, it’s empowerment.

If you want more writing like this, you can browse my posts on education, relationships, mental health and sex.