33 Best Self-Love Tips For Highly Sensitive Person

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You are a highly sensitive person (HSP) and are wondering how to make your life better and easier? In this post, I’m sharing tried and true tips for highly sensitive person that I personally tested out.

Have you ever tried Dr. Elaine Aron’s test? I checked 23 statements out of 27. Impressive huh?

Especially the point about coarse fabrics hit home… When I was little I remember being called a crybaby every time I didn’t want to put on a sweater because it felt too itchy.

Keep on reading and you will learn what to do to accept the way you are, increase productivity, improve mental health, and thrive as a highly sensitive person.

This post is all about tips for highly sensitive person.

Table of Contents

👁 What is a highly sensitive person (HSP)?
⚖️ Superpowers & weaknesses of highly sensitive people
⚡️ Self-love TIPS for highly sensitive person

👁 What is a highly sensitive person (HSP)?

According to Very Well Mind, a highly sensitive person (HSP) is someone who is thought to have an increased or deeper central nervous system sensitivity to physical, emotional, or social stimuli.

Some refer to this as having sensory processing sensitivity, or SPS for short.

First of all, it’s absolutely important to know that there is no cure for this because it is NOT a condition or disorder. It’s a personality trait.

(Yes, we are absolutely normal.)

According to HSP pioneer Elaine Aron’s research, about 20 percent of the population are HSPs.

I have also heard people asking:

Can I stop being so highly sensitive?
Is HSP a mental illness?

The answer to both is NO.

Because you cannot change your nature.

But you definitely can change your habits and lifestyle so that you are not affected deeply by triggers you can’t control.

Being an HSP, you might often feel like an outsider or get things like:

“You are too sensitive”
“You are weird”
“You always overreact”

“You take everything personally”
“You are insecure”

All these are usually coming from that 80% part of the population that are NOT highly sensitive.

So what we are going to do is recognize our sensitivities. And then get to love them.

I felt a lot of relief when I accepted that I need more self-care, more “me-moments” than the majority of people in order to feel good. I stopped putting myself down for taking that time for myself.

It’s helpful to think about it this way: when you step aside to take a breath you are doing it because it’s necessary.

And no, you are not wasting time, you are not slacking, you are not loafing.

You are choosing a healthy, happy life.

⚖️ Superpowers & weaknesses of highly sensitive people

The life of a highly sensitive person is challenging… but also so wonderful.

Since we are experiencing everything at a deeper level, our lows are really low and our highs are REALLY high.

We are taking in a lot of information because that’s how we are built. And it sort of determines how we experience this world (that actually isn’t the best fit for HSPs).

CHALLENGES

Getting overwhelmed easily
Getting overstimulated by different effectors like coffee, smells, loud noises etc.
Being affected by other people’s emotions (emotional sponges)
Need more time to decompress and recharge
Especially toxic inner critics
An “outsider” feeling
Self-esteem and self-worth issues
Less control over emotions

SUPERPOWERS

Exceptional creativity
Emotional awareness
Understanding of nuances and contexts
Rich inner life
Insighfulness
Living life fully
Strong-mindedness
Powerful intuition and perceptiveness
Flexible thinkers
Sincere listeners
Deep learners
Spiritually awake
Stronger positive experiences
Inspiring other people
Auomatic lie detector
Strong “quiet” leadership

As you can see, we have more superpowers to enjoy than problems to solve.

The following is the list of routines and tips for highly sensitive person that I find powerful (I tried them all). They can also work for anyone who is looking to add some lightness and chill to their life.

⚡️ Self-love TIPS for highly sensitive person

1. Embrace your sensitivity. Don’t try to change it. It’s your unique personality and will be with you for the rest of your life. Might as well accept it and learn to appreciate it.

2. Make your home a safe and beautiful place. The environment affects HSPs greatly and the way things look really matters. Our home is the place to retreat and recharge, so really think of the ways to make it visually pleasing and cozy.

3. Learn your triggers and work around them. Even as HSPs, we are all different. For example, I am greatly affected by smells. I get sick from things like strong perfume or a car air freshener. The other HSP would be overwhelmed by loud noises. It’s all personal and our task is to figure out what it is and how to prevent it from controlling our lives.

4. If you work out, do it in the morning. Our nerve systems need a bit more time to calm down after being active. Multiple times I would end up with a sleepless night after a night workout.

5. If you start therapy, look for a specialist who knows about HSPs. It will save you time and money.

6. Make friends with other highly sensitive people. It brings SO much joy being around people like you. Only another HSP can understand your needs fully. Hint: HSPs are usually creative people.

7. Try morning pages. That’s something I learned from one of my favorite books for creatives — The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Every day first thing in the morning, write three A4 pages of whatever comes to your mind. Just brain dump. Forget about punctuation marks or grammar, you don’t even have to finish sentences. Just free flow. It helps clear your mind, leave all your emotional distress on paper, and get you ready for the day.

8. Make art. No matter how good or bad it is. Just do it. It’s for you.

9. Take your time to adjust to changes. HSPs take more time to get used to shifts in their lives — whether positive or negative. Don’t rush yourself and explain this to your loved ones if you feel pressured too.

10. Allow yourself to get emotional. Don’t hold down your emotions — they build up. As HSPs we also do tend to cry more. Let yourself cry, jump for joy, and embrace your sadness when it comes. Accept your emotions and allow yourself to feel.

11. Declutter. Throw away everything that is useless and creates a mess. Organize things you use regularly — create a special place for them (you can use baskets, plates, little boxes, etc.) Getting rid of the stuff you aren’t using or that doesn’t work creates space for new energy and prevents overstimulation.

12. Take long showers or baths. I am not a bath person but I enjoy my long shower ritual. I usually play some jazz while enjoying all kinds of skin- and hair-care. Water is known as an energy conductor so it takes away all that you soaked in during a long day and leaves you fresh and relaxed. And it just feels good🙂

13. Give yourself massages. My best tools are gua sha and a wooden massage brush. Gua sha works great for the face, neck, and shoulders, and the brush works for the whole body. Just rub your skin down with some jojoba or argan oil and go ahead with your chosen tool. It feels amazing afterward!

14. Use natural scents for your home and body. Burn palo santo or sage. These help kick bad energies away, cleanse the air, and charge it with healing vibrations. I personally prefer palo santo because I just love the scent. I burn it before yoga or meditation, after cleaning the room, or any time I feel like it. An essential oil diffusor is also a good choice. Try eucalyptus, rose, or lavender oil — these are all great for home.

15. Play soothing instrumental music. Jazz, classical, and meditation music are some examples.

16. Light candles. My experience shows that it’s better to choose only natural ones or fragrance-free (I am very sensitive to smells). Their soft glow and subtle scent are very calming.

17. Develop spiritually. Spirituality is one of the best things that bring me peace. Learn about manifestation, the law of attraction, mindsets, crystals, tarot, astrology, religion, yoga, meditation, witchcraft, holistic healing arts, etc. — whatever works best for you. The options are endless. HSPs are spiritually driven and have a strong sense of purpose. We thrive while exploring all the aspects of this reality.

18. Create routines. They bring stability, boost productivity, and help you stay focused on major goals.

19. Learn how to manage conflicts in a healthy way. Arguments with the loved ones bring a double portion of anxiety for HSPs — especially things like strong emotionally charged comments or yelling. Try to figure out how you can handle those in a gentle, caring way that brings reassurance.

20. Have a few meaningful relationships. We seek deep connections. We dislike small talks and fake friendships. We are also very selective when it comes to friends. And it’s okay. I used to criticize myself for not having a large group of friends to go to parties and hangouts. I have always had just a few closest friends. I’ve come to recognize how beneficial it actually is — and you should too. Cherish relationships with people who understand, accept, and protect you.

21. Choose textures that feel good to touch. Especially if you are sensitive to physical touch. For example, my personal favorite fabrics are cotton and linen. My worst nightmare is fleece.

22. Do a quick tidy-up every evening. It feels amazing waking up in a clean apartment.

23. Keep your self-care kit handy. Self-care kit is simply a collection of items that bring you soothing experiences whenever you need. I keep them both on my bedside table and on my desk.

24. Spend time in nature. Plants, greens, and fresh air help calm your nerves and bring grounding energy.

25. Go for long walks. This is probably one of my favorites. It’s so refreshing to just go where your feet bring you, get lost in the streets, and explore new places. You come home feeling like a new person!

26. Take good care of your body. Get enough sleep. Find a physical activity you enjoy. Eat foods that make you feel good. Use natural fragrance-free skin products. Choose soft fabrics for your clothes. You’ve got a sensitive body that brings you a lot of joy but needs some extra care. Treat it with love.

27. Journal. I swear by journaling and I think it’s something that any HSP (and any person) should be doing regularly. Why? To identify your triggers, clear your mind, and self-reflect for better mental health. If you want to try journaling but don’t know where to start, try my self-love journal challenge and 41 prompts for creatives.

28. Read empowering books. These are the best friends when it comes to maintaining the right mindset. Inspiring books teach us a lot and keep us in higher vibrations. The best time for reading is in the morning to start off your day right, or before going to bed to relax and pay the way for some pleasant dreams.🙂

29. Cut down the coffee intake. Yes… I know this one is annoying and I hate it too. But having just one morning coffee (instead of three) does improve your sleep, helps to get rid of jitters and panic attacks, and makes you more collected… Okay, fine, at least, drink your last one no later than 2 pm.

30. Meditate and practice mindfulness. My other favorite tip. My favorite perks of meditation are that it helps to get rid of anxiety and it lifts up your mood. But there are so many others that I would need a whole book to list them.

31. Plan things ahead and write them down. It simply makes you get things done efficiently, not get overwhelmed, and be able to track achievements.

32. Add calm to your life. Don’t forget about things that bring you peace. Go to spa, read a favorite fiction book (Harry Potter is my choice, for example), play a musical instrument, shop for some plants, etc. Choose something you really enjoy.

33. Remember your superpowers. Sometimes it might be frustrating that you get affected by so many things easily while everyone else is just chilling. Keep your chin up!
You’ve got so many gifts.