Regardless of how generous, caring, and wonderful each of us may be, most of us forget to look after ourselves. Are you forgetting this vital part of self-care? If you’re not giving yourself the kindness you deserve, you can’t expect to enjoy a healthy level of emotional and spiritual wellness. You may be asking, how do you show yourself some much-deserved kindness?
Being kind to yourself is also a happiness habit. Like all habits, you start with self-reflection. Examine how you are currently handling situations and how you can do it in ways that are more compassionate. Extend the grace that you allow others to yourself. Let’s look at six ways to be kinder to yourself.
- Mistakes are opportunities to learn. By forgiving yourself and learning the lesson that is presented, you’re more likely to avoid repeating the same mistake.
- The next time you find yourself being angry with something you’ve done, said, or thought, take a step back. Ask yourself how you would respond to a friend who had done the same thing. If you would forgive someone else, try to forgive yourself, too. Remember that you are human. Here are more strategies to help through forgiveness.
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- For example, the next time you have lunch, ask yourself if you can choose the slightly healthier option. If you’re too tired to make something from scratch, ensure that you have some frozen meals ready to go, instead of picking up some fast-food.
- Also, brainstorm ways you can add small bits of extra physical activity into your day. For instance, could you walk to the store rather than driving there? Not only will you get some extra exercise, but you’ll also save money on fuel and reduce your impact on the earth too.
- If you’re struggling at work with a range of tasks that are too much for you to handle on your own, speak to your boss and ask for guidance.
- If you’re worried about your anxiety levels or mental health, don’t hide in your room and try to “get over it” on your own. Speak to a therapist or talk to your doctor about your options. Getting the right help when you need it can save you weeks and months of pain. Here are some tips to help you find the right therapist.
- If you’re beating yourself up about something, your friends and relatives can also make it easier to look at the problem from a different perspective.
- Human beings are naturally social creatures. Spending time with others is one of the best things you can do to make yourself feel good and nurture your emotional health. It’s also a great way to prevent yourself from isolating when you’re feeling down.
During your self-care day, you can do anything you like to make yourself feel good. This might mean having a nice bubble bath and reading a book or watching your favorite movie. Self-care can even involve exploring things like deep breathing and relaxation. You may have noticed that many of the strategies included in this article are self-care and wellness practices. Want more suggestions? Check out 'Break for A Self-Care Minute'.
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- Sleep quality counts. The better you sleep, the more you’ll be able to handle the everyday challenges you face, without feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
- Have a relaxing bedtime routine, a dark bedroom, and a comfortable bed. Avoid screens, alcohol, caffeine, or a heavy meal shortly before retiring.
- When you want to give yourself an emotional, physical, and spiritual boost, grab your blankets. Some extra sleep can sometimes be a crucial part of recharging in your day-to-day schedule.
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Very useful tips! I really enjoy spending time with my family and feel it does wonders to my mental health. Thanks for sharing.
The one thing I wish I could do is sleep more. I rarely have any more than four hours continues sleep, and five or six hours if I’m lucky. Nothing worse than feeling sleep deprived all the time
I love all these ways to be kinder to yourself. Thanks so much for sharing this list!