Top tips on how to be kinder to yourself. Here’s how to do it!

Self-kindness requires you to make yourself a priority. Being kinder to yourself does not mean that you are being selfish.

Life is full of challenges and we all need to check in with ourselves, to ensure that we are taking care of our own well-being.  

It is your responsibility to look out for your own mental, emotional and physical well-being.

TOP TIPS FOR SELF-KINDNESS

Here is a list of tips for you to practise on your journey to taking care of yourself.

BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF

You are worthy of and entitled to self-care and respect. Things may not always go as we want, but we still deserve some compassion.

You probably would not talk to friends or family the way you sometimes talk or think about yourself. Why don’t you deserve the same treatment?

Treat yourself like you would a special friend. Consider your inner child when thinking or talking about yourself.

FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE

Self says that the human brain has a natural tendency to focus on the negative. 

To counteract the negativity it can be useful to put these moments into perspective by consciously focusing on the positive.

Think of positive things about the situation you’re in or even write down some things in life which you are grateful for. Try to cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

SILENCE YOUR INNER CRITIC

Learning to drown out self-criticism is not easy. The first step toward showing yourself more kindness is realising when your inner critic is dominating your mind.

You may not even recognize when it is infiltrating your thoughts. When you start comparing yourself or putting yourself down, stop for a second and think about what you’re actually saying to yourself.

You might think that being hard on yourself may make you more humble or that it will motivate you but it tends to work against you, according to clinical psychologist Dr. Adia Gooden.

ACCEPT MISTAKES

It is beneficial to acknowledge mistakes and move ahead from them but we often ruminate on our perceived failures. 

Try to separate your shortcomings from your worth and learn to accept your mistakes.

Harbouring such negative feelings destroys our self-esteem and prevents us from achieving goals. 

ALSO READ: Top 10 tips for being happy – every day!

PRACTICE MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness is about checking in with yourself and how you’re feeling. This activity should be done without judgment.

Yoga classes, meditation, and deep breathing exercises are some popular ways to practice mindfulness but there are also other ways to ground yourself in the present.

Simply paying attention to your body’s sensations and acknowledging whatever physical or emotional feelings are present is a good way to start dealing with these.

SELF-AFFIRMATIONS

Remind yourself of your worth by telling yourself. Positive affirmations are a way to challenge the negative narrative in our heads and remind ourselves of our worth.

After hearing these repeated messages you can start to realise that you are worthy and deserving.

DO THINGS YOU ENJOY

If talking to yourself and complimenting yourself is not your thing, you can occupy your time by doing things you enjoy.

Dr. Gooden suggests replacing negative thinking with an activity that gets you out of your headspace and lifts your mood.

If you enjoy nature, get outdoors. If you are artistic, get out your sketchbook or paintbrush. If you enjoy music, make a great playlist and listen to it.

ALSO READ: Top tips for improving happiness at work