Be kind to Yourself! Learn how to treat yourself with true compassion, here are some ideas on how to be kinder to yourself.

Most of the time we tend to put others first, but why shouldn’t you treat yourself as you treat your friends, family and colleagues? Be extra nice to yourself today by flexing your self-compassion muscles.

Not sure where to begin? Here are a few ideas that are easy and simple to incorporate into your daily routines for some much-needed self-love. Take a step towards the power of being kind to yourself and learn how to boost your confidence, energy and more with a little self-compassion. 

This Autumn, Be kind to Yourself! invite kindness into your life, share it with others and discover how to treat the world with kindness too. Being kind to yourself will take pressure off, will increase your self esteem and confidence.

1. Change ‘must’ into ‘may’

In our lives we often feel like we ‘must’ do many things. We must be caring, funny, successful, stylish, and so on. Be kind to yourself by turning all the musts into mays, and you will feel less stressed in the blink of an eye.

2. Listen to your body

Do you need a warm bath? A refreshing walk in the park? A piece of chocolate? Listen to what your body is telling you. Listen to it whispering, so it doesn’t have to scream.

3. Surround yourself with lovely things

Soft fabrics, scented candles, your most beautiful (and comfortable) clothes… Transform your house into a home, you’ll be surprised how good you feel when you pay attention to yourself and your surroundings in this way. 

4. Do something that makes you laugh

Whether it’s watching that funny feel-good movie or playing with your children or friends, do something that makes you smile. Laughing relaxes you, helps you produce stress-reducing and pain-relieving hormones and is also good for your immune system.

5. Bring your attention to your heart

Our hearts literally symbolise ‘love’. Give love to yourself by bringing your attention to your heart and sending lots of love to it. Practice some loving kindness towards yourself.

6. Surprise yourself with something sweet

And that doesn’t even have to be something material (it may be, but not necessarily). Making time for yourself can also be a gift of self-compassion. Cooking your favourite dish, switching your mobile phone off (!), reading a book on the couch, or taking a warming bath with candles and your favourite bubbles. Just attention, from you, for you.

7. Practice gratitude

Write down three experiences, people or things you are grateful for every day and why. It doesn’t matter how big or small they are, it may even be that you enjoyed a bird singing whilst having your morning coffee. The more you focus on gratitude, the more joyful you will feel.  

8. You are what you believe

So, if you believe that you are insecure, then you are insecure. Learn new beliefs. It’s all in the mind. Believe that you can cleanse yourself of negative thoughts. Believe that you are great. Believe that anything is possible

9. Turn your negative thoughts around

Everyone really does have an inner critic. You know, the little voice in your head that says you can you’re not good enough, smart enough? It is also the voice that makes you believe that you have made a fool of yourself when someone does not immediately respond to your message or email. Turn that negative voice into a positive one, by consciously saying something positive to yourself when you feel inferior. 

10. Meditate every day

For some people who have never meditated before, sitting with your eyes closed for 15 minutes doesn’t sound fun at all. How can you think of nothing at all? Fortunately, meditation does not require that. It is about realising that your thoughts are always wandering and meditating simply helps you to bring your mind into the here and now. Meditating has a lot of advantages: your concentration improves, you become less frustrated and less stressed. Sounds like… Self-love!

11. Do not worry

Do not think about all the negative things that could happen. Create a positive image of the future. You will notice that positive thoughts immediately make you feel much better.

12. Cherish loving thoughts

By paying attention to your loving thoughts, your self-love grows. So be kind to yourself and treat yourself as you would your best friend.

13. Forgive yourself

Let go of the past. You did things with the knowledge and experience that you had at the time. Now you might do things differently, accept this and let go of it. You have grown and changed. So let go of the past and forgive yourself. 

14. Be mindful

Be aware of who you are, what you feel and want. People with a lot of self-love act based on who they are and where their heart lies. Bringing mindfulness into your daily life will help take the mind of stresses and worries.

15. Stop judging

Accept yourself as you are. When you get up in the morning, try saying the following mantra to yourself in the mirror: I am good enough, just as I am.

This Autumn, Be kind to yourself! invite kindness into your life, share it with others and discover how to treat the world with kindness too. Being kind to yourself will take pressure off, will increase your self esteem and boost confidence.