Here are 3 tips on how to be kind to yourself.

1. Talk Kindly to Yourself - Let your inner voice be your biggest champion.

2. Learn to Say NO

3. Rest

Being kind to yourself isn’t just about treating yourself to a square of chocolate. Even though it is so nice to indulge yourself, scoffing down the nearest chocolate bar isn’t always the answer to feeling calm and in control.

Talk Kindly to Yourself & Allow your Inner Voice to be Your Biggest Champion.

Ask yourself, when was the last time you actually talked nicely to/about yourself? I know myself I was my worst critic and I often said things to myself that I would NEVER say to another person.

So, when you catch yourself making a mistake or fumbling a little bit, take note of the way your mind is talking to yourself. If you’re noticing that you are being hypercritical, ask yourself two things; Would I say this to someone else if they were in the same situation right now and is this criticism constructive? If you have answered no to either of these two questions, then remind yourself it is ok to make mistakes or feel overwhelmed.

Now, take a breath, and pretend a 3 year you is standing right in front of you and is in the same situation that you are in now. Now what would you say to your 3yr old self? What tone would you use? How will you help your 3yr old self feel calm again. Imagine telling your 3yr old self, “It’s ok. I know you can do this. I’m right here with you” in a soft gentle voice. Sometimes just closing your eyes and imagining giving your 3yr old self a hug and gently telling them that you will help them get through it, is enough to remind you that you deserve the same kindness from yourself as an overwhelmed 3yr old would need too. Be your biggest champion!

Learn to Say NO

I am so guilty of this one. I am a people pleaser. I love it when I feel like I am ticking everyone elses box and being an extraordinary friend/wife/mother but when it comes at the cost of my own self, it usually is because I am trying too hard to do too much.

In all honestly, when I say no and keep my own life balanced, I have so much more energy to give for the times that I say yes than what I do when I say yes to everything, meaning everyone is happier than what they are when I always say yes.

So when you have a lot on your plate, priorities what is important for you to do. Write a list with three columns. One column will say “Important for me to do” another column “Important for someone else to do” and delegate these tasks out, and finally, a column of “Unimportant”.

Rest

Ever wondered why all the best ideas come to you while you are on the toilet, having a shower or just moments before you fall asleep? It’s because your mind is in a state of accidental meditation.

By giving your mind a moment to take a break and rest, leaves room for your mind to actually give you the answers you’ve been asking all day long. So take regular moments of mind rest during your week. Once a day is good, twice a day is really good, three times a day is excellent.

If you find resting your mind difficult to drown out you inner voice of to do lists, what to cook for dinner and how to pitch to your perfect client, don’t worry. All you have to do is sit for 5-15mins thinking about a calming place. It can be a place of your childhood, or a landscape that calms you, perhaps even imagining you are sitting on the beach. Imagining calming scenes is enough to help your mind to quieten just enough to give it the rest it needs to continue on in a much calmer and controlled state of mind. If you would like some inspiration to guide your mind gently through some calming scenes, have a look over at my Calming Landscapes Collection and NEW The Yarra Valley Collection and find that perfect piece that makes your heart feel light and allow you to breathe again.