Be Kind To Yourself: Mental Health Awareness Week

Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme was kindness. These are my 5 favourite tips on how to be kind to yourself.

I always have and always will be a kindness advocate. Most people have had, currently have, or will have to deal with mental health illnesses, disorders, and problems at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, these are very rarely visible on the outside, so it is always best to be kind no matter what, just in case someone is struggling and we can't see it.

However, while being kind to others is important, I thought I would focus on a different version of kindness this week, more specifically, being kind to ourselves. Too often, we are our own worst enemy. We can say awful things to ourselves that we wouldn't say to someone we didn't like, let alone anyone else! And, as a self-care and self-love advocate, I thought this would be the perfect week to share some of my favourite tips on how to be kind to yourself.

So, without further ado...

Here are my 5 favourite tips for this Mental Health Awareness Week!

1. Remember to listen to YOU

We're all really good at ignoring our feelings for the sake of other (less important) things. Instead, we need to start remembering to listen to ourselves, understanding what our body and mind need, and allowing ourselves to do those things for the sake of our mental health. Be that taking time away from social media, letting ourselves have a bed day when we feel a bit pants, or not beating ourselves up for eating that chocolate share bag in one go!

Take a moment to really listen to YOU. Accept your feelings and work out what you need to do to best support yourself. No one is superhuman, so don't beat yourself up. You're allowed to feel good, bad, happy, sad, the lot! So, do what feels right for you and be kind to yourself.

2. Take time to do the things that make you smile

Too often, we fill our days with work, chores, and jobs that don't bring us happiness. Yes, some of those things are necessary, but it's important to take time to do the things that make you smile, too! Put down your to-do list for one day and go out for a walk, or get up a little earlier and journal or draw. Life is too short not to fill it with things you enjoy, and a happy balance of work and play is so important for our mental health.

3. Allow yourself the time to rest

Raise your hand if you've ever felt guilty for relaxing, napping, scrolling on your phone, or watching Netflix instead of being productive... I'm going to take a wild guess and say that's most of you, right?

I know it's easier said than done to stop beating yourself up for relaxing, especially in today's day and age, where everyone else seems to have ten side hustles going on at the same time! But allowing yourself the time to rest is one of the most important acts of self-care you can do. If you let your mind and body recover, your mental well-being will soar, giving you the strength and energy to do your best when you are working hard. You are allowed to rest! Never forget that.

4. Listen to your own advice

I bet every single one of you is great at telling your besties when to take a break, reminding them not to be mean to themselves, or just hyping them up! But, how many of you talk to yourself the same way?

One of the most basic ways you can be kind to yourself is by listening to your own advice and by speaking to yourself the way you speak to your loved ones. You're never going to feel good if you're constantly acting like your own worst enemy! Every day, try and say at least one kind thing to yourself and you'll start feeling much more ready to take on the world, I promise.

5. Be grateful for the little things

Having gratitude is one of the best things you can do to be kind to your mind and show yourself love. Even on your worst day, there is usually something to be grateful for, from loved ones and pets to nature or even happy memories. Holding these positives close to your heart and expressing your gratitude for them is one of the most powerful things you can do.

Bonus! Spend time in your happy place

I'm personally never happier than when I'm surrounded by beautiful nature, gorgeous views, and fascinating wildlife, with a camera in one hand and my binoculars in the other. That's my happy place. Especially with Dan by my side! Your happy place can drag you out of the darkest of places, it can be a light in your life, and it can remind you of why you love to be alive. So, no matter where your happy place is, be it in nature or bed, make sure to allow yourself a little time there every now and then.

So, as #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek comes to a close for another year, I hope you can take these tips forward and use them to look after yourselves. Not only is it super important to be kind to each other, but it's super important to be kind to yourself, too.