How to be kind to yourself – Random Acts of Kindness Day

Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated on February 17th, and to honour this national day, we are encouraging you to be kind to you. In this blog, we are taking a look at some of the different ways you can be kind to yourself, so that you can start to live life a little bit lighter.

Cultivate a sense of compassion

This can sometimes be difficult, especially if you struggle with self-doubt or low self-esteem. But instead of giving in to negative thought patterns, stand up to them and challenge them. Treat yourself the same way you would a close friend or loved one. Be your own cheerleader. Learn to say no to things that no longer serve you. Don’t be too hard on yourself ­– we are made to grow and adapt, so just see it as part of the learning process, laugh, and try again. You are your own biggest motivator, so learn to honour all that you are and all that you can become.

Repeat an affirmation

Affirmations can help shift negative thought patterns into positive ones. Affirmations may be most effective when practiced daily – so try to establish a routine to do this every morning and evening, or use prompts throughout the day as a reminder. Repeating a word or phrase throughout the day can help you to feel more motivated, inspired, focus on your goals and can give your self-esteem a boost. Here are some examples:

• I intend to do my best today to achieve the goals I have set for myself.
• I am beautiful and I accept my flaws.
• I will look for the positive side in negative situations.
• I will try to find and recognise gratitude in my day today.
• I am enough.
• I am deserving of self-care.

Connect with yourself by connecting with nature

If you’re looking for a way to feel more in-tune with your innermost thoughts and feelings, nature offers a wonderful opportunity to do this. Spending time outdoors and in nature has an abundance of benefits for our mental wellbeing, so try to make sure you get outside every day, even if it’s just for a short walk. You can make it mindful, too, by noting everything you see, hear, feel and smell.

Pamper yourself

This doesn’t have to just be sitting at home with a face mask, having a bubble bath and painting your nails- although, who doesn’t enjoy that?! Make time for yourself in as many creative ways as you can. Curl up with a good book, practice yoga, go for a walk outside, dust off the watercolour paints and spend some time doing the things you enjoy – it will help you to unwind and switch off from the day.

Find space to breathe

Sometimes, we all just need to have breathing space from our worlds, to fully switch off from the 9-5. At Ragdale Hall Spa, although a spa day or spa break can be about reconnecting with your loved ones, it’s also about making time for and reconnecting with yourself, so you can realign and recharge, to return back to your life fully restored and ready to take on your world once again.