5 Ways to Be Kind to Yourself in 2022

As we head into a New Year we are all presented with a fantastic opportunity to take a look at our goals, our plans and also our relationships. The most important relationship we will ever have is the relationship with ourselves. 

Now we are a few weeks into 2022, the MoveMe team has been reflecting on ways that we can be kind to ourselves in the coming months. Here are some good starting points:

Prioritise Your Health

One of the most impactful ways to be kind to yourself is to prioritise your health. Whether it be being more conscious of the food we are eating, the amount of water we are drinking and the amount of exercise or physical activity we are taking part in, prioritising health is an important part of our overall wellbeing. 

There are many factors in all of our lives that mean prioritising or even taking a little more time to focus on our health can be hard. Whether you set yourself the goal of drinking one more glass of water a day, or going as far as committing to a huge physical challenge like running a marathon, climbing a mountain or anything in between, finding small ways to bring your health into focus is a great starting point for being a little kinder to yourself in 2022. 

Rest Well

The world is a busy place. We are all increasingly busy and stressed out people. The world around us, whether that be through our work or our broader culture, puts us under pressure to ‘work a little harder’ to be more comfortable. Generally speaking, we have glamourised the hustle, also known as grind culture, and while there are benefits to being productive and there are essential daily tasks we must all complete, all work and not rest or play is a recipe for burnout. 

Rest is so important. Rest doesn’t have to be productive time. Your rest is not your opportunity to focus on your side hustle. Rest is time to do nothing, or very little. To embark on creative endeavours, to watch TV, read a book, meditate or do a restorative form of exercise like pilates or yoga. 

Rest also includes rest from the outside world and that also includes mindless scrolling on social media which can easily become the focal point of rest time. While there is nothing inherently wrong with scrolling through social media. Yet, if you find yourself spending all your rest time on social media, maybe there’s an opportunity there to change things up a bit.

Reflect

Being kind to yourself can feel hard and a bit weird at first. Like all things, it is a habit. One way to navigate becoming more kind with yourself is through reflection and journalling. 

There are many different approaches you can take. Some people like to write a gratitude list, other people recount their day in every detail, others keep a note of the best parts of a day. Some people like to handwrite in a notebook, others like to use notes in their phone or computer.

Journalling can be an impactful tool for activating imagination, dreaming and manifesting. Another way to be kind to yourself is to allow yourself to dream, allow yourself to daydream and for your mind to wander. This connects us back to rest as a way of being kind to yourself too.

Get Outside

There are countless benefits to getting outside and it is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself. Indulge in sky time over screen time and the wonders of fresh air. 

Whether you live in a city or a rural area, spending time outside has huge benefits to our mental health. If we are prioritising our health, especially our mental health, we are being kind to ourselves. 

When was the last time you stared at the sky for a while? Or watched a bird go about their business? Touched the leaves of a tree, or felt the rain on your skin. Getting outside, taking some conscious breaths and easing into a more present state of mind is a vibe in 2022. 

Positive Self Talk

This can be a really hard way to be kind to yourself, in the beginning at least. How many of us have a fairly negative inner monologue? That voice in your head that says you’re an idiot for doing something a little wrong, or forgetting something? Many of us have that. 

Practicing positive self talk doesn’t mean lying to ourselves, but it does mean catching ourselves if we are starting to talk to ourselves unkindly. If you catch yourself talking down to yourself, ask:

‘Would I talk to 5-year-old me like this?

Would I talk to other people like this?

How would I feel if someone else spoke to me like how I speak to myself?’

Every time you catch your inner monologue being unkind to you, combat it but telling yourself three things that you like about yourself. These little acts of self-kindness may seem small and insignificant, but when practiced over time can have a huge impact on the way we see ourselves, and the world around us.

Are You Compelled to Take Action?

• Give yourself 30-minutes this week to focus on one of the ways to be kind yourself in 2022. 

• You could write in your journal for half an hour, or write a gratitude list. You can combine two of the suggested ideas together and write your journal outdoors, in a park or a garden. 

• You could take 30-minute to do a guided mediation. We love Insight Timer for free mediations and moments of rest and mindfulness. 

• You could take 30-minutes to do something you know will help you feel fit and healthy. This could be preparing a healthy meal, or doing exercise. Sharing these experiences with others can help them practice kindness to themselves too. Why not reach out to someone whose company you enjoy, send them this blog and arrange a friend date.
  

MoveMe would love to know how you are practicing kindness to yourself as we head into 2022.

You can email your stories to connect@moveme.studio or tag us with your photos and experiences on Instagram. We will feature our favourite stories!