5 Reasons to be Nice to Yourself
Finally, the world seems to be emerging from the inertia of the pandemic allowing us to regain a semblance of mask-free normality. Having emerged from the other side, we should consider this time an opportunity for new beginnings. One good place to start is by treating yourself better.
Being nice to yourself is part of practicing self-care. Contrary to popular belief, putting yourself first is nothing to feel guilty about. In fact depriving yourself of life’s little treats can lead to more serious issues of cravings and unhealthy habits. Whereas treating yourself to something nice can improve your outlook, wellbeing and have a positive effect on your mental health.
Health benefits of self-compassion
Johaloha’s mission is to help you live the life you want by doing things that make you feel good. Research in 2019 by the Universities of Oxford and Exeter (UK), found that being kind to yourself, taking time to think about yourself and others is beneficial both physically and psychologically. The study reports that by practicing self-compassion exercises it is possible to calm your heart rate, thereby protecting the immune system by turning off the body’s ‘threat response’.
Professor of Clinical Psychology and co-author of the study, Willem Kuyken expressed a belief. These findings show that people who suffer with depression can benefit immensely from mindfulness therapies and practicing self-compassion.
Johaloha’s course, ‘Be Kind To You’ provides guidance and supports your journey to understanding how to be nicer to yourself can benefit every aspect of your life.
Here are just 5 ways that being nice to yourself can change your life for the better.
1. Better mental health
Mental health is no longer a taboo subject. The importance of positive mental health on the quality of life is widely acknowledged. Letting your mental health deteriorate can have a devastating impact on your relationships and health, as well as your mental wellbeing. The simple task of thinking how to be nicer to yourself, finding out what you enjoy and making time to do it, can go a long way towards keeping your mental health in check.
“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions” – Stephen R. Covey.
2. Boost performance
We’re all busy and try to achieve too much which can sometimes leave us feeling frazzled or guilty and unproductive if we slow down. The good news is that the adverse is true. By slowing down and taking a break, both physically and metaphorically, we actually improve productivity and prevent burn-out. Johaloha recommends including time for play, rest and relaxation in your schedule so you can clear your mind, recharge and return to your tasks re-energised.
“Be nice to yourself… It’s hard to be happy when someone is mean to you all the time.”
― Christine Arylo
3. Increase happiness
“An examination of self-compassion in relation to positive psychological functioning and personality traits”. A study in the Journal of Research in Personality, found that practicing self-compassion, by being kind to themselves had a direct correlation between levels of happiness, personal initiative, agreeableness and optimism. There is also a connection between self-compassion and positive body image.
“Be kind to yourself so that you can be happy enough to be kind to the world.” – Misha Collins.
4. Improve motivation
Acts of kindness from others make us feel good, so imagine how you can increase the positivity in your life by being kind to yourself. The more positive reinforcement, self-compassion and kindness we receive, the more we feel worthy of and expect to enjoy the good things in life. Leading to greater motivation to achieve more, fulfil your goals and achieve the life that you want to live. If we can empower ourselves, nothing can stop us!
“Be kind to yourself, it’s the best medicine to heal and grow.” – Aziz Farheen
5 Enhance self-worth
If you want to enjoy health self-esteem we need to look after our emotional health. This means practicing self-compassion and finding something nice about yourself. You may often reassure others that they have tried their best, not to worry if they don’t succeed and tried to cheer them up. But when was the last time you said anything nice to yourself or gave yourself the benefit of the doubt? If you start treating yourself with the same compassion, this will start to increase your overall self-worth.
Start by being a good person to yourself and treat yourself to something nice. It doesn’t matter if it is a long luxuriant soak in the bath, a phone free 15 minutes reading a book or buying something new, it is the act of being nice to yourself that it important. Once you get into the habit, you will start to feel that you deserve to be happy, to feel positive and to enjoy your little treats.
It feels great to spoil yourself. Start your journey to be more kind to yourself more often and soon it will become a new habit.
