Self-comion is something that a lot of people struggle with. Some feel like they don’t deserve kindness. Others have been taught and conditioned to think that being hard on themselves is the only way to be “good.” And some people feel uncomfortable with the idea of receiving comion, thinking that it signifies weakness.

But here’s the deal. Self-comion is a skill. And to get good at it, you need to hone it throughout your life. Yes, it can be difficult work. But , being kind to yourself pays off in the long run. If for no other reason than to keep you from hurting your own mental health with toxic habits or negative thoughts.

So, if you’re thinking about doing something for your own good this year, here are the best ways to be kind to yourself in 2024.

Identify What You Need Emotionally

One of the most essential steps towards learning self-comion is identifying and accepting your emotional needs. After all, the only way to be kind to yourself is to give yourself permission to have wants and needs and to feel any of the feelings you might be experiencing at the given moment.

Practicing mindfulness can be an excellent way to pinpoint those emotional needs. When you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to check in with yourself. Ask yourself what’s going on. And see whether there’s an instant solution that stands out as the way to help yourself feel better.

For example, if you feel like you’re going to burst with anxiety, don’t force yourself to push through. Instead, ask yourself why you’re feeling that way. Then, do your best to adopt an easy solution — taking a moment to yourself, taking something off your plate, or simply asking yourself whether you’re expecting unrealistically too much from yourself without giving yourself the grace you deserve.

Take Care of Your Physical Health

Many women — especially those of us with perfectionistic tendencies — expect themselves to move mountains when the need arises. But we tend to forget that outstanding results don’t just appear out of thin air. Instead, doing something remarkable requires us to be in exceptional physical and mental form.

So, if you’re looking for ways to be kind to yourself in 2024 and set yourself up for success, why not start with some good old self-care?

Paying attention to your sleep hygiene, fueling your body with nutritious meals, and doing some exercise can all go a long way in helping you feel and perform better. And the best part is that you can do all these things with a minimal budget. Most self-care and health-oriented behavioral changes are free. Plus, even if you want to invest in a tool to help you reach your goals, you can usually find excellent health and wellness deals to make the effort less financially straining and more attainable.

Only Speak to Yourself as You Would to Your Best Friend

How many times per day do you catch yourself being harsh with yourself? Whether you berate yourself for failing to complete a task, making a mistake, or not meeting some arbitrary (and potentially unattainable) standard, that putting yourself down won’t help you feel or perform better. On the contrary, it will only make you feel worse.

So, if you want to empower yourself to be the best you can be (and keep your sanity in the process), try to only speak to yourself as you would to your best friend.

Think about it. Would you scold your best friend for making an honest mistake at work? Would you tell them they looked horrible in an outfit they chose for a special occasion? Would you tell them they weren’t capable of reaching their goals? The answer is probably a resounding “No.”

So, why don’t you do the same for yourself? If this is challenging to you, imagine that every time you gave yourself , you were talking to a friend or a small child. And, to make self-comion a bit easier, it’s also not a bad idea to practice self-affirmation as a habit. Start a gratitude journal. Celebrate your wins. Or use morning affirmations to put yourself in a positive mindset and set yourself up for success.

Be Realistic

The thing about self-comion is that it can be a great way to take care of your emotional and physical needs. However, if you aren’t realistic with what you can expect from yourself, no amount of kindness and self-understanding will help you feel better.

So, if your goals for 2024 include treating yourself with the grace you deserve, do your best to keep your feet on the ground regarding what you can expect yourself to accomplish this year.

For instance, if you want to invest in your well-being, accept that you probably won’t be capable of adopting ten new healthy habits in the next thirty days. So, pick one behavioral change to focus on. Then, gradually adapt your routines as you become more comfortable with how these changes are affecting your day-to-day life.

Similarly, don’t feel like the only way to improve yourself is to do every task with 100% of your energy. Instead, plan for breaks on your journey towards self-improvement. And ask for help before you start feeling so overwhelmed that you can’t continue without it. , slow and steady wins the race. So don’t push yourself too hard in January only to find yourself burnt out by March.

In Closing

Being kind to yourself is an ongoing effort. Especially if you’ve adopted negative habits on your way to where you are today. 

But the great thing is that there’s always room for improvement. So start small, allow yourself the comion you deserve, and think of the change as a way to make yourself stronger. Because, at the end of the day, the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to accomplish all your goals — no matter how big or small.