Acts of Self-Kindness: Small Ways to Be Kind to Yourself

We spend a lot of energy being kind to other people and almost none being kind to ourselves. Then we wonder why the well runs dry. Self-kindness is not bubble baths and treat-yourself spending — it is the ordinary, slightly boring maintenance that keeps you steady enough to show up for everyone else.

The prompts below are the self-directed challenges from our daily catalog. They are deliberately small. You are not trying to overhaul your life; you are trying to prove to yourself, once a day, that you are worth a small kindness too.

65 ideas to try

1. 1

   Care for a plant today.

2. 2

   Celebrate a small win today.

3. 3

   Clean up your phone or inbox.

4. 4

   Compliment yourself for 15 minutes.

5. 5

   Cook yourself a real meal.

6. 6

   Dance to your favorite song.

7. 7

   Declutter one drawer.

8. 8

   Move your body with a short workout.

9. 9

   Do absolutely nothing for ten minutes.

10. 10

    Spend 30 minutes on something you love.

11. 11

    Drink a full glass of water right now.

12. 12

    Eat one meal with no screens.

13. 13

    Forgive yourself for a mistake.

14. 14

    Get 15 minutes of sunlight.

15. 15

    Give yourself credit for something.

16. 16

    Give yourself permission to rest.

17. 17

    Go to bed an hour early tonight.

18. 18

    Write in a journal for 10 minutes.

19. 19

    Let one thing be good enough today.

20. 20

    List things you are proud of.

21. 21

    Write down three of your strengths.

22. 22

    Make your bed this morning.

23. 23

    Meditate for 15 min.

24. 24

    Note three good things about today.

25. 25

    Take a photo of something beautiful.

26. 26

    Plan something fun to look forward to.

27. 27

    Play a song that lifts you up.

28. 28

    Put your feet up for 10 minutes.

29. 29

    Read something just for fun.

30. 30

    Reflect on how far you have come.

31. 31

    Rest your eyes away from screens.

32. 32

    Roll out your neck and shoulders.

33. 33

    Enjoy your favorite snack slowly.

34. 34

    Savor your morning coffee.

35. 35

    Say one kind thing to yourself out loud.

36. 36

    Say no to something that drains you.

37. 37

    Set one healthy boundary today.

38. 38

    Write a worry down and set it aside.

39. 39

    Sing out loud.

40. 40

    Make a cup of tea and sip it slowly.

41. 41

    Sit in silence for five minutes.

42. 42

    Talk to yourself like a good friend.

43. 43

    Pick up a hobby for a little while.

44. 44

    Stay awesome!

45. 45

    Step outside for fresh air.

46. 46

    Stretch gently before bed.

47. 47

    Stand and stretch every hour today.

48. 48

    Stretch for 10 minutes.

49. 49

    Give yourself a mental health day.

50. 50

    Take a real break without guilt.

51. 51

    Take a short nap.

52. 52

    Take yourself on a solo date.

53. 53

    Take a 20-minute walk outside.

54. 54

    Take a slow, warm shower.

55. 55

    Take five slow, deep breaths.

56. 56

    Take the scenic route today.

57. 57

    Tidy one small space around you.

58. 58

    Try cooking a new recipe.

59. 59

    Unplug from screens for an hour.

60. 60

    Walk a new path today.

61. 61

    Watch something that makes you laugh.

62. 62

    Wear your favorite outfit today.

63. 63

    Write down one goal for this week.

64. 64

    Write a kind letter to your future self.

65. 65

    You are awesome!

Pick one. Do it today. Being kind to yourself is not the opposite of being kind to others — it is the thing that makes it last.