8 Ways to Be Kinder to Yourself in 2020

Going through your day and greeting your neighbors, the barista, fellow members in a gym class, etc. makes you feel more connected and creates a feeling of belonging to a community.

These "weak ties":

• improve our job prospects
• can give us valuable recommendations
• make us more empathetic

Let go of negative expectations and accept that we can never perfectly prepare for a challenge.

Be present in the current moment and savor good experiences and feelings.

Sometimes we need a mental break and not always be working on solving intellectual problems or doing something "productive".

If a TV show or song is enjoyable to you, why feel embarassed or guilty about it?

Looking at your accomplishments positively decreases stress and encourages better habits!

Accept compliments that others give you and give yourself compliments as well.

Even if you've experienced something before, don't assume that you have experiened all the joy that there is to gain from it!

Novelty is often overrated.

If you try to ignore upsetting feelings like regret, it can diminish your joy or even manifest itself as physical pain. 

Instead, slow down, be aware of the present moment and what sensations you are feeling, and accept how you feel while understanding that this feeling won't last forever.

Regret is just a signal that improvement is possible.