
(Published 2026 August)

Kindness starts with how we treat ourselves. Check these seven small ways that can help you reset and recharge.
- Put yourself first. Pick a day where you think less about productivity and more about what you need.
- Talk to yourself with care. Stop self-criticism and use the same compassion you offer others.
- Do something that helps you reset. Nap, work in your garden, stretch, or just breathe.
- Go outside. Spend quiet time in nature.
- Unplug. Give your mind a break from the screens.
- Make time for something you enjoy. Finish that sweater you stopped knitting last fall, listen to music while dancing in your kitchen, or plant yourself in front of an easel and paint.
- Practice one random act of kindness for yourself. Think: a phone call with a friend you haven’t talked to in a long time, a good meal at your favorite restaurant, a bubble bath while someone else entertains the kids, or curling up with schmaltzy romance novel.
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