5 Tips to Stop Being So Hard on Yourself #HealthyChallenge

Sometimes, when we are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, we don’t even realize that it is ourselves that is creating the stress.

I am the first to admit that sometimes I lose my “lid” too easily or can snap back something mouthy when I don’t mean to. Usually, it’s when I don’t release my stress through exercising that I become a time bomb. (Thankfully, I’m not an atomic bomb!)

But what I have come to realize is that I create 85% of my stress.

I am harder on myself than anyone else is. I expect a lot and add this “stress” if I don’t finish a timeline (one made up in my head, nobody else expecting me to do it within that time frame) or finish a project that I had to add on last minute.

My #HealthyChallenge habit of the day is to give yourself a break and stop being so hard on yourself!

This is easier said than done.

For example, my (awesome) husband brought me home a gift the other evening. He told me to close my eyes and hold out my hands because it was a “massive” gift. So I did. In placed my hands was a car decal for a 5k.

5k

My first thought was how thoughtful and kind he was to think of me, my second thought was how embarrassed I would be placing such a sticker on my car.

I really don’t care about decals on cars. People have them, I read them and to each their own. My issue was that I have only ran a handful of 5k’s, to me, that was a tiny accomplishment.

“Honey, when I get to half-a-marathon or a marathon, then let’s do it.” But of course, I thanked him for thinking of me.

I called my mom later that evening and bragged about how kind hubby was. She said, “Amber, that is an accomplishment! I want to see it on your car!”

To be honest, I was completely confused. How was it an accomplishment? It was only a 5k. “Mom, when I do something great, then I’ll show the world but I can’t put that on my car, it’s petty!”

I have thought and thought and thought about this. The truth is, I did work my butt off to run any sort of distance. I couldn’t start off just running 3 miles but only a walk/run around the block, over and over…and that was quite tedious! I really have put a great effort into running 3 miles! Why was I being so hard on myself? Why was I doubting what I have done?

My point is, nobody gave me stress, I do it to myself. Nobody has said, “Amber, you must run a marathon or you’re nothing.” But that’s what I put in my head. I create the stress.

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Check out these pointers on how to step back and not be hard on yourself:

  • Remove the emotion part of the situation.I have found this more than helpful! When I find myself becoming stressed, I look at the situation, not how I feel. This allow me to look at the situation from a different perspective and admit my true feelings. Observe your emotions
  • Accept what you cannot change. I am very well aware of situations that infuriate me and I have to dig down deep and realize why they do.
  • Celebrate Milestones. I have realized through this experience that I can’t get to the top of the mountain without taking the baby steps to get there! Celebrate all accomplishments, even the small ones
  • Praise yourself like you praise your best friend. After all, you are your best friend right? Love yourself!
  • Meditate. No matter what religion you are, find time to become quiet and really meditate. You could probably use the quiet time right?

Remember: There is NOTHING wrong with giving yourself the love and praise you deserve!

Is there a situation in your life where you are a little too hard on yourself?

How can you stop being so hard on yourself?

 

One comment

  1. Tina Muir says:

    That is so very true! At my hot yoga class last night, the instructor talked about every situation in which we are upset, we have created in our minds, it is us who has taken what someone else has said and allowed it to change our emotions. It was pretty powerful.

    I am very guilty of doing this, and due to my level of competing, the pressure and expectation I put on myself to perform is way too high, worrying what others will think of me if I do not run as well as they think. I was way too hard on myself after my marathon did not go as planned, and it is something I really need to work on. I will use your checklist in future to “check myself” 🙂 Thanks!

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