What Being #WomanKind Means To Me

I have recently come across Wight Watcher’s #WomanKind campaign and if a spirit animal was a campaign, this would be it. I was just nodding and agreeing when I watched the video (posted below) – total fist pump in the air stuff.

Basically, the campaign wants to focus on women developing a positive relationship with ourselves. This positive relationship, or lack of, affects everything we do. It can impact our health, our confidence, whether we go for that promotion at work, whether we work out that day, or eat the chocolate cake. From the big to the small decisions, it plays a massive part.

The video shows just how many of us struggle with this, myself being one of them. I thought the stats would be quite high. Women as a rule, are harder on themselves, perhaps due to expectations placed on them. I think that is it in my case anyway. I just didn’t realise quite how high the stats were, though.

So what can we do to improve this? We find being kind to others pretty easy I think. I know when one of my friends looks amazing, I tell them. Or if they are feeling down, I find it so easy to tell them all of the wonderful things that they do or traits that they have. When I’m feeling down, am I able to tell myself what I’m good at? Or just mentally beat myself up for even feeling sad in the first place?

So, I thought I would give myself, and any of you that need it, a few commandments to follow. To help me be kinder to me. Being #WomanKind means being kinder to myself.

1. Thou Shalt Not Read Celebrity Magazines

Now this might sound quite silly, but I have been doing this for a while now. My husband was the one that suggested it to me actually. I use to read magazines a lot. But the thing is, I didn’t really read them. I’d just flick through and see all the perfect bodies and perfect hair. Perfect teeth and skin. It didn’t make me feel good, so I just stopped reading them. I certainly haven’t missed them. I know my happiness shouldn’t be based on how someone else looks, but for me, it helps just not having that comparison right in front of my face.

1. Thou Shalt Realise That Thy Body Is Amazing

My figure has changed a lot since having children. My priorities have changed and I am no longer able to work out several times a day, as I could in my previous job. It has taken me a while to accept that. My figure has changed. But, I grew two humans. Then I was able to provide nourishment and food for said tiny humans. My body is pretty amazing when I think about it like that.

1. Thou Shalt Take Time for Thyself Every Day

I think time to myself is so important. Even if it is to just sit in silence after one of those days! Whether it is going to the gym in the evening or having a relaxing bubble bath. Sometimes that time might only be my shower in the morning on some days. But take that time, reflect and enjoy it.

1. Thou Shalt Write Five Things Thy Likes About Thyself

I think taking time to write down what I like about myself will help me a lot. Focusing on what I do Like about myself is so important. Then having the list somewhere I will see it regularly, like on my mirror or near my laptop, will help me a lot. If I can’t say many things I like about myself, how can I expect my children to ever be able to do the same? They will learn from me that it is OK to be unkind about yourself.

1. Thou Shalt Accept Compliments

I can be the worst when it comes to accepting compliments. Like I’ve said, I have no qualms complimenting my sisters or friends. But if they ever return the compliment and tell me that my hair looks great, or they like my top, I always come up with an excuse.

“Oh, I didn’t do anything to it, just washed it”

“This old thing? I got it in the sale ages ago”

I need to learn to just say ‘thank you’. Accepting compliments, rather than batting them away, will help me.

What commandments would you add to the list?

*collaboration with Weight Watchers.