What is self care? I think of self care as making sure that your mind, body, and spirit are getting the support they need to thrive. Sometimes we do this naturally, but often in our hectic, modern-day lives, we need to specifically set aside time to make sure that we are taking aligned actions to maintain our health and happiness.
When it comes down to deciding what constitutes self care for you, you need to look at your lifestyle, your priorities, and what truly makes you feel good. Sometimes, we can mistake mindless activities like tv binging or social media scrolling for self care. It may be an escape from using our minds or being present with uncomfortable feelings, but is it really giving you the rest and rejuvenation you need? Only you can tell.
If you are looking for some fresh ideas ideas on how to incorporate more self care into your life, check out the list below. Use this list anyway you like – browse it for anything that jumps out at you, focus on one each week for the next year, use a random number generator to choose one for you… there’s no wrong way to do it.
Many of these ideas can be modified to suit your lifestyle and the amount of time available to you. For example, when we think about getting a massage, we usually jump straight to how much time and money that requires, but getting a massage doesn’t have to involve booking an expensive hour at a spa – it could be giving yourself a three minute hand massage while you sit at your desk. I challenge you to see how you can interpret and adapt these ideas to work for you!
- Take a group fitness class
- Do a free online movement class (check out Yoga With Adriene on YouTube)
- Epsom salt bath
- Eat more vegetables
- Drink adequate water
- Declutter your home
- Declutter your workspace
- Create a budget
- Turn off technology/screens 2 hours before bed
- Redecorate in a way that brings you more joy
- Create a skincare routine
- Diffuse or topically apply essential oils
- Create healthy boundaries with friends, family, and coworkers
- Schedule a date with yourself
- Schedule a date with a friend or significant other
- Eat fresh, local, seasonal foods
- Spend at least 1 hour each week on personal development/exploration
- Hire a personal trainer or life coach
- Get a massage (or give yourself one)
- Research your ayurvedic dosha
- Dance to your favorite music
- Meditate
- Take one hour to schedule all the appointments you’ve been putting off
- Outsource something (hire a cleaner, virtual assistant, buy a premade meal prep list, etc)
- Do something you loved to do as a child
- Plan a one day staycation
- Take a cooking class
- Try something new and totally outside your box
- Laugh
- Make art (even if you think you can’t)
- Sing (even if you think you can’t)
- Go outside
- Block your social media apps for an hour/day/month
- Stretch
- Sit on the floor instead of the couch
- Wear something that makes you feel good
- Carve out space for some quiet time
- Listen to your favorite podcast
- Read a book that sparks joy and inspiration
- Forgive someone (including yourself)
- Create a vision board (physical or virtual)
- Eat more fiber
- Journal
- Learn about/practice Emotional Freedom Technique (aka tapping)
- Spend less (or zero) time with negative people
- Let go of some things from your to-do list
- Get curious about something
- Take a walk
- Give up caffeine
- Create a morning routine
- Create a bedtime routine
- Program some self love affirmations to pop up on your phone throughout the day
If you need any help creating a life you love that is in alignment with the health and happiness you desire, click here to head to the contact page and send me a message. I’ll help you figure out your next steps, whether it’s working with me one-on-one or pointing you toward other resources that are a good match for the support you need. 🙂