Self-care means different things to different people. It’s up to you to determine what
your self-care looks like.
For some, it’s giving yourself permission to put yourself first once in a while. For others, self-care is dedicating time to the gym. No matter what you do to practice self-care, the goal is to recognize the importance of your feelings and to honor them.
Try treating yourself to something indulgent once in a while. Be it a pampering day at the spa or an extra 30 minutes to read the book you’re enjoying. Give yourself permission to do something you want to so that you can cultivate a more positive outlook.
In the end, you’ll find you have more energy and the ability to be more present with others. Need some ideas? Below are a few ideas I found from learning more about self-care here: https://bit.ly/2tdujvI
- Avoid toxic people.
- Learn not to feel selfish when you say “no.”
- Take “should” out of your vocabulary. Stop feeling you “should” be doing things.
- Take a nap without an alarm clock.
- Learn more about your local history.
- Challenge your negative thinking.
- Take another route to work or do a routine differently. Develop new neural pathways and keep your brain healthy by mixing up your routine in small ways.
- Learn how to make a budget and keep track of your money. These money-saving apps can help.
- Sew, quilt, or crochet something. Engage your hands.
- Try something new in your living space. Rearrange all of your furniture in a way that makes you more comfortable. When your home “looks” new, you receive constant new stimulus until your mind is completely settled with the new look.
- Write a limerick or a haiku.
- Develop an energizing morning ritual including this healthy drink.
- Read fiction for an hour.
- Find a new hobby or revisit an old one.
- Intentionally schedule “me time” on your calendar or planner.
- Reward yourself for completing small tasks.
- Learn a new board game you’ve never played, such as chess, Carcassonne, Settlers of Caatan, or even Game of Thrones.
- Get some inspiration by reading stories of people who overcame adversity.
- Buy a coloring book and crayons. Adult coloring is actually good therapy.
- Goof or play around for five minutes several times throughout your day.
- Catch up on your favorite blog.
- Establish and stick to a routine. Your personal routine can be grounding in times when life seems chaotic.
- Use online tutorials to learn something new (i.e., Photoshop or Excel).
- Discover your stress indicators, such as mood swings, shortening temper, or feeling drained, overwhelmed, or angry. Use these “warning signs” to let you know you need “me time” and some self-care.
- Listen to a podcast about a topic that interests you, but you have yet to explore.
- Declutter your wardrobe. Every month, pick three clothes that you don’t love (or love least) and give them away.
- Do something spontaneous.
- If you are going through something, be it an illness or major life change, educate yourself by learning about what you’re facing, what to expect, and where you can get support.
- Clean up just one small corner of a room in your house. Tidying up can help calm our minds.
- Learn the basics of a new language.
- Learn something new. This could be a topic you’ve been interested in but have never taken the time to learn or it could review news/articles related to your career. (This free daily newsletter can help if you'd like to stay on top of the business world.)
- If you’re feeling overwhelmed, create a plan by listing out your three most important tasks and tackling them first. (See what qualifies as important according to the Eisenhower Matrix.)
- Unplug from email and social media for an hour.
- Read a magazine.
- If you’re feeling overwhelmed with too much social interaction, go home. Don't be afraid to cancel plans
- Unplug from email and social media for an hour.
- Read an article from the best self care blogs.
- If you’re feeling overwhelmed with too much social interaction, go home. Don't be afraid to cancel plans or say “no.”
- If you play an instrument, try learning a song from a genre or artist you don’t usually listen to.
- Take a mental health day.
- Do some hardcore nesting and make your home or bedroom as cozy, beautiful, and comforting as possible.
- Put the dishes away.
- Fix a small annoyance that’s been bothering you at home.
- Visit the library or a bookstore. Browse or read at your pleasure. (Check out Blinkist for 10-minute book synopses.)
- Check your to-do list for something that's been there for ages, and get it done.
- Declutter a room or a small space and use an app like Decluttr to sell your unwanted electronics.
- Write a review of a business (restaurant, shop, or even Amazon sales page) you like. Spread some good will and positivity.
- Develop a relaxing evening ritual.
- Pick and read a book that’s easy and fun, then give it away, perhaps to a younger person in your life.
- Make your bed. (See what Navy Seal Admiral McRaven has to say about the importance of making a bed to both your day and your life here.)
- On days when you lack self-confidence, try on expensive suits and dresses at a local boutique and see how good you look.
- Work on a jigsaw puzzle.
- Attend a 12-step or group meeting where support is offered.
- Listen to a chapter or two from an audiobook.
- Make a Spotify playlist based on your current mood.
- Start a journal to record your thoughts and experiences. (Here are 59 journaling ideas.)
- Forgive others who have hurt you in the past. You could even write them a forgiveness letter.