70+ SELF CARE IDEAS THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR LIFE
Self-care is often misunderstood as an expensive activity, and therefore usually neglected by many people. It is not a luxury but a primary right. Self-care is all about taking care of your body, mind and soul. Today I will share with you 70+ self-care ideas that will improve your life.
If you are going through stressful days or working too much, then you need to take some time exclusively for yourself.
Do not feel guilty about taking care of yourself. You deserve every bit of it.
Every day take a break from your busy schedule and indulge in some self-care activity. Self-care fuels you and allows you to be more productive and efficient.
I hope, with the help of this post, you will find a perfect self-care activity that suits your routine and needs.
WHAT IS SELF CARE AND WHO NEEDS IT?
Self-care is an umbrella term for any purposeful activity that you do to improve your life. It means taking care of your needs and improving your physical, mental and spiritual health. Self-care is about being kind and considerate towards your demands and necessities. Things you do that make you happy, and strengthen your relationship with your true self, are nothing but self-care.
Self-care is simple, and I believe that every person should practise it, irrespective of their age, gender or job profile.
Any person who wants to live a happy and healthy life should practice self-care.
HOW TO PRACTISE SELF-CARE?
Self-care shouldn’t be limited, to some confined days of the year, rather it should be practised every day. Self-care is simplistic, it is about giving yourself time and doing something that makes you happy. Here are some tips to help you get started.
- Choose your idea of self-care. You can pick your favourite self-care ideas from below.
- Assign a few minutes of the day to self-care only.
- Always plan your day ahead of time and schedule self-care time.
- Stick to your me-time religiously.
- Make self-care a part of your daily routine.
- Take pride in practising self-care.
HEALTHY SELF-CARE IDEAS
1. Stretch your body
Stretching is a great way to relieve a stressed body. You can do simple stretching exercises at home to uplift your mood and improve your flexibility.
2. Do yoga
Watch a yoga video on YouTube and try to follow. If you are new to yoga, I suggest you start with some basic postures.
3. Take a nap
Do not hesitate to put your exhausted brain to rest. Forget about your work and take a power nap. Wake up energized and resume your work.
4. Cook a healthy meal
Home cook a healthy meal with fresh ingredients. You can also cook a little extra to save for later.
5. Make a detox water
Make detox water at home and store it in a bottle. Keep sipping the water throughout the day.
6. Go on a hike
Put on your hiking shoes and go on a hike.
7. Ride your bike
8. Make a fruit salad
Go to the farmers market and buy fresh and local fruits. Treat yourself with a garden-fresh fruit salad, full of seasonal fruits.
9. Drink at least 8 glasses of water
Keep a count of the number of glasses of water you drink in a day, in order to meet your body’s daily requirement. Keeping well hydrated is one of the easiest ways to show love to your body.
10. Go for a walk in nature
Ditch your treadmill and go for a walk in nature. Smell the scent of the fresh breeze and appreciate the scenery around you.
EMOTIONAL SELF-CARE IDEAS
11. Write down your feelings and thoughts
On a piece of paper, write down everything that you feel at the moment. Writing allows your brain to detangle your thoughts. You can understand your feelings better once they are unravelled.
12. Talk to a loved one
Do not keep your feelings to yourself. Talk to a family member or a friend and tell them how you feel. There is no shame in asking for help when you are struggling with your emotions.
13. Look at your old pictures
Refresh old memories and have a good time by looking at your old pictures. Relive the good old days.
14. Cry if you want to
It’s normal and OK to cry. Contrary to common belief, crying makes you strong. Cry your heart out and trust me you’ll feel better.
15. Write a letter to your older self
Imagine yourself living your dream life and writing a letter to your older self.
16. Make a list of things you like about yourself
Make a list, and surprise yourself.
17. Send Postcards
Buy a few nice-looking postcards, write a beautiful message on them and send it to your grandparents or your friends in a different city. Posting postcards is an excellent and classic way to connect with our loved ones.
18. Start a gratitude journal
Stress and anxiety stem from the negativity around you. Acknowledge all the fabulous things you are surrounded with. Start a gratitude journal and focus on all the unique things you have.
19. Smile to yourself
Stand in front of the mirror, smile at yourself and say a few kind words about yourself.
20. Confide in someone
Sometimes all you need is to share the load with someone you trust. Confide in someone. Get rid of the emotional baggage you are carrying.
SOCIAL SELF-CARE IDEAS
21. Visit your friends
Spend some leisure time with your friends. Visit your friends or call them over your place.
22. Join a club
Joining a club not only gives you an opportunity to learn something new or practice a hobby, but it also allows you to meet new people.
23. Host a game night
Invite friends over to your place and host a game night.
24. Go out for lunch or dinner
Go to a restaurant of your choice and eat your favourite food with your friends. Do not wait for a weekend to spend time with your friends.
25. Host a movie night at your place
Binge-watch your favourite television shows or movies with your friends. Time to put Netflix at work and don’t forget to buy popcorn.
26. Go on a day trip
Choose a destination close enough to make a day trip from your location. Visit a new place with friends and family.
27. Go on a long drive
Play some soothing music and go on a long drive on a scenic route. Trust me, it works wonders.
PAMPERING SELF-CARE IDEAS
28. Paint your nails
File your nails and paint them in your favourite shade. Try some nail art and make them all pretty.
29. Apply a face pack
Make a homemade face pack and nourish your skin.
30. Take a long bath
Enjoy a long hot shower. You deserve it. Take a bubble bath, play your favourite song and drink a glass of wine.
31. Light scented candles
Make your house smell like spring. Light scented candles and eat a romantic dinner at home.
32. Eat dark chocolate
Chocolate is known to uplift your mood. Eat dark chocolate guilt-free. Remember, moderation is the key. Excess of everything and anything is damaging.
33. Bask in the sun
Lather up on sunscreen generously and enjoy the sun. Lie down under the clear blue sky, listen to the sounds of nature and watch the clouds. It is so relaxing. Try it!
34. Moisturise your body
Time to put on some sweet-scented body cream.
35. Buy yourself flowers
Go to a florist and buy yourself a bouquet. Do not wait for someone else to buy you those red roses.
36. Buy yourself a gift
No one knows better than you what you need. Buy yourself a gift. It doesn’t matter if it’s your birthday or not. You don’t need an excuse or a special day to gift yourself something.
37. Drink a warm beverage
Make yourself a freshly brewed coffee or herbal tea. Drink your beverage while sitting on a reclining chair.
38. Wear your favourite dress and make-up
Whenever you feel low, dress up! Wear elegant clothes and show up. Dress up, even when you are home.
MENTAL SELF-CARE IDEAS
39. Watch a light-hearted movie
I prefer to watch a light comedy over some action-packed crime thriller. Watch whatever makes you feel good.
40. Read a motivational book
41. Meditate
Meditation is about focus. Play some calming music, if it helps you concentrate. You can also use an app such as Headspace to meditate.
42. Listen to music
Music affects your mood, and cheerful music can uplift your mood within seconds.
43. Unplug from social media
It sounds daunting but believe me it is so important to do a social media detox from time to time. Social media is addictive and toxic but also the need of the hour. Stay away from all of your social media accounts, at least for a day, if not more.
44. Watch a sunrise or a sunset
Sunrises are beautiful but difficult to observe if you are not an early bird. Never mind, watch a sunset, it is equally beautiful but so underrated.
45. Play with your pet
Playing with your pet is such a great way to relieve stress, and above all, your pet will be happy too.
46. Find inspiration on Pinterest
Read some inspirational blog posts and articles on Pinterest.
47. Watch funny videos
48. Read inspirational quotes
Inspirational quotes can instantly fill you with enthusiasm and energy. Whenever you feel low in life, look for words of wisdom.
49. Listen to a motivational podcast
If you are not into reading, listen to a podcast. Listen to inspirational stories and find your motivation.
50. Unfollow negative people on social media
Unfollow all the people on social media, that do not add value to your life or that make you feel bad about your life.
CREATIVE SELF-CARE IDEAS
51. Shake a leg
Dance your heart out. Dance like there is no tomorrow.
52. Bake a cake
Bake healthy alternates to store-bought cakes and muffins. Try to decorate it for fun. If you have kids, decorate your cake with them. Do not try to be a perfectionist and just enjoy the process.
53. Colour an adult colouring book
I used to find the idea of adult colouring books very weird, but only until I started it. Do not hesitate to buy a colouring book, the next time you hit the bookstore.
54. Make a photo collage
Because of the digital nature of photos, we usually end up clicking an unnecessary number of pictures. Make a collage of a few selected pictures and get them printed.
55. Try a DIY project
Watch YouTube or explore Pinterest to find some inspiration for a DIY project at home.
56. Cook a new recipe
Try out new recipes from different countries. This way, you can treat yourself to delicious food and also learn about other cultures.
57. Create a new playlist
Create a couple of playlists according to the mood. Like, create a party playlist and a romantic playlist. Keep a playlist handy for when you need it.
58. Do gardening
If you do not have a garden, don’t worry. Buy potted plants and water them every day. Take care of them and nurture them.
59. Decorate your room
Decorate your little nest. Make your room cosy and comfortable.
PRODUCTIVE SELF-CARE IDEAS
60. Plan your week
Plan the upcoming week and make better use of time. Do not forget to schedule your “me-time”!
61. Declutter your house.
A decluttered house means a decluttered mind.
62. Change sheets
Change your sheets and pillow covers. Wouldn’t it be great to sleep on crisp and sweet-scented sheets?
63. Clean your house
Make your house all clean and comfy. Keep things at their designated places and repair any broken items. Take care of your house, and you will feel so proud.
64. Make a budget plan
Make a monthly budget plan. Being able to manage your budget is one of the best things to do for yourself. Before spending, always save a certain amount in your bank account.
65. Organise your wardrobe
66. Plan a vacation
Choose a destination from your bucket list and plan the ultimate vacation.
67. Create an evening routine
Follow an evening routine to get better sleep and a more productive day.
68. Create a morning routine
Develop healthy morning habits to live a productive and healthy lifestyle.
69. Donate clothes that don’t fit you
If you have not worn a piece of cloth in the past six to eight months, chances are you will not wear it any more. Instead of piling up those clothes on the upper shelf, give them to someone who needs them more than you do.
70. Unsubscribe from E-mails
Clean your inbox. Delete all the old and unnecessary emails. Unsubscribe from any newsletters, you do not wish to receive any longer.
71. Learn something new
Never stop learning. Learn a new skill, a new language or enrol yourself in a course. The only person you should compete with is yourself. Always try to do better than you did yesterday.
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