“It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.” – Mandy Hale
Set a timer for 5 minutes and write down your prioritizes for next week.
Did you include yourself in the list? Did you prioritize your mental, physical and emotional health?
Its a sad reality that we forget to schedule time to take care of ourselves by doing things that makes us happy.
Self care is more than a buzz word. It is an absolute necessity for your overall well-being. Instagram has made it look like self care is expensive and is all about doing grand things.
This isn’t true.
Self care is about doing simple things that aren’t monetarily taxing.
Here is a list of 60 simple self care ideas that you can easily do. Whether you’re looking for ways to recharge physically, emotionally, mentally, or creatively, you will find something useful here.
Walking for as less as 10 minutes every day can do wonders. It is helpful to boost your mood and sleep and reduce anxiety. And also may help you to live longer.
Put on your earphones. Listen to your favorite music or podcast. Walk around the block or a park. And release all the stress away.
Doing some quick stretches can help to relax yourself. It helps to reduce those stubborn tension in your muscles and makes you feel calmer.
This 10 minute stretching for neck, shoulder and upper back by Maddy Morrison. It’s my absolute favorite.
Light some candles. Play your favorite music. Add bath salts. Use essential oils.
And enjoy that long bath that you deserve. Pamper yourself and enjoy the evening.
Dehydration can cause mood changes, headaches, constipation and so much more. You can save yourself from all these by drinking adequate amount of water.
Drinking water is simple but many people struggle to hydrate themselves. It might be due to lack of motivation or just forgetting to drink water. If you are such a person, check out this water bottle.
It has time stamps for entire day that will motivate you to drink water. And has a cool look too.
150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise is recommended for adults to stay healthy and fit.
Work out doesn’t have to be doing 45 minutes long sessions 5 times a week. It can be 10 or 15 minutes sessions for 3 times a week.
Always remember something is better than nothing. So, try a work out and start taking care of your physical and mental health.
A 20 minute power nap can help to increase alertness, be more productive and improve your mood.
Sleeping and waking up on the same time is one of the best things to do for your health.
How many hours of sleep is necessary? This is one the most common question asked about sleep. Is 5 to 6 hours enough?
Watch this TED talk ‘Do you really need 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night?’ to know the answer.
Wanna know more about sleep? Watch this podcast episode of Huberman Lab Podcast.
Open your blinds as soon as you wake up. Sip your morning smoothie in your balcony to get the sunlight exposure.
Morning sunlight exposure helps to maintain a good sleep cycle, boost vitamin D levels, and puts you in a better mood and increase your energy level.
Apply your favorite face mask and relax by listening to some soothing music. Your skin will thank you and you will refreshed too.
Studies have shown that regular practice of gratitude increases happiness.
Make a quick list of 5 things you are grateful for. Take a moment to appreciate those things.
Grab some popcorn and watch your favorite movie. The one that makes you laugh or inspire or gives you the hopeless romantic feeling
Are you feeling anxious? Depressed? Lonely? Unhappy? Worried?
Block a chunk of time and journal in detail how you are feeling. Just let those thoughts flow to release the pent up emotions.
Journaling can help you to find the solutions to your problems. Give it a try.
Related Post: 98 Creative Ways to Fill Empty Notebooks
Spend some time and create a playlist of songs that make you feel happy and energetic. So, the next time you are feeling down, listen to the playlist for a quick mood boost.
Reminisce about your past by looking through old photos. Bring to life the happy memories that you might have forgotten with time.
Give a long and warm hug to someone you love. Experience the warmth and comfort from that hug.
Write a letter to yourself appreciating how far you’ve come. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t become the best version of yourself yet. Progress is non-linear and slow.
Tell yourself that you are proud of who you’re becoming and encourage yourself to become better.
We ignore small wins as if they don’t count. It’s the small wins that pave way to achieving big goals.
What is some of the small wins you had in recent days.
Maybe you made your bed every day for a week. Or took stairs instead of lift at work.
Congrats in your small win. Now, its time for you to celebrate them
Reading is powerful. Books can inspire you, spark curiosity, improve sleep, boost your mood, help you gain knowledge and so much more.
Pick up the book that has been sitting idle on your table and start reading.
Some great reads are:
Spend some time to solve a jigsaw puzzle, crossword or sudoku. The sense of achievement that you will feel after solving them is worth the effort you put in.
Physical clutter can be mentally taxing. And it can also make you less productive.
Choose a small space in your home, a kitchen cabinet or your table’s drawer and declutter that space.
Keep doing this for an organized home.
I know – meditation is difficult. It just feels impossible isn’t it? The moment you close your eyes, your thoughts are all over the place. And you just can’t focus.
Guided meditations are the best solution to this problem. Start with just 5 minutes and slowly increase your time to 7 minutes, 10 minutes and so on.
My favorite app for meditation is Insight Timer. It has a ton of free meditations of various kinds to help you. Try it out.
If you have an internet connection, you can learn anything for free. YouTube is the bets place to learn things that for free.
Sketching, calligraphy, an instrument, coding, a new language….. the options are endless. It can also be as simple as learning one new word a day.
Stay away from screens for at least an hour every day. Do activities that doesn’t require you to use your devices.
Reading, journaling, cooking. Or be outside and reconnect with nature.
Enjoy the life outside of screens.
What do you want to achieve in life? Make a list of all the goals and read it every morning.
Doodling is great for stress relief and to reduce anxiety. Did you know that? Try it out and enjoy the benefits.
Have you felt stressed because you are holding a lot of thoughts in your mind? It’s becoming difficult to focus and affecting your productivity.
‘Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them’ – David Allen. This is one of the most famous productivity tips.
Do a brain dump and offload everything in your mind to a piece of paper without thinking. Write whatever is coming to your mind.
It can be as trivial as need to buy milk, pay electricity bill within a week and so on.
Get everything on paper and give your mind some rest.
Life happens. Everyone gets busy. And you loose contact with friends.
It becomes more difficult if your friend is in a different city or country.
Plan and schedule time to get in touch with your friend. Reminisce about the past, give updates of what is happening in your life, share your future plans, discuss your worries and apprehensions. And most importantly, shower your gratitude for being in your life.
Even if you are in the same city as your loved ones, it might be difficult to catch up. Your schedules never match. With time, you have stopped trying to meet.
Think of a person who you want to catch up. Tweak your schedule a little and meet that person in a nice cafe. Sip your favorite coffee and share a nice time.
Become a volunteer for a community that helps for a cause that matters to you.
Volunteering helps you to connect with communities. It helps you to become happier and fight loneliness. It’s an amazing feeling to help the world in ways you can. Every small act counts to making our communities a better place.
Take a moment to compliment a stranger. Just anyone.
Security guards, barista, waitress, taxi driver. It will make their day as well as yours.
Joining an online club can be a rewarding experience. You can connect with people with similar interests as yours. It’s a great way to expand your network and share your ideas.
Family game night is the best way to bond with your family members. It will be a night of fun and laughter. One you will remember for a long time.
Unplug from your screens. No music, no podcasts. Don’t do anything.
Just be outdoors and listen to the sound of nature – the birds chirping, the sound of leaves dancing in the wind. Relax and free yourself from all thoughts weighing down on you.
The soothing aroma of the candle is best to relax and unwind after a long and tiring day.
Deep breathing is the simplest and quickest way to regulate overwhelming emotions. Feeling nervous or anxious about something? Do some deep breathing to calm yourself.
Regular deep breathing also helps to improve heart and lung function and sleep better.
Looking for some screen free activities. Drawing, painting, coloring or sketching are best options to try out.
Eating the same food again and again can be boring. Try a new recipe to refresh your taste buds.
Make something with your hands. Get those creative juices flowing.
Knit a sweater or repurpose your mason jar.
Studies have shown that art is helpful to calm anxiety and reduce stress. Try it out.
Blast your favorite music on speakers and dance your heart out. Enjoy your solo time.
When is last time you had your cup of tea of coffee by truly savoring its essence and flavor? The next time, take a moment to appreciate its aroma, enjoy the texture and taste of your coffee or tea. Live the experience
Lie down in your cozy zone and listen to your favorite music. Listen to the lyrics and understand its meaning.
You have a favorite bedcover, don’t you? Every one does.
Change your bedcover and spread the ones that you love. A small change but it will put a smile on your face, especially if you are having a bad day.
What are things that you have to get done this week? Prepare a list so that you don’t miss anything out.
Do a DIY manicure / pedicure. It just feels so good and refreshing.
Pamper yourself by going on a solo date. Watch a movie by yourself, go to the spa, read your favorite books in a cafe, buy yourself flowers – do the things that makes you happy.
Watch stand up comedies of your favorite comedian. Forget your worries and laugh your heart out.
Who is your favorite stand up comedian?
Binge watching is definitely not recommended as a daily activity. But once in a while isn’t harmful.
Cozy up and spend a day binge watching a new series.
Walking your dog is good for both you and your furry friend. It helps to strengthen the bond with your pet, get some fresh air and relax.
Just lie down and gaze at the night sky. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty and marvel of the universe. Relax yourself and connect with the nature.
Boost your confidence and look even better by trying anew hairstyle. Discover styles that makes you feel great. Whether it’s a sleek braid, a playful bun, or loose waves, changing your hairstyle can refresh your appearance and lift your mood.
Feeling stuck? Lacking motivation?
Watch a motivational TED talk for a slight nudge that you need to get started.
Look into a mirror and say ‘I am confident. I am the best. I love myself for who I am.’ Keep your chin up, look yourself in the eye and smile at yourself. Believe what you are saying. It will do wonders in your life.
Do you moisturize your skin and apply sunscreen everyday?
This is the bare minimum that you must do for a healthy skin.
I have been using Cetaphil’s face moisturizer (recommended by my dermatologist) for almost a year now. And I have been loving it. My skin is super dry and this moisturizer has done wonders.
Cetaphil’s sunscreen is also amazing. It works really well.
I love grocery shopping. I find it relaxing and enjoys it so much.
Try going for grocery shopping. Dedicate some time for it so that you can avoid rushing.
Spend some time to mindfully water your plants. Talk to them, they can hear you.
Crying is often seen as a sign of weakness. Because of this, many people suppress their emotions and suffer in silence.
If you need to cry, then just do it.
I feel great after a good cry. It feels like a weight is lifted off my chest. I can finally breathe and get back on track
Alone or with a loved one, hit the road and go on a long drive. Try out new restaurants and enjoy the outdoors.
Buy yourself that outfit that has been in your wish list as a gesture of appreciation for you being so amazing. You deserve it.
Bake a cake or cookies. Immerse yourself in the process.
Try to give it a twist. Maybe add some decorations or tweak the recipe.
Finally, enjoy your delicious creations!
Visit the museum or the zoo. Or any other place that is famous in your city.
I hope you enjoyed this big list of fun self care activities.
Some of the things in this list can be done daily, while others on weekends or occasionally.
Pick a few that makes you happy and start doing them. Block out some time for self care so that you don’t skip doing it.
Are you ready to kickstart your self care journey? Unapologetically make yourself a priority.
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