Self-Care activities
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/shyness-is-nice/201403/seven-types-self-care-activities-coping-stress
- https://getmombalanced.com/101-self-care-activities/
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https://tinybuddha.com/blog/45-simple-self-care-practices-for-a-healthy-mind-body-and-soul/
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Dance
- Eat something healthy
- Go for a bike ride
- Try yoga or Pilates
- Play a game
- Draw (you don’t have to be good)
- Wrap up in a blanket
- Exercise
- Sing
- Call a friend
- Drink tea (or your favorite warm drink)
- Go swimming
- Aromatherapy
- Paint your nails
- Breathe deeply
- Create a morning or evening routine
- Go to church
- Jump in puddles
- Eat a meal you enjoy
- Sleep in
- Walk on the beach
- Plan your daily self-care for the month
- Watch a movie
- Call someone you care about and say “I love you”
- Journal
- Go for a hike
- Bake
- Delete items from your to-do list
- Do a random act of kindness
- Have a picnic
- Take a walk
- Look at the clouds
- Go to bed early
- Volunteer
- Be alone
- Take a shower and enjoy it
- Attend a counseling session or support group
- Call someone who makes you feel good
- Go away for the night
- Look at the stars
- Read a blog on self-care activities
- Try guided imagery (YouTube has great options)
- Color
- Go for a drive
- Meditate
- Girl’s Night Out
- Make a doctor’s appointment
- Cook a meal
- Be kind to someone else
- Declutter something
- Light a candle
- Read a magazine
- Go out with friends
- Smile (and hold it for 30 seconds)
- Turn your phone off Self-Care Calendar | Free printable | Self care activities | Create a routine | Ideas for life | Self-care for moms | - Busy women need self-care
- Be crafty
- Garden
- Get some pampering done: a manicure or massage
- Create a mission statement
- Go to the park
- Find an inspiring quote and repeat it daily
- Indulge in a treat
- Paint (try a painting class)
- Look at old photos
- Take a bath
- Think positively
- Listen to an audio book
- Pet an animal
- Laugh
- Go out on a date
- Write a letter
- Visit a dog park and watch the dogs play
- Listen to rain
- Start a gratitude journal
- Organize your day
- Go to the zoo
- Sit outside
- Snuggle with someone
- Listen to music
- Stretch
- Watch home movies
- Take some photos of things that make you smile
- Watch TV Write down your negative thoughts and throw them away or - burn them
- Sit quietly at home
- Watch baby animal videos
- Write down 3 things you’re thankful for
- Meet a friend for coffee
- Watch a show on Netflix
- Pray
- Read a book
- Stop what you’re doing and simply breathe
- Sit and listen to the sounds of nature
- Talk about your feelings with someone who will listen
- Plant something
- Have dinner with your friends
- Stay off of social media for an hour (or more!)
- Visit an animal shelter
- Watch the sunset (or sunrise)
- Wear something that makes you feel good
- Visit the library: check the self-improvement books
SENSORY
When you feel stressed and need a calm mind, try focusing on the sensations around you—sights, smells, sounds, tastes, touch… This will help you focus on the present moment, giving you a break from your worries.
Breathe in fresh air.
Snuggle under a cozy blanket.
Listen to running water.
Sit outdoors by a fire-pit, watching the flames and listening to the night sounds.
Take a hot shower or a warm bath.
Get a massage.
Cuddle with a pet.
Pay attention to your breathing.
Burn a scented candle.
Wiggle your bare feet in overgrown grass.
Stare up at the sky.
Lie down where the afternoon sun streams in a window.
Listen to music.
PLEASURE
A great way to take care of yourself when you’re coping with stress is to engage in a pleasurable activity. Try one of these ideas.
Take yourself out to eat.
Be a tourist in your own city.
Garden.
Watch a movie.
Make art. Do a craft project.
Journal.
Walk your dogs.
Go for a photo walk.
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MENTAL/MASTERY
You can also give yourself a boost by doing a task that you’ve been avoiding or challenging your brain in a novel way.
Clean out a junk drawer or a closet.
Take action (one small step) on something you’ve been avoiding.
Try a new activity.
Drive to a new place.
Make a list.
Immerse yourself in a crossword puzzle.
Do a word search.
Read something on a topic you wouldn’t normally.
SPIRITUAL
Getting in touch with your values—what really matters—is a sure way to cope with stress and foster a calm mind. Activities that people define as spiritual are very personal. Here are a few ideas:
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Attend church.
Read poetry or inspiring quotes.
Light a candle.
Meditate.
Write in a journal.
Spend time in nature.
Pray.
List five things you’re grateful for.
EMOTIONAL
Dealing with our emotions can be challenging when we’re coping with stress. We tend to label emotions as “good” or “bad,” but this isn’t helpful. Instead:
Accept your feelings. They’re all ok. Really.
Write your feelings down. Here’s a list of feeling words.
Cry when you need to.
Laugh when you can. (Try laughter yoga.)
Practice self-compassion.
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PHYSICAL
Coping with stress by engaging the body is great because you can bypass a lot of unhelpful mental chatter. It’s hard to feel stressed when you’re doing one of these self-care activites:
Try yoga.
Go for a walk or a run.
Dance.
Stretch.
Go for a bike ride.
Don’t skip sleep to get things done.
Take a nap.
SOCIAL
Connecting with others is an important part of self-care. This can mean activities such as:
Go on a lunch date with a good friend.
Calling a friend on the phone.
Participating in a book club.
Joining a support group.
It can also mean remembering that others go through similar experiences and difficulties as we do.
We’re not alone.