When the average person envisions self-care, they often imagine laying back in a beach chair or sprawleId out on a massage table. These are wonderful ways to rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul. However, how often can we realistically afford these types of activities either due to time constraints, responsibilities, or finances? Also, individuals often confuse self-care with indulgence. More often than not, self-care is more along the lines of self-preservation. It involves a plethora of daily activities to ensure we care for ourselves.
I decided to pose the question to my audience across social media:
What are some basic, everyday self-care practices you engage in for self-preservation?
Check out the list below for some pretty neat self-care ideas.
- Writing in a journal
- Bullet journaling
- Expressing gratitude
- Meal prep for the week
- Cooking
- Scheduling appointments for myself
- Making my bed
- Drink a protein shake
- Getting prescriptions filled
- Taking a break
- Going for a walk
- Becoming self-aware
- Spending time alone
- Saying no to certain tasks or responsibilities
- Sleep/Naps
- Knitting
- Bilateral brain stimulation through the five senses
- Putting phone on “do not disturb”
- Disconnect from social media for a day or two
- Exercise regularly
- Mindfulness exercises
- Meditate
- Pray
- Setting aside time for reflection and contemplation
- Examining cognitive distortions and how to fix them
- Advocate for yourself
- Watching movies
- Watching a show on your DVR you have been meaning to watch
- Watch silly videos on YouTube
- Watching reality TV (without judgment)
- Drink your morning coffee
- Have a cup of tea instead
- Drink enough water throughout the day
- Or wine…if all else fails
- Unloading the dishwasher
- Wiping down the kitchen counters
- Washing your bedding
- Organize your space
- Catch up paperwork that has been sitting around for a while
- Eat a healthy breakfast
- Or eat some chocolate… up to you
- Read a good book
- Use an oil diffuser
- Turning on Himalayan salt lamps
- Take a shower
- Brush your teeth
- Make it to work
- Finish a full day of work
- Make a soul collage
- Practice yoga
- Setting reminders on your phone
- Taking a step outside even if just for a few minutes
- Tracking your nutrition/diet
- Enjoy a “cheat meal” or comfort food
- “Cat on lap” time (or with the critter of your choice)
- Take the dog for a walk
- Have dinner with a loved one
- Call up an old friend
- Talk to someone about your day
- Make a new one
- Go to a sports event
- Go to the movies
- Paying off bills
- Budgeting your money
- Retail therapy (hopefully after budgeting your money)
- Window shopping
- Time management
- Staggering appointments/meetings to have time in between
- Leave work “stuff” at work. Leave home “stuff” at home.
- Aim for ten thousand steps in a day
- Tend to a garden
- Setting aside a minimum amount of “me time” each day
- Prioritizing expectations
- Putting on makeup
- Staying busy
- Making a checklist
- Martial arts/karate (to kick some self-care butt obviously)
- Taking deep, purposeful breaths
- Coloring
- Washing your face
- Draw a picture
- Start a painting
- Bead a necklace
- Write yourself a compliment on a Post It Note
- Go cloud watching
- Watch the sunrise
- Or sunset
- Listen to your favorite song or band
- Sing
- Dance
- Stretch your body
- Have a good laugh
- Help someone
- Ask for help
- Donate to a charity
- Pay attention to something on your way to work you never noticed before
- Do five minutes of research on an interesting topic
- Reminisce about a fond memory
- Brainstorm ideas for your next vacation
- Catch up on your favorite blog 😉
– The Caring Counselor