Self-care is not as simple as a day in the spa or a face mask during your nighttime routine. Here are some self-care ideas that will enable you to take care of yourself. Your self-care routine should ensure you take care of yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
You don’t need tons of free time to practice self-care in fact just squeezing a couple of minutes in your day can still suffice. You should ensure that you have “me time” every day to relax and recharge. So whether you have a couple of hours to yourself, a couple of minutes, or even the whole day. Here are a couple of self-care ideas you should include in your self-care routine.
Get some air
If you’re having one of those days where nothing is going right or things are just not working out and you’re exhausted just get out and get some air. Tale a walk outside the office if you’re at work and if you’re home go to your nearest park and just take in the air. You can listen to an uplifting podcast while you’re at it. This is great because it’s one of the affordable self-care ideas. All you need is a 30-minute walk with your podcast or audiobook.
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Take yourself on a lunch date
Take yourself out on a date and indulge in a 3-course meal. You can take yourself to your favorite cafe or restaurant. This is one of the more ideal self-care ideas that are great for mid-week. You can read a book on your date, watch people, listen to a podcast, or just get lost in thought.
Music
Listening to your favorite music will work like a charm. When you just want to relax and recharge your energy or you just want to clear your head listening to music helps a great deal. On your ride home just listen to your favorite music and do just that, don’t think about anything else. Just enjoy the music.
Scented candles
Take out the scented candles and just relax. Scented candles are therapeutic, they have this soothing effect that helps in relieving stress. Scented candles help in keeping calm and can revitalize energy.
Get Crafty
This is one of the more involving self-care ideas. You can start a DIY project just to help you relax and to relieve stress. There are several projects you can start i.e. buy a canvas and paint, it does not have to be perfect, it just has to help you relax. You can do less involving projects like adult coloring books.
Take a bubble bath
Baths are the ultimate cliche when it comes to self-care ideas but for good reason. They are great when it comes to relaxation and relieving stress. To make your me-time even better light scented candles and listen to your favorite songs or podcast.
Exercise
Exercising is well known for relieving stress. It also helps clear out the mind. It does not have to be intensive but try and make it regular. You can go to the gym or you can just run in your neighborhood.
Unplug
If you can try and get one day in a week where you completely unplug. Get rid of your social media, your phone, your TV basically every electronic you own. You can read a book, go for a swim or a drive. This is one of the harder self-care ideas to implement. If you want to unplug, just make sure you have a plan on how your day will go to prevent using electronics.
Watch TV
This is one of the self-care ideas that most people tend to lean towards. Binge-watch your favorite show or watch your favorite movie. Watch something you love and just do that. Put your phone down and just watch your favorite show or movie.
Journal
If you can try and journal when you can. Include it in your nighttime routine. This way when you’ve had a good day you can make a list of all the things that went right and if you’re having a bad day, it’s a way of downloading your thoughts. If you can’t keep up with journaling, every once in a while make a list of all the things you are grateful for in your life
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Get Social
Meet up with your friends for dinner or drinks. Socializing outside of your routine really does wonders. You can opt to go with your girlfriends for a mani-pedi or just to the sauna. Hanging out with friends even just for 30 minutes can be refreshing and rejuvenating.
Declutter
There’s just something about organizing that is soothing and relaxing. Decluttering has this fulfilling effect as we’re doing it. Free up your space, free up your mind.
Get a hobby
If you’re looking for self-care ideas that are fun, this is the one. What do you like to do for fun? Figure out what calms you down and make a hobby out of it. If you like reading or swimming try and do it a couple of times a week.
Go to the movies
If you just want to relax and let off some steam go to the movies by yourself. You get your snacks all to yourself and it’s a great way to rejuvenate.
Meditate
You can include meditation in your morning or nighttime routine. You can try mindfulness meditation. Meditating helps in rejuvenation and helps relieve stress. This is one of the self-care ideas that help in mental self-care.