14 Jan 50 Ideas to Practice Self-Care| Austin Boudoir Photography

What Is Self-Care?

Self-care is the mindset, activities, practices and habits we bring to bear against stress, unhappiness, illness, depression and many more negative emotions.

Self-care is about giving ourselves relief when we feel overwhelmed. It’s about addressing our problems holistically. Self-care activities are usually carried out, or at least initiated, by the person themselves. To care for yourself, you need to know your needs and seek them out.

Why Is Self-Care Important?

While it’s easy to think self-care is some new indulgent fad, this is just not true. People have been talking about the importance of self-care — and the mind-body-spirit relationship that self-care helps foster — for many years.

In fact, the first mention of self-care goes back as far as the Egyptians, where they discussed self-care ideas like using specific oils to improve moods and fight ailments.

How Can Practicing Self-Care Impact Your Life?

The first thing to remember about self-care is that it is not indulgent. It is not selfish. It is necessary.

Just like the safety instructions say on an airplane — you must put the oxygen mask on yourself first before you can help anyone else.

The reason for this is simple. Until you are helped, you are likely to cause more problems and become part of the overall problem rather than being part of the solution.

Self-care is all about taking care of the little things that matter to help heal you so you can become part of the solution.

50 Self-Care ideas

• Take a nap without an alarm clock.
• Listen to an audio book or podcast.
• Do something spontaneous.
• Look at yourself in the mirror and imagine that you’re your best friend. What would you tell you right now?
• Declutter & tidy up your living space using the KonMari Method.
• Revisit an old hobby you used to love.
• Compile a playlist of your favorite songs.
• Take a walk outside.
• Sit somewhere green and be still and quiet for a few minutes.
• Help someone in some way. Open a door, carry a bag, or feed someone’s parking meter.
• Unplug from email and social media for an hour (or more).
• Listen to a podcast about a topic that interests you, but you have yet to explore.
• Learn not to feel selfish when you say “no.”
• Take a mental health day.
• Sing at the top of your lungs.
• Do some hardcore nesting and make your home or bedroom as cozy, beautiful, and comforting as possible.
• If you’re feeling overwhelmed with too much social interaction, go home. Don’t be afraid to cancel plans or say “no.”
• Take a trip by yourself.
• Treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure or both.
• Do some gardening. Dig your hands into the dirt and enjoy the feeling.
• Watch old Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood videos online.
• Write a review of a business (restaurant, shop, or even Amazon sales page) you like. Spread some good will and positivity.
• Watch the sun rise or set.
• Go sing karaoke with friends, or just to people watch.
• Make your bed.
• Go out to see a movie at your favorite theater, all by yourself.
• Try something new in your living space. Rearrange all of your furniture in a way that makes you more comfortable. When your home “looks” new, you receive constant new stimulus until your mind is completely settled with the new look.
• Take a bubble bath.

• Go on a trip with friends.
• Intentionally schedule “me time” on your calendar or planner.
• Do a face mask.
• Buy a coloring book and crayons. Adult coloring is actually good therapy.
• Hire someone to clean your house.
• Go to a comedy club or improv show.
• Discover your stress indicators, such as mood swings, shortening temper, or feeling drained, overwhelmed, or angry. Use these “warning signs” to let you know you need “me time” and some self-care.
• Unfollow or mute toxic “friends” in your social media feeds.
• Join a support group for people who are going through what you’re going through.
• Remind yourself of the good stuff in life by writing a list of things you’re grateful to have. Then post it somewhere you can see it often to help refocus your emotions when you feel down.
• Do some random acts of kindness.
• Send a surprise care package to someone you love.
• Ask three good friends to give you positive feedback. What do they love about you?
• Go to bed early.
• Buy some pretty flowers while getting groceries.
• Do one thing today just because it makes you happy.
• Get up and dance to your favorite upbeat song.
• Drink more water.
• Get a massage.
• Schedule a regular date night with your significant other.
• Seek out therapy & commit to it.
• Take yourself out to lunch or dinner. Bring along a book or just people watch.

Did you like this self-care ideas post? 

Did you enjoy this self-care ideas post? Did you find a few self-care ideas that sound great, but might not have been on your radar?

Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below. Also, please share any self-care ideas that work for you.