(in no order of importance)
- take a nap
- take a bath
- call someone you love
- take a walk
- get a massage (from a partner or a professional)
- read a book or magazine
- hang out with animals (your pets, go to a farm)
- walk around a museum
- write a love letter to yourself
- send some snail mail
- treat yourself to something new
- hug someone
- go to bed early
- catch a yoga class
- set your timer, close your eyes, and breathe for 1-5 minutes
- sign up for a class of any kind (art, movement, language, dance, acting?)
- walk around your neighborhood and take photos
- light candles or incense at home
- set your timer and organize one thing (drawer, shelf, cabinet) for 15 minutes
- try a new recipe or make a favorite one
- go volunteer for something important to you (animals, kids, women?)
- have dinner by candlelight, with cloth napkins (even if it’s just you)
- buy the softest bed sheets you can find
- get a mani/pedi
- start your morning with hot water and lemon
- make a playlist of your favorite songs and listen as often as possible
- set your timer and write down all the awesome things about you for 10 minutes
- schedule a facial
- watch some YouTube videos on something you want to learn (make-up or hair lessons?)
- take a bath or hot shower
- get out your favorite essential oils and diffuse/rub/smell
- set your timer and have a dance party with yourself for 5-10 minutes
- color in one of those adult coloring books
- pick a trail and hike a new path
- clear your schedule for a block of time (an hour or 4) and allow yourself to do whatever you want
- make a cup of tea
- set your timer and stretch for 5-10 minutes
- make a lady date for tea, coffee, or lunch
- knit, crochet, or sew
- go for a run or a jog
- set your timer and write down everything you’re grateful for for 10 minutes
- visit a library
- grab a bunch of magazines, cut out everything that speaks to you, and make a vision board
- try self-massage with oils or dry brushing
- make a list of anything (of movies or shows you want to watch, places you want to visit, things you’d like to try) and pick/do one of the things within the next week
- unplug for one day (phone, tv, internet (gasp!)); or maybe half a day. Or maybe 2 hours.
- make art (sketch, draw, paint, collage) and don’t worry about how great or not-great it is
- say a prayer and say “what’s up?” to your higher power or your inner guide
- fill a bag or two with quality things you no longer use and donate them
- find a quote you love and tape it to your bathroom mirror
- go to bed early
- buy a plant for your home or office
- paint your own nails
- have lunch somewhere new
- visit an antiques shop or thrift store
- plant some seeds
- take a bike ride
- try a new class at your gym (or get a Groupon or Classpass for somewhere new)
- watch YouTube videos of animals (I suggest puppies, goats, or orangutans)
- watch a TED talk
- put on a guided meditation and get real chill
- listen to a new podcast
- plan a getaway (for a night or 10)
- host a game night
- go to a crafts or painting night with a girlfriend
- plan a camping trip
- put some of your clothes in a box and forget about them for a year (then when you find them, it’ll feel like you just went shopping!)
- watch a documentary
- start a new journal
- do something nice and unexpected for a friend
- do something nice and unexpected for a stranger
- start a new pinterest board of stuff you’ll actually do/make/buy and keep it simple
- grab a jar, write down one good thing in it every day for the rest of the year, and review at year’s end
- buy or make something new for your home (pillows, rug, curtains)
- spend an hour in a local bookstore in an area new or favorite to you
For more on self-care, check out The Importance of Self-Care and Saying “No” as an Act of Self-Care!
