Practicing Self Care

Self care is very important, but it usually is the first to go during super busy times. Self care prevents burnout, helps you to refocus, and also reduces stress and its negative effects. The World Health Organization defines self care as “what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, prevent and deal with illness. It is a broad concept that includes hygiene, nutrition, lifestyle, environmental factors, socioeconomic factors, and self medication.” Practicing self care can be done in many ways, just do whatever helps you balance, clear your mind, and make you feel good about yourself. Here are some of my favorite ways to practice self care:

• Go for a walk or run
• Go to the gym and do your favorite workout
• Stretch
• Drink water or tea
• Try a new workout
• Practice yoga
• Meditate
• Take deep breaths
• Journal
• Read a book
• Pray or practice another type of spiritual activity
• Nap
• Bake a tasty dessert
• Cook your favorite meal
• Watch your favorite movie or TV show
• Find an inspiring TED Talk to watch
• Clean out some of your clutter
• Put on your favorite playlist (I recommend acoustic songs!)
• Go out to lunch or dinner
• Paint your nails
• Take a bubble bath
• Use a bath bomb or massage bar
• Apply a face mask
• Call a trusted friend or family member
• Dance it out
• Do a crossword or Sudoku puzzle
• Read a chapter of a book
• Start an art project
• Make a gratitude list
• Cuddle (with a dog, cat, or person)
• Turn off your phone
• Avoid social media for a day
• Say positive affirmations
• Laugh
• Color
• Go for drive
• Stargaze
• Watch clouds
• Sit in nature
• Light a candle
• Wear your comfiest clothes
• Diffuse essential oils
• Pick some colorful flowers
• Eat fruits and veggies

There are so many ways to practice self care! Find a couple that benefit you and use them when you are overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious. Prayer, applying a face mask, listening to acoustic music, and coloring in mindful coloring books really work for me! Leave some of your favorite self care ideas in the comments.