It’s easy to feel lost, overwhelmed, and burnt out in our fast-paced and demanding world. This is especially true for women and mothers who spend so much time caring for others.
We get so busy doing, worrying, and prioritizing everyone else and their needs and ambitions, that we get lost in the process. And this can leave us feeling burnt out and sometimes drained.
By prioritizing our needs and practicing self-care is essential for maintaining and revitalizing a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Here are 27 simple yet transformative self-care tips that help you cultivate a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.
Some of these are a daily practice, and others are a weekly or monthly practice, but touching each of these regularly is essential to health and happiness!
- Sleep – Get enough sleep each night to recharge your body and mind.
- Find Peace Every Day– Start your day with a few minutes of deep breathing or meditation.
- Stretch– Take short breaks throughout the day to stretch and move your body.
- Stay Hydrated – Stay hydrated by drinking an adequate amount of water. The goal is 2L/day; using a water bottle helps!
- Practice gratitude – Write down three things you’re thankful for each day.
- Move Daily – Engage in regular physical exercise that you enjoy.
- Unplug – Disconnect from electronic devices and social for a set period daily. Spend time with your other spirit and thoughts. This is a great time for a meditative walk or journaling.
- Take Soak – Soothe your body with a relaxing bath! Add some essential oil-infused magnesium-rich Epsom salts.
- Nourish your Body—Prioritize healthy and balanced meals to nourish your body. Nutrients are the building blocks from which everything in your body is made. I love using a Mediterranean diet as a guide to a nutrient-dense whole-food diet. When you don’t have adequate amounts or can’t absorb (poor digestion) what you put in, things start to go wrong.
- Find Joy- Engage in activities that bring you joy and make you laugh. If things are getting to serious or heavy, watch a comedy (my favs are Parks and Rec or The Office) or watch some funny Animal Videos.
- Read – Read a book, stimulate your mind, learn something, and escape into an imaginary world.
- Spend time in Nature- Spend time in nature, whether walking in the park or sitting in your backyard, Mother nature is soothing.
- Journal – The clarity and relief you can feel when you get your messy thoughts and feelings down on paper is incredible. Typing is fine, but there is something magic about putting pen to paper. I love a pretty journal
- Explore new Hobbies- Have fun again. Ignite your creativity. Fun is not frivolous it’s fundamental to our happiness.
- Learn more about your Money – Money can bring us so much stress. Take time to get organized with your bills, debt, and savings plan. Feeling more secure with money brings you so much emotional freedom.
- Be around people who uplift – Surround yourself with positive and supportive people. Debbie Downers bring you down.
- Declutter – Organize your living space to create a sense of calm. Throwing shit out is therapy. 🤣
- Breath – Practice deep breathing exercises daily or multiple times a day
- Listen to upbeat music – Music supports and reinforces your mood, so pick something fun, cheerful, and uplifting. Sad sacks or angry music may feel satisfying (because it validates your mood), but it can also keep you in that mental state.
- Have a real conversation. – Phone a friend. Talk to your neighbor, and have a short conversation with the cashier. Social media doesn’t take the place of real-person interaction. (Loneliness is a real problem; you aren’t alone if you are struggling with this. Find ways to widen your circle, find hobbies and communities. There are people out there looking to make a friend too!)
- Treat yourself to a massage – You can get one professionally done or give yourself a self-massage at home.
- Say No – Learn to say “no” to activities or commitments that drain your energy. (I’m still working on this one!)
- Quality Time – Spend quality, non-distracted time with loved ones. Play a board game, sit on the porch, go for a walk…the possibilities are endless.
- Be Kind – Look for ways to be kind or support others. This is good for them, but you will benefit the most!
- Take time to Plan – Set aside time to plan for the change you want. Want to change your eating, make a meal plan. Want to exercise more? Make a daily routine that builds it in. Want to have a cleaner house? Make a decluttering and organizing plan.
- Be in the Sunshine – Get outside and soak up some sunlight. It helps you make Vitamin D, regulates your circadian rhythms (helps you sleep), and feels good.
- Practice Self-love Compassion – Practice self-compassion and show yourself love. If you have a harsh inner critic or are hard on yourself, you may need to create a self-love mantra (intentional thought) that you say to yourself every day, maybe multiple times a day, until THAT becomes part of your inner dialogue. How we talk to ourselves influences how we see ourselves. (This is a BIG one!)
