Self-care is a term that can mean different things to different people. To some, it might mean going to a fancy spa and getting a luxurious massage or getting a mani-pedi. To others (like myself), it might mean sitting in the sun for 10 minutes or sitting alone in a room for 5 minutes by myself.
Most people think you have to spend money on self-care when the reality is you actually don’t need to spend any money at all to treat yourself to a luxurious moment in your life. There are a lot of ways you can take care of yourself that take minimal time and effort.
I’ve broken down 10 self-care ideas almost anyone can do no matter how busy life gets. These are simple and easy (which is a combination that I love!) ways to show yourself some love and that you’re worthy and deserving of living your dream life.
Let’s get started with these ideas and how to implement them!
Focus on Positive Self-Talk
This one can be a game changer in all areas of your life. Talking to yourself as if you’re your bestie is showing yourself that you’re worthy of respect. I’m not talking about being a pollyanna and being positive 100% of the time (this is totally not realistic and actually unhealthy!).
When you make a mistake, give yourself grace and remind yourself that you’re human. Limit your pity party to 5 minutes or less and then move on to what you learned from the mistake and how to fix it. Then… move on with your life. Repeating this process over and over creates resiliency. Resiliency can make overcoming any obstacle (especially those related to weight loss) feel almost effortless in the long run. This is easier said than done and something I’m constantly working on myself.
Take a Hot Bath
A hot bath with your favorite bubble bath or epsom salt (or both) can give your body what it needs to decompress from a stressful day. The hot water and epsom salt relaxes your muscles and minimizes soreness from workouts. It can also help ease those pesky menstrual cramps so you don’t have to suffer every month.
So, grab your bath pillow, favorite book or relaxing music, and glass of wine and slip into a nice hot tub of water. Or just enjoy your bath in silence with your eyes closed. You’ll emerge from your bath feeling better than you did when you got in.
Go on an Exercise Date With Your Partner
When my hubby and I started dating, several of our dates were Saturday morning meet ups at the sand dune or trailhead. It was a great way for us to talk and get to know each other while being in the fresh air and sunshine. It was an opportunity to get away from the screens and have meaningful conversations to see if we’re compatible.
We still do this almost every weekend after 13 years together. Staying active is an important value we both have as individuals and as a couple. It’s something that we bond over even after being together for over a decade. Whether you’re in a new relationship or seasoned one, exercising together can help you get or stay healthy together as a team.
Get Out Your Crayons (or Colored Pencils) and Coloring Book
When I was kid I loved getting my color crayons (yes, I still call them color crayons) and coloring books out to sit and color. I could do this for hours on end. As an adult, we tend to get away from the simple activities we did as kids when we should really be moving towards them. It gives us a much needed break from “adulting.”
If you go to a bookstore (yes, they still exist believe it or not!), there’s a wide variety of adult coloring books. You can choose one that features National Parks, super heroes (I have a Wonder Woman book), nature, holidays, and so many more I can’t list them all. I found a Barbie coloring book at Target a few weeks ago that took me back to my childhood. I’m sure you can find one that piques your interest. Coloring can be a relaxing way to unwind, tap into your creativity, and allow your mind to wander.
Enjoy a Cup of Coffee
My favorite morning routine is sipping on a freshly brewed cup of coffee. While the caffeine boost gives me energy, the taste of coffee and the ritual of starting my day off in a relaxing way is part of my self-care routine. To me it’s not just about sipping the coffee, though I do love the taste. It’s about this entire process. We make hand-brewed pour over coffee every morning and while it’s a bit of a process, it’s well worth the effort.
My hubby and I have certain days of the week when each of us make the coffee. On Sunday mornings, I get to sleep in a little while my hubby gets out of bed before me and brings me coffee in bed. Letting him do this is part of my coffee self-care routine. Let your partner do the heavy lifting with your coffee routine so you can sleep in a little bit.
Watch a Few Episodes of Your Favorite TV Show
Sometimes we feel the need to escape from our current life momentarily and step into different reality. Turning on your favorite TV show for a few laughs (or maybe some tears) can be a relaxing experience to help you unwind. My top three favorite shows are Friends, The Big Band Theory, and The West Wing. While The West Wing is obviously more of drama than a comedy, all three of these shows can make me laugh no matter what kind of mood I’m in.
Just to be clear, stepping into a different reality (especially a fictional one) isn’t a way to avoid any problems happening in your life. It’s an opportunity to step back and take your mind off what’s happening for a short period of time. Often times stepping away from a problem and doing something else can actually help you solve your problem. So, having fictional friends that you can “hang out with” at Central Perk, the Comic Book Store, or in the Oval Office can help your brain go do it’s thing to find a solution while you sit back and relax.
Eat a Meal with Meat (or Seafood) and Veggies Only
You might be asking yourself why I included this one as self-care. The answer is very simple: eating whole, nutrient-dense food is one of the most important self-care activities you can do for yourself. This is something we often overlook when we think of self-care. If you want to start small with your self-care routine, start by eating one meal a day that’s made up of chicken, beef, bison, seafood, or eggs and veggies. This is treating your body with the respect it deserves so it can do what it needs to do to keep you getting great sleep, stay lean, and age gracefully.
Say No to a Social Event You Don’t Want to Go To
This can be a hard one if you’re a people pleaser like me and want to say yes to everyone to avoid any conflict. What I’ve learned over the years of being a professional people pleaser is that I’m not actually avoiding conflict when I say yes when I actually want to say no. After I say yes, there’s always regret bubbling up inside of me for committing to something I didn’t want to do.
Along with being a people pleaser, I tend to be a very loyal person so telling someone yes when I wanted to say no causes more conflict within me. Saying no to a social event you don’t want to go to can feel incredibly liberating. I just said no earlier this week to a social event that I almost said yes to only because I wanted to support my friend. It felt really good to say no with zero guilt creeping up afterwards. The older I get the more I want to protect my time. Plus, I don’t like going out on a school night unless it’s something really fun like Taco Tuesday!
Improve Your Relationship with Money
This is one that I’ve been working on slowly over the years and have recently accelerated my efforts to level up. We are all where are financially as the result of our money story and beliefs about money.
Now, I won’t go into more detail about specifics since I’m not an expert on the topic but I will say this: while money doesn’t make you happy, it does give you choices. You’ll have more choices to travel, invest in your health and wellness, buy all the food you need, or treat your family to a night out. When you have a healthy relationship with money you don’t worry about it as much. The less worry you have in your life, the more you channel your energy into focusing on what you want to do with your life.
Wash and Condition Your Hair
This may sound like a silly one but tell me, how great does it feel to get out of the shower, run a comb through freshly washed hair, and go on to either let it air dry or use a hair dryer? I washed my hair last Sunday even though I could have waited until Monday morning because I love the shampoo and conditioner I use and how my hair feels when it’s clean.
Healthy hygiene is definitely up there on the self-care priority list. Having clean hair helps me feel more confident in my own skin even when it’s just me and my hubby lying around watching movies on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Prioritize Your Self-Care Today
To wrap it up, when you take care of yourself first you not only improve your health, but your confidence increases, as well. You feel more relaxed and energetic, ready to take on the world. You’re body is able to burn fat efficiently, you experience more motivation than before, and you’re able to better take care of those around you. By helping yourself first, you’re in-turn helping others at the same. It truly is a win-win!