The Ultimate List Of Self-Care: 75 Self-Care Ideas

Do you practise self-care daily? If not you should be! It doesn’t mean you need to go out and get a massage or a facial every single day….

However, you should discover ways that you can care for both your physical and mental health. We all know that you can have those bad days and need a little more self-care.

Self-care is something you need to choose to do and doesn’t just mean a bubbly bath or a face mask – but the pampering does make a great self-care activity. Self-care is about finding ways to improve your well-being and that are unique for you!

This is a list of 75 self-care ideas to help get you inspired to start practising self-care today!

Quick self-care ideas:

1. Have a glass of water. Pause for a moment. This is a simple form of self-care. Taking care of your body.
2. Have a warm drink. Drink your favourite hot drink in your favourite mug.
3. Write down 5 things you love about yourself. Positive affirmations are powerful.
4. Put on your favourite music playlist. It can help lift your mood.
5. Change your phone wallpaper. I did this as part of my monthly reset. I changed my wallpaper and switched to light mode. It feels like I have a brand new phone.

Related to: 11 tips on how to declutter and organise your phone.

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Physical self-care ideas:

1. Make your favourite healthy meal. Nourishing your body is an important form of self-care.
2. Go outside and take a walk. A walk in nature, taking in the sights and smells can instantly lift your mood.
3. Try yoga or pilates
4. Play with your dog or cat
5. Go and get a massage
6. Make a point of getting dressed each morning. Even if you work from home.
7. Stretch. Take time to stretch all of your muscles, get the blood pumping.
8. Exercise. Play your favourite sport or form of exercise.

Mental self-care ideas:

1. Declutter and organise a space in your home. This will give you a sense of accomplishment.
2. Take an online course. I have done this recently and gained a qualification in children and young people’s mental health.
3. Draw, paint or doodle. You don’t need to be good at drawing to be creative. Just explore your creativity.
4. Listen to a podcast.
5. Do a crafting activity – knitting, papercrafts or sewing.
6. Write about your day in your journal. Write about the good, the bad and the ugly. Writing about your thoughts and feelings can improve your mental health.
7. Set S.M.A.R.T goals.

Photo by Lena Mytchyk on Unsplash

Emotional self-care ideas:

1. Reflect on your photo albums or home videos. The nostalgia kicks in and brings happiness.
2. List everything you are grateful for. Starting a gratitude journal has instant and lasting effects on your mood and your mental health.
3. Write or voice out loud positive affirmations.
4. Have a deep conversation with a family member about how you are truly feeling.
5. Text or call a friend.
6. Journal a list of everything you have achieved and that you are proud of.

Easy self-care ideas:

1. Take a nap. This is something I do when I am struggling with Fibromyalgia fatigue.
2. Watch a T.V show or film that you love.
3. Hug your loved ones.
4. Make your bed. It seems easy, but super simple to set a positive tone for the day.
5. Get cosy under your blanket and wear cosy pyjamas.
6. Take vitamins. Nourish your body with supplements that are going to help keep you healthy.
7. Edit your social media follow list. Make your social media a positive place.
8. Sit in your garden and take in nature.
9. Say no when you want to.
10. Read a self-help book
11. Practise meditation

Beauty self-care ideas:

1. Practise a full skincare routine. Try a long luxurious routine including massaging your face and neck.
2. Get yourself a manicure, a pedicure or both. I love getting my nails done and it always makes me feel better.
3. Take a long hot shower or a bubble bath.
4. Do a face mask. If you don’t have any maybe make your own natural mask.
5. Moisturise and massage your body. This is really helpful for when I am in pain from Fibromyalgia.

Lazy self-care ideas:

1. Snuggle with your pet.
2. Practise ‘body scanning’.
3. Carry out breathing exercises.
4. Workouts based lying down.
5. Have an early night.
6. Light a candle to help you relax.
7. Turn off your notifications for a whole day. Avoid those technology distractions.
8. Read a book on your TBR pile.
9. Spend 15 minutes doing absolutely nothing. Just sit and observe life.

Photo by Social Cut on Unsplash

Free self-care ideas:

1. Write someone a personal hand written letter. It shows someone you care about them.
2. Volunteer. Find a cause and volunteer your time to help others.
3. Visit a park. Walk around your local park, watch nature, sit on a bench and enjoy the sunshine.
4. Visit a library – pick a new book to read.
5. Have a ‘no-phone’ day.
6. Put off one task on your to-do list until tomorrow with no guilt.

Underrated self-care ideas:

1. Choose a cute outfit that makes you feel good.
2. Say no to plans – don’t feel obligated to go out. Enjoy a night in.
3. Eat your dinner without doing anything else. Practise mindful eating.
4. Take photographs of things near you. It will help you to find the beauty in the things around you.
5. Pick or buy yourself flowers. Receiving fresh flowers can make you feel loved.
6. Use an adult colouring book and set aside time to colour. This is such a therapeutic activity.

Sensory self-care ideas:

1. Diffuse essential oils. They help to relax, focus and help to meditate.
2. Play rain sounds before your nap or a good night sleep.
3. Make yourself a delicious dessert or visit a dessert restaurant. I love to go and get an ice-cream sundae.
4. Burn incense. Incense can help to purify a room that makes you feel calm and relaxed.
5. Read a magazine.

Spiritual self-care ideas:

1. Create a vision board. Using a vision board can help you to manifest the life you want. It can even define your goals and gives your life meaning.
2. Say a prayer.
3. Attend a religious service.
4. Try a guided meditation.
5. Mindfully observe something in nature. Whether that is sitting on a bench at the park or walking on a trail.
6. Cleanse your energy.
7. Communicate with your spiritual community.

Self-care is vital for a healthy well-being. It never has to be elaborate routine or a huge deal. Just setting aside to make yourself a priority. These are just 75 self-care ideas that you can try in your own routine.

What is one self-care activity you always practice? I’d love to hear in the comments.