Prisha Khimavat

Happy Self Care Day!

July 24th, is Self Care day, and in honor of that I want to help you figure out how to make your self care routine personal to you. In previous posts, I have talked endlessly about what self care is and how it is a lifestyle that takes practice. It’s about creating a routine and following it as best as you can. Though there are certain lifestyle changes that we can all make, there is another large component to it. Self care is also personal, and your routine might just be completely different from mine. 

So, in order to help you figure out what activities help you feel your best, you might have to try a few different things, until you find the routine that works just right for you. To help you do that, I have compiled a list (using the internet and personal experience) of 40 self care activities that you can try today, so you can find what’s right for you.

Here Are Some Things You Can Try:

1. Sit outdoors for a while, without doing anything else, just observing.
2. Try meditating for 15 minutes in the morning.
3. Really savor that cup of tea/coffee, or that first bite of breakfast.
4. Declutter a space in your house.
5. Sit outside 15 minutes before sunset and watch the sky transform and slowly get darker. Or vice versa, watch the sun come up and the day get lighter. Whichever is most convenient.
6. Take a guilt free, planned nap. Schedule it in, and don’t feel bad about it. Just sleep.
7. Take a walk! Explore some new areas and get some fresh air.
8. Dance. No expectations, just dance.
9. Play a sport. Maybe if you enjoyed it as a child and haven’t played in a while, or even if you never played but want to try something new. 
10. Work out. That could be going on a walk, a run, or even more intense workouts.
11. Drink lots of water!
12. Get a massage.
13. Light a candle.
14. Learn how to play a new instrument.
15. Relearn an old hobby that you forgot about.
16. Get some plants, or try to grow your own herb garden.
17. Try cooking new dishes, or even old family recipes. 
18. Read a book! It doesn’t have to be a serious one, or a long one. Just something that makes you feel good.
19. Buy yourself flowers.
20. Go on a date with yourself. Take yourself out to eat, or go watch a movie on your own.
21. Listen to some podcasts.
22. Try adult coloring books! They’re honestly so calming. I love these.
23. Try some creative crafts. Maybe knitting, crocheting, origami or even painting.
24. Bake desserts! If you’re someone who can bake, or even if you like to, bake more!
25. Catch up on some of your favorite blog posts! (Maybe even some of mine!)
26. Allow yourself to watch T.V. shows, or play video games without feeling guilty about it.
27. Visit a tourist attraction in your own city.
28. Check out a museum or an art gallery.
29. Take photos! Of yourself or of others!
30. Be social! Catch up with old friends or make some new friends!
31. Do some beauty treatments (manicures, pedicures, facials etc.)
32. Take a bath, and maybe take time to do the things you may not normally do, like exfoliating or a hair mask.
33. Dress up, even if you have no reason to.
34. Experiment with outfits, or your style.
35. Write down a list of your accomplishments, to realize how far you have some.
36. Similarly, write down the difference between you in the present, and who you were five years ago.
37. Write encouraging notes on post-its and leave them around your house or in places you’ll see everyday.
38. Try some positive affirmations.
39. Check in with yourself, make sure you’re doing okay. And if you’re not, try to figure out how to help yourself.
40. Do some research! Find some other activities that you can try, and try to create a daily, or even weekly schedule to work self care into your own lifestyle!

As we’ve talked about earlier, self care is a journey, and it forever changes and grows along with us. I’m still learning a lot and figuring out what work best for me, and I hope that you’ll take some time today as well, to do something you enjoy, something that makes you happy, and something that makes you feel well cared for.

Resources:

Here are some sites where I got some of these activities are from! Check them out if you’d like any more ideas! 

51 Self Care Ideas To Kickstart Your Self Care Routine

134 Activities to Add to Your Self-Care Plan

45 Lab-Approved Ways to Create the Ultimate Self-Care Routine

How to Plan a Self Care Day + 18 Self Care Activity Ideas