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Only you can prioritize your well-being, and it has to start with small things. I’ll happily admit that the business of life means I can often neglect my own body, health, and needs.
That’s why I put together this big list of self-care ideas. It always gives me inspiration for quick and easy ways to take better care of myself. I’m confident this list can help you, too!
I’ve broken down this list into several different categories. Use the graphic to help you navigate the ideas you want. Or, enjoy scrolling through them all and see if any sound good.
5-Minute Ideas
Drink a Cup of Herbal Tea
One of the small ways you can take good care of yourself is by substituting coffee with herbal tea. Herbal teas contain a little caffeine but are packed with nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants. My personal favorites include peppermint, camomile & passionflowers, and lemon & ginger herbal teas.
Write in Your Gratitude Journal
Every morning or whenever you have 5 minutes, simply write down 5-10 things you are grateful for. This helps focus your mind on the positives rather than the negatives.
Related: Free and Premium Daily Journal Printable Templates
Play Your Favorite Song
Whenever you need a quick break for some self-care, play the song that brings a smile to your face. This can be your favorite song or simply a song that transports you to your favorite memory or place. I personally love my tango playlist that transports me to the milongas in Buenos Aires, even if just for 5 minutes of daydreaming.
Find a New Favorite Inspirational Quote
Browse through self-care quotes, happiness quotes, quotes to stop you from overthinking, self-love quotes, quotes to overcome adversity, quotes for when you’re having a bad day, and other inspirational quotes, and find your new favorite amongst them! Bonus points if you print and frame it or make it your desktop background image!
Do a 5-Minute Abs Workout
Even a short 5-minute workout can help boost your energy and mood! Plus, if you do it daily, you’ll have amazing abs!
10 or 15-Minute Ideas
Take a Quick Nap
Through the ages, from the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci to today’s CEOs, many successful people have sworn by regular naps. If you often feel tired and stressed, it is worth trying. Even 10 to 20 minutes of napping can help correct tiredness and boost your energy levels.
More 10 or 15-minute ideas to try:
- Have a 15-Minute Stretching Session
- Watch a Funny YouTube Video
- Have a Nutritious Snack
- Get Yourself a Stress-Relief Gift
30-Minute Ideas
Draw Something
Drawing can bring so much calm and inspiration to your life. You can use our list of 100+ things to draw for ideas.
Create a Bucket List
Give yourself permission to daydream and create your ultimate bucket list. Whether it’s a summer bucket list, a spring bucket list, or a couple’s bucket list, write down all the fun, unique, and cool adventures you want to have!
Related: Bucket List Printable Templates
Read a Book for 30 Minutes
Reading can help calm your nerves, clear your mind, and even help you go to bed early.
Go for a Walk
Try to spend time outdoors by going for a leisurely walk and enjoy the calmness the great outdoors can bring to your mind and body.
Make a List of Reasons Why You are Awesome
No one is going to blow your trumpet for you, so it’s down to you to be positive about yourself. Write down what you’re great at and why you’re a wonderful person.
Weekend
Volunteer at an Animal Shelter
Animals can have a huge positive impact on your physical and mental health. They say dogs are man’s best friend, and for good reason! But beyond dogs, there is a wide range of animals that can have positive effects on humans.
Plan an Afternoon Picnic
Use my Picnic Essentials & Picnic Food Ideas lists to help you plan your picnic.
Have Date Night with Yourself
‘Me’ time is important, and sometimes, you need more than just 10-15 minutes to do the things you love. Spend an evening doing the things you enjoy, like watching your favorite shows, reading, visiting a gallery, eating at your favorite restaurant, or going to the cinema.
Plan an Afternoon or Weekend Trip
Even short, fun trips, like an afternoon at a national park or a weekend camping, can be all you need to reset your mind and feel better about yourself. The beauty of short trips is that they are much easier to book and schedule.
Take up an Interesting Hobby
Whether you have just an afternoon a week or a whole weekend to dedicate to a hobby, you can most likely find something that will pique your interest on our list of 100+ best hobbies to try.
Free
Spend 15 Minutes Decluttering
Studies show that cluttered environments can make you feel stressed and less in control of your routine and day-to-day life. Spending even 15 minutes a day tidying and decluttering one room of your house will help relieve a little inner stress and free up your mind.
Three-Minute Meditation
Meditation does not have to take up big chunks of time in your day. Even just being present for a few minutes can be the reset you need to switch your mindset from negative to positive.
Try mini-meditation for three minutes. Use this format to guide you:
- First minute: be aware of your thoughts and feelings
- Second minute: be aware of your body and its energy
- Third minute: focus on deep breathing
Go for a Quick Jog
The great thing about short walks and jogs is that you don’t need to change into specialized training gear. Even a few minutes of physical activity can help boost productivity and relieve stress.
Hydrate
If you forget to drink water regularly, keep a water bottle next to your desk. That way, you can constantly remind yourself to take a sip or refill it once empty.
Get a vacuum-insulated water bottle like the Hydroflask to keep the water cool and refreshing.
Laugh
Laughing goes a long way to switch your mindset from one of negativity to positive thoughts, an amazing form of stress relief. You can laugh with friends and family. Or, find a quiet spot and have a good old chuckle to yourself with some of your favorite memes or YouTube videos.
Physical
Improve Quality of Sleep
Quality of sleep will significantly impact daily life, help keep mental health issues at bay, and allow you to deal with stress management much more efficiently. Aim for as much deep sleep as possible and align your body clock to the cycle of the sun as best you can.
If you go to bed late, try blackout curtains to ensure you get enough sleep and don’t get woken too early.
Track Sleep
The number of hours of sleep we naturally need varies. Either use a sleeping track app to monitor your sleep or fill in a sleep tracker printable before you go to bed and first thing when you wake up. It won’t take up a lot of your time, but it is an easy way to understand how much sleep you’re getting and how much sleep you need.
Make One Positive Change to Your Diet
We can all eat a little better, but that doesn’t mean it has to happen overnight. Keep things simple by changing just one thing about your diet every week or every month.
This could be switching to plant-based milk instead of animal milk, adding an additional portion of vegetables to meals, or simply drinking one extra cup of water a day. You could even try a healthy new recipe every week.
Have a Hot and Cold Shower
At the end of your showers, switch to cold water for up to thirty seconds. This quick blast of water will jolt your body into action, improving your circulation and boosting your energy levels. It’s one of the best ways to develop a self-care habit and can easily be worked into your morning routine.
Book a Restorative Massage
Often, stress, soreness, and headaches are the result of poor posture and inactivity. Even if you book one every several months, such massages can do wonders for both your physical and mental health.
Emotional and Mental
Spend More Time Outdoors
Where you can, be sure to get some fresh air and spend even 15-20 minutes outdoors, doing something as simple as walking.
Reward Yourself More
Rewarding yourself is one of the most overlooked self-care ideas. So take some time to feel good about yourself. Put on an outfit you feel beautiful in. Have a slice of cake or a glass of wine.
More ideas you could try:
- Have a Real Conversation with a Friend
- Create a Vision Board
- Have a No Social Media Day
Beauty
Create a Skincare Regimen
There are a number of simple ways you can improve your skincare. Plenty of water, exfoliating scrubs, and moisturizing anti-aging creams can easily become regular self-care ideas.
More beauty-themed self-care ideas you could give a go:
- Give Yourself a Facial Massage
- Have a Foot Mask Pedicure at Home
- Have a Mani-Pedi at a Salon
- Try a New Haircut or Color
At Work
Follow the Rule of 20
We spend large amounts of time staring at our screens every day. So, take a break from your screen every 20 minutes by looking at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
And give some of these ideas a try at work:
- Take 10 Minutes and Organize Your Work Desk (Related: Best Desk Organization Gadgets)
- Learn to Say No and Set Boundaries
- Have Lunch with Your Favorite Coworkers
- Look up Exercises You Can do at Your Desk
At Home
Have a DIY At-Home Spa Day
With a few smart tips and some at-home spa day gadgets, you’ll be amazed at how easily you can have a spa day from the comfort of your own home. Use a hot shower to create a relaxing sauna. Take a soothing bath in essential oils. Exfoliate with a body scrub, or treat yourself to a mani-pedi.
Learn a New Skill
It’s never too late to learn a new skill online and make those daydreams a reality. You can dedicate a small amount of time to learning your new skill every day.
More ideas for when you’re at home:
- Plan Your Dream Trip Around the World
- Be Creative and Paint Something
- Rearrange the Furniture in the Living Room for Your Comfort
More Self-Care Ideas
If you’re still looking for inspiration, this list isn’t finished yet! Have a read through these additional ideas.
Schedule More ‘Me’ Time
Be sure to schedule in even 15 minutes for personal time, to do what you want to do. Drink tea, watch a show, or simply enjoy some peace and quiet.
Be More Selfish
Once a day, put yourself at the top of your priorities list. Think about your own health, body, and mind.
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
It is very easy to fall into a repetitive cycle of work and commitments and feel like we’re stuck in a rut. When you can, take yourself out of your comfort zone. Force yourself into new situations to meet new people, or do something that scares you a little.
Take a Cooking Class
These Online Cooking Classes are a great place to find courses for all kinds of cuisines.
Additional ideas:
- Find a Sitcom to Watch that Makes You Laugh
- Create Your Signature Cocktail or Mocktail
- Do a Healthy Meal Prep for the Week
- Create a Photo Album with Your Favorite Memories
- Organize and Tidy up the Master Bedroom
- Go to the Movie Theater and Watch a Comedy
- Get the Girls or Guys Together for a Girls Night or Guys Night
- Catch Up with an Old Friend
Make Your Own Self-Care Plan
Need help keeping track of all these small changes? Why not plan and track your own self-care plan? This can help you understand the importance of self-care. Using a daily tracker or habit tracker is a great way to do this.
These little things, when added up, will go a long way to improving your personal life and self-care.
Related: 30-Day Habit Tracker Printables
Even implementing just a handful of these self-care ideas into your everyday life can help you feel happier, healthier, and more positive about yourself.
Self-care has to start small. If we focus on the end goal too much, we can quickly become overwhelmed and frustrated at our progress.
Self-care is all about making small, manageable changes in your day-to-day life, which, over time, will lead to better things and happier times.
You Might Also Like to Read:
- 10 Underrated Self-Care Rituals that Only Take a Few Minutes
- Morning Routine: 10 Excellent Habits That Will Improve Your Life
- Evening Routine: 10 Excellent Habits You Need to Develop
Eager to add some of these self-care ideas to your daily routine? Keep this article for safekeeping, by pinning it to your Self Care or Self Improvement Pinterest boards.
