Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. Today we’re talking about self-care activities you can try from home that won’t break the bank.
With a global pandemic going on, limited places to go to for entertainment and being with kids 24/7 self-care is a must! The days at home can start to feel the same – almost like we’re living in a Groundhog Day year. Remember that movie?
Instead of letting the stress continue to build I want to encourage you to take some time for yourself. Let’s talk about self-care activities you can do at home!
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What exactly is self-care?
Self-care is about taking care of our bodies, minds and spirits. Self-care can be as simple as spending time in a hot bubble bath and as extravagant as booking a day at the spa.
Self-care is personal and is all about how you want to feel.
For example, I book services at my local spa once per month. I go in feeling stressed or agitated and leave after a massage or facial feeling refreshed. I love the freedom and experience at the spa. No one wants anything from me. It’s quiet. It’s peaceful. It’s like a mini-vacation for me!
But you don’t have to book spa days in order to experience relaxing or restoring self-care. Some days I feel the exact same way after a hot bath or reading a good book on the patio.
It’s all about your personal preference and doing what feels right to you.
Today we’re going to break down self-care activities into 3 categories: for the body, for the mind and for the soul.
Self-care Activities for the Body
We obviously know our bodies are so important and yet we do things like: not drink enough water, not get enough sleep and over eat unhealthy foods. Here are a few ideas to help you get started with self-care activities for your body.
- ride a bike at sunrise or sunset
- walk around your neighborhood – no phone allowed
- walk on the treadmill
- exercise at home (look up videos on YouTube)
- dance
- drink more water
- make green smoothies 1x per day
- paint your nails (this is my favorite nail polish)
- exfoliate your skin
- run a bubble bath and soak your body
- try a new hairstyle
- put on makeup and get fully dressed for the day
- hug your family members
- nap during the day
- nourish your body with healthy foods
Self-care Activities for the Mind
When it comes to self-care for the mind I really love learning new things from courses or reading books. I subscribed to SkillShare and take a variety of classes each month. I’ve learned how to improve my photography and edit pictures better. I’ve learned how to bake sourdough bread. There are classes covering investing, dancing, social media, illustration, coding, etc. If you’re like me and you love learning new things you might want to check out SkillShare. You get 2 free months if you use my referral link.
- take a new course
- read a book (since libraries are closed we have used the Libby App)
- put a puzzle together
- try a new word search or suduko (you can find these books at the Dollar Tree)
- write a poem, short story or personal essay
- declutter your workspace
- unplug from social media for 1/2 the day
- take a walk near water or natural area
- sit and listen to relaxing music
- focus on only 3 major to-do’s each day
- do a brain dump to get everything out of your head
- write out positive affirmations
- create a vision board
- go out to a new coffee shop or restaurant alone
Self-care Activities for the Soul
- quit negative self-talk (when I find myself thinking about something negative I stop myself and say out loud “I’m right here.” This prompts me to realize I am not in the past or part of that negative self-talk and helps me focus on the present moment
- read a book about spirituality: bible or books on the laws of attraction and positive thinking
- meditate
- sit and take deep breaths when feeling stressed
- give others the benefit of the doubt
- treat yourself like you’re your own best friend
- schedule a few days each month for rest and fun only
- watch a sunset or sunrise
- sing your favorite songs
- garden
Can you do self-care while social distancing?
Yes. I do think self-care activities can be done while social distancing.
Riding a bike or walking along a public trail is considered generally safe.
My local spa has taken measures such as decreasing the amount of people allowed in the building, checking temperatures, and requiring masks at all times – this made me feel much better about going back to the spa.
If you feel safe going out in public spaces for self-care like hair cuts and getting nails done, I say go for it – but wear your mask. And if you still don’t feel comfortable going out, that’s okay too. There are plenty of self-care activities you can do from home.
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Great ideas! Going for walks is one of my favorite things – but never thought of doing it without my phone. That’s a simple but effective idea. thanks, I will try this 🙂