Self care doesn’t have to be a chore or a hassle— as a matter of fact, taking care of yourself shouldn’t be pushed aside as a luxury, but embraced as a priority.
With that same thought process in mind, I’ve created a list of easy yet effective self care activities, that are simple (great for beginners) & at no cost!
Mindfulness
These are some of my favorite mindfulness techniques that help me stay grounded and present:
- Sit in silence for 5 minutes with your eyes closed.
- Do a slow body scan from head to toe.
- Breathe deeply for 60 seconds with one hand on your chest.
- Light a candle and watch the flame for a moment.
- Drink tea without distractions.
- Ground yourself by naming 5 things you can see.
- Journal one word that describes how you feel today.
- Walk barefoot on grass or your floor.
- Watch the sky change for 5–10 minutes.
- Read a poem or quote slowly, twice.
Emotional Care
Self care isn’t just skin care and meditation. I use these when I need to tend to my emotional needs, which often goes forgotten:
- Let yourself cry without judging it.
- Write a letter to your past or future self.
- Say “no” to something you don’t have space for.
- Talk to yourself kindly in the mirror.
- Celebrate a small win—out loud.
- Text someone “I’m thinking of you.”
- Create a playlist for your current mood.
- Give yourself permission to rest.
- Forgive yourself for something minor.
- List 3 things you’re proud of from this week.
Physical Care
How you feel physically & how you feel mentally are much more intertwined than what people assume. Take care of your body with this quick tips:
- Stretch your arms and back slowly.
- Take a warm shower with calming music.
- Eat a meal slowly and without your phone.
- Try a simple yoga pose or video.
- Go outside for 10 minutes of fresh air.
- Drink a full glass of water.
- Put on a cozy outfit or favorite sweater.
- Massage your hands or scalp gently.
- Take a nap or go to bed 20 minutes earlier.
- Clean one small area of your room.
Creative Expression
I love artsy projects because it’s completely stress free and great to recenter your focus if you’re dealing with racing thoughts:
- Doodle with no pressure to make it pretty.
- Write a list of words you love.
- Rearrange a small part of your space.
- Try a coloring page or digital coloring app.
- Make a vision board (paper or digital).
- Cook or bake something slowly, with care.
- Write a journal entry starting with “Today I need…”
- Take a photo of something beautiful around you.
- Play with textures—clay, fabric, makeup, etc.
- Dance around your room to one full song.
Digital & Social Detox
It’s no secret what social media and the beaming blue light from our devices have done to our society. Take a break— here are mindful little ways to detox:
- Turn off notifications for one hour.
- Log out of an app that drains you.
- Mute/unfollow one account that feels heavy.
- Leave your phone in another room while you read.
- Switch your lock screen to a calming quote.
- Spend time offline before bed.
- Set a timer for social media use today.
- Organize your phone screen or home page.
- Delete a photo or app that no longer serves you.
- Send a kind DM instead of scrolling endlessly.
You can achieve each and every one of these small self care activities with your breath, your space, your time, your attention, and your body. That’s all you need.
Begin your self care journey today! One step at a time, no matter how big or small.
Thanks for reading!
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