Self-Care


Learning how to be kind to yourself

Self-Care "To care for oneself, especially mentally or emotionally"

What is it?

Quite simply, it is taking care of yourself. It is not necessarily treating yourself to something fancy, although it could be, but simply doing something for yourself that helps you maintain a good outlook in life. 

Why Is It Necessary?

We are a mixture of emotions, all throughout the day. Hormones come and go and we cycle through a whole range of emotions depending on what we do or think or feel. Usually, we stay within our normal operating range. Sometimes, however, we get stuck in one feeling or another, and we might call it a "mood". If it happens to be a negative feeling then that mood can make our activities of the day seem a little more tiring, a little less interesting, or fun. If those negative feelings persist, and the mood continues for long enough, then our physical health can start to be affected and we experience stress, which of course can lead to many issues, such as lack of sleep, illness, and perhaps even depression. 

Normally, we naturally encounter things that tend to lift our spirits and offset any negative impact that the day might have on us. However, if we haven't engaged in those uplifting things in a while, perhaps due to changes in usual daily routines, loss of employment or relationship, isolation, and so on, then it is time to take matters into our own hands. We need uplifting, hopeful moments, and there is nothing odd or strange about making them happen if they aren't occurring naturally. It is simply recognizing that we are wonderful, emotional, beings that need love and care, and that we are actually able and ideally suited to giving that to ourselves. It also contributes to our understanding of ourselves, our needs, where our stress boundaries lie, and the freedom that comes with knowing that we need not rely on anyone else to meet our needs. So go ahead, empower, and strengthen yourself!

What Sorts Of Things Can I Do?

​There are so many things you can do, and as you start doing them, more will occur to you. Invite opportunity into your life, into your daily experience and more will follow. Do each practice with an intention, with focus, with awareness. Here are a few suggestions to get you started!

At Home

Outside

With People

  • Dance
  • Watch the fire flames
  • Have a hot bath
  • Stay at home and wrap yourself in a favorite blanket
  • Listen to the sounds of rain
  • Massage your legs
  • Play with your pet
  • Spray a favorite scent
  • Stretch
  • Write in a journal
  • Organize a closet
  • Practice a new skill
  • Play music
  • Make a wish and burn a candle
  • Meditate
  • Read fun or inspiring quotes
  • Nap like a cat
  • Cry
  • Laugh
  • Practice yoga
  • Call a friend
  • Watch a favorite movie
  • Paint or draw
  • Bake cookies
  • Be with family
  • Blow Bubbles
  • Change something about yourself
  • Change things around in your bedroom or house
  • Color code your closet
  • ​Complete something you’ve been putting off
  • Create a new outfit
  • Create a video
  • ​Create a vision board with collage cut-outs from magazines
  • Create or build something
  • Do an activity you used to enjoy
  • Do crossword puzzles or brain teasers
  • Do mindful breathing exercises
  • Draw on your phone
  • Drink hot tea
  • Drink water
  • Exercise or work out at home
  • Experiment with make-up, nails, skincare, or hairstyle
  • Explore your spiritual beliefs
  • Face paint
  • Cook or bake
  • Find new songs
  • Fix or repair something
  • Focus on school or work
  • ​Give yourself a facial
  • Have your dog or cat lay on you
  • Hyperfocus on something like a rock
  • Jump up and down
  • Knit or sew
  • Learn a few words or phrases in a new language
  • Leave kind notes for others in unexpected places at home
  • Look at art on your phone
  • Look at things from the past that brings up positive memories
  • ​Look through photos of your friends and family/watch home videos
  • Look up new words and use them
  • Make a list of all the things you have learned about yourself and about life so far
  • Make a list of goals for the week/year/next 5 years
  • Make a list of things you are grateful for
  • ​Make a list of your strengths and spend time appreciating who you are
  • Make a scrapbook of memories, mementos, or photos that you want to keep
  • Make an uplifting playlist of music
  • Make checklists of things you want to accomplish each day, and cross them off when completed
  • Make hot cocoa
  • Make something for someone to give to them later
  • Meditate or pray
  • ​Memorize a poem, play, or song
  • Organize your digital photos or create online photo albums
  • Perform a random act of kindness
  • Plan your dream room
  • Plan your wedding/prom/or other events
  • Play cards or a board game
  • Play games on your phone, console, computer, or tablet
  • Play a musical instrument
  • Play with a balloon
  • Play with bubble wrap
  • Play with Play-Doh
  • Punch a punching bag
  • Put on fake tattoos
  • Read a good book or magazine
  • Read poetry
  • Read a spiritual book
  • Rearrange furniture
  • Reorganize an area or room in your home
  • Rip paper into itty-bitty pieces
  • Scream into a pillow
  • Scribble/Doodle on paper
  • Search for your perfect home or car on-line
  • ​Shop online without buying anything
  • Sing
  • Start a collection of something you love
  • Stop doing everything and just BE for a while
  • Take a shower
  • Take photos, print, and frame some of your favorite pictures
  • Take up a new hobby
  • Teach your pet a new trick
  • Tell jokes
  • Tell someone you love them
  • Think of a goal you want to achieve and plan out steps to make it happen
  • Try a new food
  • ​Try to do handstands, cartwheels, or backbends
  • Try to make as many words out of your full name as possible
  • Vacuum
  • Wash your hair
  • Watch old, happy movies, cartoons, or animated movies
  • Watch funny YouTube or TikTok videos
  • Watch sports on TV
  • Watch a movie with a family member
  • Wear comfortable clothes
  • Work on a jigsaw puzzle
  • Work on writing poetry, lyrics, a book, or a short story
  • Write a letter or send an email to someone you care about
  • Write a letter to someone that you may never send
  • Write positive affirmations, post them around your house
  • Write yourself an “I love you because…” letter
  • Walk in the grass barefoot
  • Look at the stars
  • Go for a run
  • ​Go walk and get fresh air
  • Play with your pet
  • Stretch
  • Write in a journal
  • Practice a new skill
  • Lay in the sun
  • Go out to eat
  • Go down a street you never have before
  • Meditate
  • Go ride a bike
  • Cry
  • Hike in the woods
  • Laugh
  • Practice yoga
  • Pretend to be a tourist in your own town
  • Dig the garden
  • Paint or draw
  • Be mindful in nature and aware of your surroundings
  • Blow Bubbles
  • ​Complete something you’ve been putting off
  • Create a video
  • Create or build something
  • Do an activity you used to enjoy
  • Do mindful breathing exercises
  • Draw with sidewalk chalk
  • Exercise or work out at home
  • Explore your spiritual beliefs
  • Fix or repair something
  • Focus on school or work
  • Go for a long drive
  • Hyperfocus on something like a rock
  • Jump up and down
  • Look at things from the past that brings up positive memories
  • Make something for someone to give to them later
  • Meditate or pray
  • Perform a random act of kindness
  • Plant some seeds
  • Slowly swing or lay in a hammock
  • Take photos, print, and frame some of your favorite pictures
  • Take up a new hobby
  • Teach your pet a new trick
  • Try a new food
  • ​Try to do handstands, cartwheels, or backbends
  • Watch the clouds go by
  • Wear comfortable clothes
  • Go out to eat
  • Attend a church service
  • Join a book club
  • Visit a support group
  • Make a lunch date
  • Hike in the woods
  • Help a neighbor
  • Laugh
  • Practice yoga
  • Call a friend
  • Watch a favorite movie
  • Be with family
  • Contact a hotline or your therapist
  • Explore your spiritual beliefs
  • Hug a family member
  • Learn a few words or phrases in a new language
  • Leave kind notes for others in unexpected places at home
  • Meditate or pray
  • Perform a random act of kindness
  • Play cards or a board game
  • ​Reach out to someone who lifts your spirits
  • Tell jokes
  • Tell someone you love them
  • Try a new food
  • Watch a movie with a family member

 

​And of course, if you find that even with incorporating more self-care into your life you still continue to feel down, then know that help and support are always at hand. The ultimate act of self-care might be to give yourself the focused help of your own therapist. You might want to browse our providers using the menu bar above, and see which one feels like a good fit for you. Sometimes a chat with someone who understands your needs and the pitfalls can go a long way to smoothing the journey back to joy and contentment. 

 


We are here for you.

 

We're Here For You