Are you looking for some self-care ideas for bad days? Those kind of really bad days when you feel stuck and no matter how hard you try to stay positive, you just can’t seem to get out of this dark place?!
Yep, I know them. Let me help you with this list of 100 self-care ideas!
Self-care is essential for your overall well-being, but it can be hard to know where to start.
After all, you may not have time daily to enjoy a bubble bath and read a book. But self-care isn’t just about relaxing; it’s about improving your every area of your mental and physical health.
While relaxation and reducing stress are part of that, it’s not the entire equation.
That’s why I’ve compiled this list of 100 self-care ideas anyone can do!
You might even be surprised by how simple some self-care activities are. There are also plenty of fun self-care ideas you can try which don’t take long!
- 21 Physical Self-Care Ideas
- 22 Mental Self-Care Ideas
- 15 Emotional Self-Care Ideas
- 11 Social Self-Care Ideas
- 11 Professional Self-Care Ideas
- 12 Environmental Self-Care Ideas
- 8 Spiritual Self-Care Ideas
- 11 Financial Self-Care Ideas
When you’re done reading this blog post, you’ll feel much more confident about incorporating more self-care activities into your day! Let’s get started
Disclaimer: Some of the links here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.
100 Self-Care Ideas (+ EXTRA Examples of Self Care Strategies)
In this list, I have included 100 things to do for self-care (& more) that will positively impact one or more areas of your life!
Self-care is an essential part of living a balanced life. Taking the time to prioritize self-care activities is an investment in your happiness. So, ensure you are taking the time for yourself and investing in daily activities.
Let’s jump into some of my favorite self care ideas that I’m sure will help your mental health as much as they help mine! They’re also great mom self care ideas to get away from the kids and from constantly thinking about them and what we have to do for them.
Physical Self-Care Activities
Body self care ideas include the following:
- Exercise
- Do Yoga
- Go For A Walk or Run
- Go For A Bike Ride
- Get A Good Night’s Sleep
- Take A Nap
- Stretch Your Muscles
- Get A Massage
- Drink A Cup Of Herbal Tea
- Eat Breakfast Daily
- Cook A Healthy Meal
- Drink A Smoothie
- Try A New Recipe
- Bake A Healthy Treat
- Meal Prep Healthy Food
- Have A Self-Care Shower
- Wash Your Face
- Do Skincare
- Put On Sunscreen
- Do A Face Mask
- Wear Clothes That Make You Feel Good
I recently tried out this vegan and cruelty-free skincare set and I absolutely love it!
Mental Self-Care Activities
You can do the following (almost) free self care ideas as part of your morning routine or evening routine:
- Meditate
- Practice Deep Breath Exercises
- Start A Journal & Write Down Your Thoughts
- Do A Braindump
- Start A Worry List
- Start A Gratitude Journal & Practice Self-Compassion
- Say 10 Positive Affirmations (or write yourself a love letter)
- Read Motivational Self-Care Quotes
- Set Goals & achieve them
- Turn Off All Technology One Hour Before Sleeping
- Play Brain Games (Puzzles, Crosswords, etc.)
- Color In An Adult Coloring Book
- Get Creative (drawing, painting, etc.)
- Read A Good Book
- Listen To Your Favorite Songs
- Listen To A Personal Development Podcast
- Have A Self-Care Night (or self-care Saturday)
- Light A Candle
- Use Essential Oils
- Take A Hot Bath (check out this ultimate bath routine)
- Make Time For Hobbies & Interests
- Watch 30 Minutes Of Your Favorite Show
They are also great self care day ideas for the weekend when you have more time!
Need motivation to get up earlier in the morning to do self-care for your mind? Check out these waking up early quotes and get all set for your miracle morning routine!
I highly recommend getting a journal and write a little bit each day. If you’re new to journaling, scroll down and you’ll find some information on how to get started. Writing in a journal is a great way of checking in with yourself and learning to be grateful.
Emotional Self-Care Activities
Strategies for self-care include some of these activities that reflect on your emotional well-being:
- Practice Positive Self-Talk
- Take Time To Reflect On The Day’s Events & How You Feel About Them
- Go For A Reflective Walk
- Practice Seeing Your Emotions
- Have A Good Cry
- Give Someone A Hug
- Talk To Someone You Trust
- Set Boundaries With People In Your Life
- Take A Break From Social Media
- Limit Exposure To The News
- Practice Mindfulness & Be Present
- Make A List Of Things You Love About Yourself
- Track Your Mood (and work on your anger management).
- Do An Activity That Makes You Happy
- Make A Bucket List
Social Self-Care Activities
Check out these easy self care ideas to regularly stay in contact with people:
- Go For Coffee Or A Drink With A Friend
- Call A Friend or Family Member
- Spend Time With Your Family
- Join A Book Club
- Volunteer With An Organization You’re Passionate About
- Donate Things You No Longer Need
- Have A Game Night With Friends
- Write & Send Cards To Your Loved Ones
- Cuddle With A Pet
- Go On A Self-Care Date With Your Partner
- Take A Class (Art, Cooking, etc.)
Professional Self-Care Activities
Best self care ideas to stay professionally up to date:
- Go To A Networking Event
- Learn A New Skill
- Set Work Boundaries
- Set Career Goals
- Join A Professional Group Coaching Program
- Turn Off Your Work Devices
- Plan Your Day & Set Priorities
- Delegate Tasks You Don’t Need To Do
- Stand While You Work
- Take Frequent Breaks During The Day
- Go For Lunch or Coffee With Someone Who Inspires You
Environmental Self-Care Activities
You don’t need to spend much money with these cheap self care ideas that have a great impact on your mood. They’re great DIY self care ideas too and you can get creative!
- Take Time To Connect With Nature
- Clean Your Living Space
- Declutter and Organize Your Space
- Change Your Sheets
- Add Plants To Your Home
- Decorate Your Living Space
- Decorate Your Office
- Start A Garden
- Water Your Plants
- Get Some Fresh Air
- Go Out And Explore Somewhere New
- Watch The Sunrise or Sunset
Spiritual Self-Care Activities
You could make these spiritual daily self care ideas part of your nightly routine checklist:
- Pray
- Meditate
- Keep A Journal
- Attend An Event With Your Community
- Dedicate Time For Self-Reflection
- Listen To A Podcast Related To Your Beliefs
- Read A Book Related To Your Beliefs
- Practice An Act Of Kindness
Need more inspiration on journaling? Check out my following posts:
Financial Self-Care Activities
Some more good self care ideas to stay on top of your finances:
- Set Financial Goals
- Create A Budget
- Review Your Spending Habits
- Check Your Bank Account Daily
- Practice Gratitude For The Money You Have
- Put Money Away In Savings
- Do A Financial Goal Audit
- Set Up An Automatic Savings Plan
- Invest In Yourself & Your Goals
- Treat Yourself To A Reward
- Buy Yourself Flowers
Once you have tried out all of these self care activities and running out of ideas, you can start this list all over again and have your 365 self care ideas for a full year of nurturing yourself to be happy and healthy.
You can also turn them into self care kit ideas to have a little bit of everything.
The Different Types Of Self-Care: Explained in Detail
Every self-care activity you do affects one or more areas of your life. These are known as the eight pillars of self-care.
Physical Health and Well-Being
Your physical well-being is the foundation of your overall wellness. This encompasses physical activities, healthy eating, getting enough sleep, and regular personal hygiene. For more body self-care ideas, check out these self care bath ideas.
Mental Health
Mental health is understanding and managing your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Self-care for your mind could include practicing mindfulness, journaling, or seeking professional counseling.
Practicing self-care activities regularly is a great way to help manage or reduce mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.
Emotional Health
Emotional health involves understanding, recognizing, and managing your emotions in a healthy way. Self-care activities in this category could include learning to process emotions, saying positive affirmations, etc.
Social Well-Being
Social well-being is about building and maintaining healthy relationships with those around you. This could include activities such as spending quality time with family or friends, volunteering, joining clubs, etc.
Professional Self-Care
Professional self-care is about nurturing your career and professional development, including attending networking events, learning new skills or hobbies, setting clear boundaries at work, etc.
Environmental Self-Care
Environmental self-care is twofold. On the one hand, it is being mindful of how your environment ultimately affects you. This could include home self care ideas like keeping your space clean, decluttering, adding plants to the environment, etc.
On the other hand, it is about using your environment to practice self-care, such as getting outside for fresh air, going for a bike ride, etc.
Spiritual Self-Care
Spiritual self-care focuses on deepening your connection with yourself, the world, and whatever spirituality or faith you believe in. Simple self care ideas in this area can include yoga, meditation, connecting with nature, or spending time in prayer.
Financial Self-Care
Lastly, financial self-care is about managing your finances healthily, such as budgeting, setting financial goals, and taking steps to reach them.
Self-care is about finding activities and strategies that help you take better care of yourself in every area. But is it beneficial?
Why Is It Important to Practice 100 Self Care Ideas?
In recent years, the topic of self-care has been everywhere. It is plastered on the front of magazines and in headlines on the web. There are also entire books written on the subject.
But seriously, why is self-care so important? Or is self-care just the latest trend?
The answer is a resounding no; self-care is not the latest trend! Studies show that self-care is essential to:
- stay connected to our bodies;
- build resilience;
- reduce stress and anxiety;
- boost self-esteem;
- have a better handle on our emotions;
- improve happiness;
- increase concentration and productivity;
- be able to care for others;
- and lead healthier, more balanced lives.
Taking the time for self-care also allows us to step back from life’s obligations and relax into being, ultimately reducing stress levels and improving mental clarity.
By taking care of ourselves physically, psychologically, emotionally, socially, professionally, environmentally, and spiritually (as well as financially), we are investing in ourselves.
How To Make Time For Self-Care Activities
Even though self-care is vital to our overall health, it is also one of the first things we procrastinate or eliminate entirely from our to-do list on a busy day.
Think about it – how many times have you planned to exercise and had to cancel because you didn’t have the time? Or, you had all the best intentions of cooking a healthy meal, but then something else came up.
It’s so easy for activities that help us to take care of ourselves to get pushed down the list. That’s why it’s important to prioritize self care strategies and ensure they are a consistent part of your daily routine.
Learn more about the possible self-care barriers you could be facing that prevent you from taking proper care of yourself.
Here are some tips if you struggle to make time for self-care activities.
Tip #1 – Make Self-Care Part Of Your Morning Routine
Starting your day with self-care is incredibly beneficial to help set the tone for the rest of the day, increase productivity, and build a positive mindset. Try to incorporate some form of self-care into your morning routine, such as drinking tea, going for a walk, meditating, etc.
Tip #2 – Utilize Trackers
When you cancel a self-care activity, it is easy to think, “It’s just one day. I will do it tomorrow.” But, more often than not, pushing these self-care activities off can become a habit.
A great way to combat this problem is to utilize trackers. You can set a goal of completing a specific number or type of self-care activities daily. Then, track them so you can visually see how often you are investing in yourself.
Tip #3 – Schedule Self-Care Activities
Trust me, they will never get done if you plan to do them whenever you have time. Prioritize wellness activities the same way you would any other important task.
Take some time to sit down and plan out when you will do your chosen self-care activities (try out Sunday planning, I love doing this to be more efficient!, and be sure to give them the same respect as you would any other obligation.
Tip #4 – Have A Self-Care Day
On busy days, it can be challenging to make time for self-care activities. But they should still be addressed. Planning a self-care day ensures you still take time out for yourself, even when your daily life is busy.
I recommend including at least one activity from each self-care category, especially some beauty self care ideas!
Tip #5 – Make A Self-Care Jar
Setting up a self-care jar is a great way to remember all the different activities you can do. Fill a jar with slips of paper, each with a different activity. Whenever you feel stressed, pull out a slip of paper for a task that will help you care for yourself.
Self care jar ideas can include:
- Decluttering
- Going for a pedicure/manicure
- A Yoga session
- Sorting out paperwork
- Reading a book
- Going to the gym
- Cleaning up your email folder
- Putting your favorite scent in a diffuser
These make great winter and autumn self care ideas as well!
Is Self-Care The Same As Self-Love?
No, self-care and self-love are not the same thing. Self-care is about taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Self-love is about accepting yourself for who you are, being kind and compassionate towards yourself and your values and beliefs.
100 Self Care Ideas: Before You Go . . .
Taking care of yourself is an essential part of life, and there are plenty of activities that you can do to practice self-care. Whether exercising, meditating, or even setting financial goals, these 100 self-care activities should give you a great starting point for creating a personalized plan for taking better care of yourself.
Remember to set aside time each day just for yourself and focus on what will make you feel mentally and physically good. Self-care isn’t selfish – staying healthy, happy, and productive is necessary!
Even if you only use 5 minutes to practice self care ideas, that’s better than nothing.
Don’t stop here! How about setting up a full self love routine and practicing some self love exercises or starting a self-care challenge for 30 days?
About The Author of 100 Self-Care Ideas
Saskia is a mom, blogger, and freelance writer. She loves sharing tips on self-care, personal growth, and productivity & organization. Find out more about her or get in touch with her here.
