Self-Care Ideas List: 7 Tips to Take Better Care of Yourself

The world is not always an easy place to be. Especially in the age of social media.

Any problems, be they big or small, personal or global, are magnified into mountains. Yes, it’s important to strive for both a better tomorrow and a better you. But sometimes, instead of self-improvement, what’s needed is self-care. Try these suggestions, and give yourself a break.

The definition of Self-care

What is self-care? World Health Organization defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider”^[1].

In the present, this definition can be expressed as, self-care is a vital way to ensure one’s health, including the protection of physical health and mental health. In layman’s terms, it means loving yourself.

7 Self-care Ideas to Take Better Care of Yourself:

• Yoga/Stretching
• Journal Your Feelings
• Text Yourself a Positive Affirmation
• Read a Good Book
• Give Yourself a Compliment
• Take A Bubble Bath or Warm Shower
• Do Absolutely Nothing

Yoga/Stretching

Not power yoga or anything else intense. Take a few minutes and practice something light and easy that will focus you and bring you out of your thoughts without exhausting you. A light vinyasa flow or stretch routine should suffice.

Journal Your Feelings

A journal can be a great tool for mental wellness. Don’t treat it like a chore, instead view it as a conversation or check-in. Start by writing out what’s bothering you, or what you’d like to change. Externalizing the issue often brings a surprising perspective or insight.

Text Yourself a Positive Affirmation

Or, set a reminder to pop up on your phone sometime throughout the day. Like a lunch-note from mom, a brief moment of external positivity can put you into a whole new headspace and vastly improve your day.

Read a Good Book

In a world of infinite entertainment options, sitting down with a good book is underrated. When was the last time you got a lost in a good story without constantly being distracted by external stimuli?

Books are a great way to focus your mind and take a break from the outside world.

Give Yourself a Compliment

An important part of self-care is loving and respecting yourself, which isn’t always easy in a world full of criticism. Take the time to appreciate what you’re proud of, even if it’s something small, and give yourself a compliment.

Take A Bubble Bath or Warm Shower

There’s something luxurious and revitalizing about bathing and emerging clean and new. Even if you aren’t lucky enough to have a full bath, just a shower is a great idea to both literally and symbolically wash the day away.

Do Absolutely Nothing

Sometimes everything just gets to be a bit too much and you simply can’t focus. That’s ok. Give yourself permission to just take a break. Reward yourself with a structure free afternoon to just exist. The world will still be there when you’re ready to get back to it.

By the way, meditation is a great practice. Guided mediation to fall asleep especially is a great feature that is growing in popularity. If you need help starting, try out Mindzone, an excellent meditation app. It makes getting started a breeze, and it’s guided mediation to fall asleep is especially popular.

No matter how you choose to do it, self-care is something every adult should engage in regularly. Rather than looking at it as an indulgence, it should be regarded as a necessity.

Doing nothing, reading a book, taking a bath; these might not seem like important activities, but if they can help you help yourself then they are vital.

Hope these ideas for self care can give you some help. Neglecting yourself is a surefire way to ensure burnout and, in turn, neglecting others. So be sure to treat yourself with kindness.