55 Self Care Ideas To Practice At Home
This post is all about self care ideas at home.
The term self care has been around for years, but it’s never been more prevalent than today. As the world becomes increasingly stressful and chaotic, people are taking time to take care of themselves in order to maintain their mental health. Self care can mean different things to different people depending on their needs and lifestyles. For some, that may be meditation or yoga; others may find relief in cooking healthy meals or getting enough sleep each night. But no matter what form self care takes for you, there is one thing that remains true: You deserve it.
In today’s post, I share self care ideas that you can easily practice at home. These are some of the best self care tips so find some that you like and do them daily to take better care of yourself and overall health.
What Are The 8 Areas of Self-Care?
Before jumping to the list of self care ideas, let’s first break down self care. According to this Bustle article, there are 8 Types of Self Care for a healthy mind, body and soul.
1. Professional: This is self care related to your work life. When you practice self care at work, you’ll be able to adopt self care practices that will lead you to having a healthy work-life balance. So they might include having clear professional boundaries, eating a nourishing meal during lunch time, negotiating and prioritizing your needs, and etc. All of this will help your overall stress at work.
2. Social: If you’re lacking in relationships, get out there and get to know people. Meeting new people is the best way to prevent yourself from feeling lonely. The more meaningful connections you have with others, the better off you’ll be.
3. Environmental: How is your home and work environment? Is it full of clutter? Clutter has been known to increase stress levels. Organization and maintaining a clutter-free living environment is an absolute must for your self care. Keep your home, work, and clothes clean. Clean up after yourself after eating. I mention many self care ideas you can do in this area.
4. Physical: Physical health is an important aspect of self care. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help you be in a better place mentally and emotionally. It’s also easy to get caught up in striving for success and not taking care of yourself physically. That’s why it’s important to take time to exercise, eat healthy meals, and get enough sleep. Self care isn’t selfish – do it for your own sake!
5. Emotional: Well-being is often ignored. It’s important to take time for ourselves and think about things that make us happy. This can mean volunteering, doing something creative, journaling, or taking a walk. You’ll love the self care ideas in this area in my list below.
6. Psychological: Participate in hobbies and interests as an important aspect of self care to restore balance, peace, and well-being. Try to reacquaint yourself with old hobbies and interests, or discover new ones. If you’ve always wanted to pick up a foreign language or learn how to play the drums, do so!
7. Spiritual: The first step to spiritual health is recognizing and appreciating your existence. Find out what makes you feel fulfilled and do it. Get out of bed and do some yoga, go for a walk and plant a tree, say a prayer – do anything that makes you feel whole. Best yet? Spend time with people who make you happy.
8. Financial: When we’re struggling financially, it can be hard to put ourselves first or take care of ourselves. It’s important to get out of the cycle of debt and try to find any way to get on top of finances so that there is room for us to grow.
READ: 31 Self Care Tips To Take Better Care Of Yourself
What Are 5 Things You Can Do For Self Care Daily?
- Affirmations
Look yourself in the mirror and do affirmations. It’s important to spend some time indulging in self care. This means looking at ourselves and thinking of what we like about ourselves and what we want to accomplish. An affirmation is a statement that turns our beliefs into reality. Self care doesn’t need to be expensive or require a lot of time, it just needs to happen.
- Gratitude
Gratitude is another way of taking care of yourself. The Gratefulness Project was created by Robert A. Emmons, Phd., professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and his colleague Michael E. McCullough Phd., professor of Psychology at the University of Miami. The project is an ongoing survey of gratitude and how it can affect our lives in a positive way.
- Start A Blog Or Journal
If you’re feeling lost or confused about something, take some time to reflect. You can do this by writing in a journal or blogging about your thoughts and feelings. Then, you’ll be able to take the information from these experiences and use them to guide your future decisions.
- Hydrate
Drinking more water throughout the day is a simple act of self care. Drink at least three liters of water every single day.
- Exercise
Lastly, don’t forget to exercise. Working out benefits the mind and body. Exercising is a way that we can take our minds off of things that are stressing us out or making us feel down. It gets your heart rate up, your blood pumping and can even reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It also boosts the amount of endorphins in your brain which makes you happier!
Self Care Ideas You Can Practice Daily
If you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma or anything of the like, it is vital you practice self care. Here’s a huge list of easy self care ideas for stress, better mental health days, and overall better wellbeing.
1. Sleep More
This should be at the very top of your self care ideas list. Sleep is a vital part of your well-being. It helps to keep your immune system strong and maintain its ability to fight off sickness. Make it a goal to get at least eight hours of sleep every night. If you have trouble sleeping, try some relaxation techniques or read yourself to sleep before bedtime.
2. Meditate
You should definitely make this part of your morning routine even if it’s only for 10 minutes. Meditation is about clearing the mind and body of useless thoughts. It’s a time for loving yourself, accepting your flaws, and appreciating your strengths. In the quiet moments you set aside to meditate, you should focus solely on your breath as it enters and exits from your nose or mouth.
3. Paint
Painting is a great way to let go of any worries you have, while also giving life to any thoughts you might have. It’s a form of artistic expression that can be carried out at home when you’re in need of some relaxation and reprieve from the daily grind.
4. Bake
Baking is great therapeutic way to relax your body and mind. You’ll need all the baking ingredients: flour, eggs, sugar…and maybe even some wine. Turn on some music, close your eyes and enjoy the moment where you’re creating something new. It’s one of my favorite self-care activities especially during the fall season!
READ: 15 Wholesome Fall Self Care Ideas You’ll Love
5. Take A Day Trip
Do you have an interstate or toll road nearby? Make it a goal to visit at least once every two months. Make a to-do list of everything you want to do. Don’t worry about anything else except having fun when you get there. Each state has something different to offer, so you’re bound to discover someplace new and exciting every time.
6. Spa Day
Are there any massage or skincare establishments near you? Make an appointment for one spa treatment per month as a way to relax and rejuvenate your body. Go ahead and splurge! Get a facial, back massage or manicure to get yourself to relax. Don’t forget your feet. Get pedicures once in a while too!
7. Take A Walk
Whenever it’s nice out, take yourself on a walk around your neighborhood. It helps to get some fresh air and sunshine into your life, while also giving you the chance to go wherever you want in the world without leaving your living room.
8. Read A Book
There’s nothing like a good book to help transport you from reality for a few hours at a time. Put your phone on airplane mode to catch up on your reading list. Try reading an inspiring book that gives you new purpose in life. I love reading while enjoying hot bubble baths.
9. Take A Hot Shower
Don’t underestimate the power of a good, hot shower. It’s a great way to rejuvenate your mind and body after a long day at work or if you simply need some time alone to unwind. Make it part of your skincare routine.
10. Play A Musical Instrument
If you’re musically inclined, this is a great way to spend some time. If not, dust off your old recorder and give it another go!
11. Adult Coloring Books
More and more adults are finding coloring books to be a calming experience for themselves. With an adult coloring book there are no rules or guidelines that need to be followed, you simply color your way towards peace and tranquility.
12. Diffuse Essential Oils
Essential oils can be a great way to enhance your mood and help you feel better. Whether you’re feeling angry, anxious, or just too stressed out for words, picking up a few aromatherapy drops might be the perfect way to remedy the situation. Make it a daily routine if need to.
13. End Your Day With Gratitude
Write down five things you are thankful for every night before bed inside your gratitude journal.
14. Learn To Say No
Learning to say no isn’t selfish. It’s about being kind and mature enough to look after yourself before you help others. No is a complete sentence by itself, so there’s no need for explanations or excuses when you say it.
15. Watch A Movie
Light or dark, go to the theater or sit at home and stream a movie from your Netflix queue.
16. Drink A Tea
Make yourself a cup of tea once in a while like herbal tea. If you’re not much of a tea person, there’s no time like the present to start!
READ: How I Incorporate Tea Into My Daily Self Care Routine
17. Host A Dinner Party
Gather up all your friends and share an intimate meal together.
18. Start A Journal
Writing about your day is a wonderful way to vent and sort out the puzzles of your mind. It’s also a great place where you can express yourself freely knowing no one else will ever read it (unless you want them to). There are so many mental health benefits with journaling so try it.
READ: 177 Daily Self Care Journal Prompts For Personal Growth
19. Talk About Your Feelings
Sometimes, we’re afraid to let other people know what we’re going through. This is a perfectly normal feeling, but talking about your problems with someone you trust is a great way to cope and let your emotion out.
20. Create A Gratitude Jar
Make it a habit to write down five things that you are grateful for each day and place the slips of paper in a jar. This is a great reminder to express gratitude daily. Pull one out every night before you go to bed and use it as your motivation for the next day. It helps me get in the right mindset before I start my day.
21. Have A Board Game Night
Gather up all your old board games and play a few rounds with family and friends!
22. Watch An Educational Video
If you’re not one for reading long articles or watching educational videos, we’ve got great news for you! There are plenty of bite-sized videos on YouTube dedicated to all sorts of topics.
23. Listen To Music
If you have a favorite song, genre or artist, indulge yourself and crank it up. If not, Spotify’s “Discover Weekly” playlist is a great place to start.
24. Listen To A Podcast
Listen to a podcast while you’re enjoy lunch during your lunch break. Everyone’s got something to say, and you can find educational podcasts on almost every topic! You can even find podcasts that focus solely on self care.
25. Try Yoga
Don’t worry if you don’t enjoy this or even understand any of the poses; YouTube is loaded with beginner-friendly videos to try out at home.
26. Play With Your Pet
Believe it or not, pets can help with stress and anxiety in a number of ways. It will give you plenty of hugs, love and attention.
27. Call A Friend
Even if you haven’t spoken to them in ages, pick up the phone and call someone you know is always down for a good conversation!
28. Buy Yourself Flowers
It doesn’t matter how long they last as long as they make you smile. This is one of my favorite self care ideas that I do at least once a week!
29. Move Your Body
Whether it’s through exercise, dance, or just jumping up and down on your bed.
30. Join A Class
Yoga, dance, painting, or even learn a new language… if there’s something you’ve always wanted to try but never had the opportunity, now is the time to join a class. Trying something new is one of the best self care tips you can do for yourself.
31. Read An Autobiography
You never know what you can learn from someone else’s experiences until you read about them. The only way to find out is to crack open a biography and start reading!
32. Post Pics On Instagram
If you’re free from distractions, this will be a great time to streamline your Instagram feed and make it look picture-perfect.
33. Clean Out Your Closet
Dig through that pile of clothes you just can’t seem to part with, and see if anything is worth holding on to. If not, donate them!
34. Watch A Video On YouTube
There are a ton of different YouTube channels dedicated to a variety of topics! One of my favorite free self care ideas on this list.
35. Doodle
If you don’t have a favorite type of art, take advantage of this opportunity to explore your creative side and try something new.
36. Treat Yourself To Something Sweet
It doesn’t have to be ice cream, just remember that self care is about nurturing yourself in whatever way makes you feel best, and no one can judge you for that.
37. Create A Bucket List
Dig up all those things that always made your heart flutter and turn them into achievable goals!
38. Look Back On Your Old Photos
Nobody’s perfect, and we’re not saying you should delete every photo on Facebook where you look less than your best, but you should definitely take a look at all the memories you’ve made and be proud of yourself for all that you’ve accomplished.
39. Unplug From The Internet
Yes, even if it’s just for an hour or less—unplug from social media and any other websites that tend to distract you.
40. Read Your Favorite Author
If you’ve got a favorite author, spend some time diving into one of their books! You can also try an audiobook.
41. Spend Time At The Park
As much as we love our smartphones, laptops and binge watch our TV shows, it’s good to get out of the house and be around nature once in a while. Bring your friend or a family member along for the ride or spend some time in solitude under that tree where you used to play as a kid. Either way, spending time outdoors is great for your mental health! One of my favorite self care ideas that I do often!
42. Go For A Hike
Get out of your comfort zone and try something different like going on a hike. Pack some snacks or even just a bottle of water if the weather permits, and get out there to enjoy nature!
43. Visit A Museum
Whether you’re a history buff, art aficionado, or you just wanted see what’s going on in your city, visit a museum and look at some pieces that interest you.
44. Look At Pictures Of Your Friends
There’s something comforting about seeing people you care about during the good times, and those are the kinds of memories we should be holding onto.
45. Donate To A Cause You Believe In
No matter how big or small, donating to a cause you believe in can make a measurable difference in the world.
46. Make Your Own Candle
If you’ve got enough time on your hands, try making your own candle with your favorite scent out of soy wax or beeswax.
47. Start An Instagram Account Dedicated To Self-Care
Yes, there are already a ton of accounts dedicated to self-care, but it never hurts to add your own perspective!
48. Listen To Classical Music
There’s just something about classical music that’s soothing and calming, so tune in and turn the volume up high!
49. Light A Match
After all, nothing says self care like lighting up that match (or candle) and taking some time to relax. Take a deep breath of the aroma coming from the candle and just chill out.
50. Watch A Real Sunrise Or Sunset
If you don’t have time to wake up early enough to watch the sunrise, go outside during sunset and appreciate all the colors in the sky as night falls. Definitely add this one to your self care ideas inspiration list.
51. Write A Letter To Yourself
You might not be able to open it until the future, but writing a letter is still a great way to show yourself some love.
52. Spend Time On Yourself
Even if you just pause for five minutes a day, a few times a week or even just once a month can be enough to recharge your batteries.
READ: 23 Ways To Practice Self Care On A Budget
53. Get New Stationery
And ink and paper, if you’re feeling really fancy! Owning something nice is a great way to feel self-worth.
54. Make Your Own Happiness Jar
Fill it with slips of paper with things that make you happy, and then open it whenever the times get tough.
55. Buy New Makeup
Maybe treat yourself to something new, like a lipstick or eyeshadow palette you’ve been eyeing up lately!
Self care is the practice of taking care of oneself by meeting one’s physical and mental needs. Self care can be a ritual, routine or daily activity that improves someone’s health, happiness, and quality of life. It has been shown to decrease stress levels as well as lower the risk for depression and anxiety.
This article introduces some self care ideas you can do at home like watching sunrise/sunset with friends, making new memories through photographs, creating your own bucket list, reading books from your favorite authors such as Jane Austen or JK Rowling; writing letters to yourself; spending time on nature hikes; practicing yoga in your living room, etc. We hope this self care ideas article inspires you to find what works best for you!
Which of these self care ideas do you plan on trying? Share your thought by commenting below!
