While fancy spa days and yoga or meditation events are great (seriously… if you can allocate the time and money, we highly recommend it!) self-care doesn’t need to be an expensive, extravagant, or timely task. The idea of self-care often gets misconstrued — there’s no one-size-fits-all self-care list. It’s about finding things that work for you and your lifestyle — things that make you feel good, both inside and out! And, if you’re busy, you’ll be happy to know there are seamless ways to incorporate self-care into your day-to-day schedule without changing a thing! Because we all deserve some extra TLC.
Ahead, we’re sharing 15 self-care tips that you may have never tried before that are easy to implement and make it easier than ever to take care of you.
15 Self Care Tips to Start Using Right Now
#1 Cook More At Home
Ok, so maybe you don’t love to cook and think it would be SO much easier to just grab some food on the way home from work. But, cooking at home is one of those self-care tips that goes beyond that instant gratification of doing something for you.
Preparing your meal from home means added love and mindfulness. It requires you to put thought and love into what you’re cooking and how you’re cooking it! You may start to reach for healthier ingredients and explore foods you’ve never tried before — that’s self-care right there! And with a healthy diet comes healthier overall lifestyle choices. After all, when you’re feeling better, you’re going to be more motivated to continue living in a way that makes you feel good, which is truly the greatest act of self-care.
Need some healthy cooking inspiration? Consider joining FitOn PRO for access to personalized meal plans and exclusive recipes to reach your fitness goals faster without counting calories and with foods you’ll love to eat.
#2 Have a Date Night With Yourself
Ditch the idea that date night can’t mean a solo night with yourself. Put the kids to bed early and curl up with a good book or Netflix show you’ve been dying to watch. Hit a community yoga class at the park (or roll out your mat at home). Draw a bath and diffuse some calming essential oils. Whatever it is — carving out some QT for you, while doing something fun, is a great way to practice some serious self-care.
#3 Have a Staycation
So you don’t have enough time off available for a vacation, but why not try a staycation? This is a self-care tip we all can implement, even if you just schedule in some time to stay home on one weekend day this month.
Instead of running out and doing ALL the THINGS, stay home and schedule in some self-care by whipping up your favorite home-cooked meal, watching your favorite movies, and even catching up on some reading. Do what makes you feel good.
Trust us, you’ll feel rejuvenated, and it doesn’t have to cost you a thing!
RELATED: Burnt Out? Recharge With This Staycation That Feels Like a Legit Getaway
#4 Get Organized
There’s nothing quite like the gratifying feeling of getting everything in your house organized. And yes, cleaning and decluttering can actually reduce stress! Hello, self-care. So, if that pile of mail that’s been sitting on your dining room table has been calling your name for weeks, or you’ve been meaning to sort through clothes that have been taking up space in your closet, here’s your invitation to get organized.
Scheduling in a few hours to reduce clutter will not only help you feel accomplished, but you will likely feel way less overwhelmed. We’re willing to bet it will even spark some newfound motivation to keep tackling projects that have been on your to-do for a while.
#5 Ask Yourself How YOU Are Each Morning
We often find ourselves asking everyone around us how they are, but when is the last time you looked at yourself and asked how YOU were? While it may sound strange, getting in touch with how you’re feeling each and every morning is a self-care tip that can turn into the healthy habit of becoming more in tune with what you need to feel your best.
Once you start acknowledging how you truly are feeling, you can then ask yourself what you need. Feeling stressed? Can you take five and do a quick meditation? Feeling totally fatigued? Try getting to bed earlier tonight.
This self-care tip can quickly turn into one of the best ways to make self-care a ripple effect you are able to implement all day long.
RELATED: 10 Powerful Habits For Self-Love & Total Self-Acceptance
#6 Learn The Power of Saying No
Are you a yes kinda gal or guy? Many of us are! And while it’s nice to want to satisfy everyone else’s needs, it can become completely draining really (like really) fast. Learning how to say no is such a powerful self-care tool.
Every time you are faced with a situation where you want to say no, but you feel like you have to say yes, take just two minutes to think about it…trust us that email response can wait.
The bottom line is that if it isn’t a heck yes, it’s a no. Try to follow this rule as often as you can to start learning how the power of saying no allows you to say yes to your needs far more often.
RELATED: How to Set Boundaries & Why You Should
#7 Try A Cooking Class
Try signing up for a cooking class — there are plenty of virtual options available too! Not only is this a super fun way to socialize and get out and about, but you’ll learn more about cooking from home, which you now know is another great self-care tip we all could be using.
#8 Change The Way You Think About Your Goals
While fitness and healthy eating are two awesome ways to practice self-care, it can become easy to get sucked into thinking that everything has to be perfect. Start to think about your goals differently and realize that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Celebrate the little victories, because those matter too!
#9 Walk During Your Lunch Break
On your lunch break, or whenever you have some free time during the day, get out for a walk! Walking is such a great form of exercise, but it’s also amazing for helping us clear our minds and just breathe in some fresh air while soaking up some sunshine. BTW — you only need 10 minutes per day to soak in all the stress-busting benefits!
Use this self-care tip daily (if possible) — it can make a huge difference in your overall wellbeing.
#10 Stop Obsessing Over Calories
Instead of focusing on exactly how many calories you are eating, start to think about what you are eating. The what matters just as much as the how much. Oh, and eating whole and nutrient-dense foods is a great way to practice self-care. Plus, it’s more sustainable in the long run and promotes a healthier mental state. So, try making one meal a day full of wholesome nutrient-dense foods. Once you have one meal down, move to the next. There’s truly no better way to show yourself love than to eat clean.
#11 Watch the Sunrise or Sunset
And leave your phone at home — Insta doesn’t need to capture the view! Simply spending time in nature can reduce stress levels and boost your mental and physical health. Use this time to focus on your breath and be present with your body! Maybe you even journal or practice a mindful meditation or affirmations.
#12 Edit Your Social Media Following
Speaking of Instagram and social media, consider doing a social media detox. Different from the kind of detox that involves taking time away from your phone (though that’s great, too), we’re talking about doing a deep dive into who you’re following on social media and saying goodbye to anyone that no longer serves you. This isn’t to be mean or judgmental, either. It’s about your wellbeing! If any one person or account is making you feel insecure, less than, or anything but your best self, it’s time to part ways.
#13 Treat Yourself to Something Special
Maybe you treat yourself to that new skincare product you’ve been wanting or that infrared sauna sesh at your local spa. It could even be something as simple as your favorite latte! You don’t need a reason to do so, either!
#14 Make a Vision Board
This is a chance for you to channel your inner creativity while turning inward and reflecting on your goals and aspirations. Looking for images can help you get clear on what it is you truly want to manifest — it provides a tangible object, which can help you reach your goals. It could be the motivational push you’ve been missing! It also serves as a daily reminder of all you hope to accomplish and achieve. Daily encouragement + increased positivity = self-care.
#15 Soak In Some Silence
Whether you live alone or with a household of noisy teenagers, how often do you really sit with yourself and do nothing? And scrolling through social media doesn’t count! We’re talking about quieting your mind and mindfully being present with your body. Sitting in silence can lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol, support cognitive health, and benefit sleep. You could do this in your car, on a walk, or in the calm hours of the morning before the rest of the world wakes up. It’s free, and can be done anytime, anywhere!
Self-Care is Not Selfish — It’s The Key to Helping You Become Your Best Self
There you have it. Fifteen self-care tips that you may have never even thought about. Use these to take your health and happiness to the next level, because with daily self-care, you may just find that you feel better than you ever have before.
