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Do you know that there are endless self care activities you can enjoy, starting today? These activities will help to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. Here’s a list of over 100 self care activities based on the self care wheel, and how to start using them for your calmest, happiest and most balanced life ever.
Why self care?
There’s a beautiful self care quote I heard once:
If you really need something, give it to yourself. Don’t wait for someone else to give it to you.
I love self care quotes because they bring such a powerful message in a few simple words. And that’s what self care does for you, too. It’s a powerful reminder of what’s important: YOU!
You are very special and it’s vital to spend time on caring for yourself. It will change your life.
What is the self care wheel?
The self care wheel is a wonderful way to ensure that you are nurturing every area of your life.
The 8 key areas of life according to the self care wheel are:
- Your body
- Your mind
- Your emotional well-being
- Your spirituality and faith
- Your home and having a safe space
- Your financial well-being
- Having a strong personal and social foundation
- Being happy in the workplace
Taking care of each area of your life will make you feel much more balanced and happier.
What happens if I neglect an area?
If you neglect an area in the self care wheel, it will have a negative impact on other areas.
For example, let’s say you are working very long hours at your job. You’re very ‘successful’ according to some – you make a lot of money.
But you don’t spend much time with your family, you never exercise, and you spend most of your money on useless things to make yourself feel better and help you cope with the stress. You’re lonely, disconnected, and you can’t remember the last time you had a good laugh.
Well, the self care activities on this page are broken up into the self care wheel areas, so you can intentionally choose activities in areas that you have been neglecting or where you feel you need more joy and fulfillment.
When should I do these self care activities?
Don’t wait until you’re burnt out and exhausted to start any of these self care activities. Start now and keep doing activities that are good for you.
Starting is the hardest part. Once you get going, you gain momentum and enjoy the feeling of true, ongoing peace and happiness.
How should I start doing these self care activities?
Take a look at the self care wheel areas and decide which two areas need the most attention right now.
Remember that the self care wheel areas are: body, mind, emotional well-being, spirituality and faith, home, financial well-being, a strong personal and social foundation, and being happy at work.
Now start with some self care activities in the lists below that are good for those two areas you want to work on.
Choose a self care activity that appeals to you and give it a try. Mix and match the self care activities in the list.
You’ll soon find which ones calm you and make you happy. Then do more of those types of activities!
Self care activities for your body
Self care activities for your body aim to nourish you from within and take care of the outside. These activities are about making time for things that make you feel and look good in your own body.
Here’s the list of self care activities for your body:
Nourish your body with an antioxidant meal
Snack on some health-boosting pineapple
Start a healthy eating plan or get food boxes delivered
Get some healthy snacks to nibble on
Give yourself a manicure
Give yourself a pedicure
Give yourself a facial
Nourish your hair with deep conditioner
Take a cold shower to wake yourself up
Shave your legs
Take a nap
Go to bed early
Get your hair done
Walk barefoot on the grass
Get a massage
Listen to music
Find YouTube tutorials and try some new makeup looks
Try some chemical-free beauty and hair products
Try a dish at a restaurant you’ve never eaten before
Do some yoga
Do some stretches
Roll on a foam roller
Take some deep breaths
Make time to go for health checks
Go to the dentist for an annual check-up
Self care activities for your mind
Self care activities for your mind aim to nourish your brain, develop your thinking patterns, and keep your brain active and healthy. These activities are about making time for things that boost your mental health and learn new things.
Here’s the list of self care activities for your mind:
Sign up for a course
Go to bed early
Try a new recipe
Bake something
If you’re right-handed, try doing something with your left hand and vice versa
Write a book
Do a brain dump to clear your mind
Play a game, such as solitaire
Read a book you’ve always wanted to read
Talk to people who don’t have the same views as you, and try to understand their point of view
Do puzzles, such as Sudoku and word searches
Try positive affirmations and self care quotes
Listen to podcasts that teach you things
Watch a documentary
Spend time with other people and make a point of really talking and connecting with them
Challenge your thinking – if you have a negative thought or fear, ask yourself if it’s really true
Self care activities for your emotional well-being
Self care activities for your emotional well-being aim to develop your emotions, making you happier and calmer. There is always room to grow emotionally, and it’s a wonderful investment in yourself when you spend time growing and learning and exploring this world.
These self care activities are about making time for things that boost your emotional health and your overall sense of peace and happiness within.
Here’s the list of self care activities for your emotional well-being:
Plan a road trip
Go for coffee with someone special
Wake up early and watch the sunrise
Watch the sun set
Take steps to simplify your life
Enjoy a hot cup of coffee somewhere quiet
Go for a walk in nature
Take a quiz to discover if you use sight, sound or touch to explore the world
Use your sight, sound or touch strengths to make improvements in your life
Go for a drive to somewhere you’ve never been before
Switch off your phone and take time out
Cancel something that drains you
Do something simple that you enjoyed doing as a child
Schedule ‘me time’ at least once a week in your diary
Start a gratitude journal, where you give thanks for 5 things every day
Lie down outside and watch the clouds go by
Binge watch a TV show and forget about the world for a few hours
Cuddle your partner
Cuddle your pets
Cuddle someone else’s pets
Take time to sit and feel uneasy emotions – acknowledge them and then let them drift away
Watch a comedy
Crack a smile and hold it for a minute – your brain will think you’re happy
Read books on emotional intelligence
Give someone a compliment
Give yourself a compliment
Volunteer for a cause you care about
Set a goal and make a plan to achieve it
Try to stay in the present moment and enjoy what you are doing
Self care activities for your spirituality and faith
Self care activities for your spirituality and faith aim to nourish your soul. These activities are about going beyond what you see and hear every day. They’re about exploring a deeper meaning in life and connecting with a higher power.
Developing your spirituality and faith will embed a deeper sense of meaning in your life and a willingness to explore. It’s certainly not about having all the answers. It’s about gently knowing there’s more and enjoying the peace that this connection brings you.
Here’s the list of self care activities for your spirituality and faith:
Spend time in prayer
Spend time reading your bible
Meditate
Learn some calming breathing techniques
Go on a retreat
Join a church group
Spend time coloring in faith-based pictures
Read books on faith-related topics that interest you
Talk to others about their struggles and beliefs
Do volunteer work
Challenge yourself by doing things that scare you (don’t do anything that will probably harm you though)
Make a bucket list
Spend time forgiving others and making peace with things as they are
Take a course
Listen to audio courses on apps like Insight Timer
Spend time in nature
Look up at the sky and appreciate its beauty
Self care activities for your home
Self care activities for your home aim to create a safe, happy space where you can really enjoy your life. Coming home should be a blessing, not a burden!
These self care activities are about making time for decluttering, simplifying and nesting. By doing this, you create a space that you love coming home to every evening and where you love spending weekends laughing and living.
Here’s the list of self care activities for your home:
Buy a pretty bunch of flowers
Pick a pretty bunch of flowers
Print out some self care quotes and hang them where you can see them
Plan a fun DIY project around the house
Plant some herbs
Start a vegetable garden
Try some of these free upcycle garden ideas from the Botanical Gardens
Declutter your wardrobe
Declutter a shelf or drawer
Start recycling
Get a donations bin and try to fill it as often as possible
Clean out the fridge
Create a morning routine
Create an evening routine
Make an easy-to-follow cleaning checklist
Spring clean / deep clean an area or room
Clean out your handbag
Burn some pretty candles that make your home smell wonderful
Change the light bulbs in your home from bright white to warm whites and yellows
Buy soft cushions and blankets to cuddle in front of the TV
Put up photos of your loved ones
Find design inspiration on Pinterest and recreate it at home
Revamp and old piece of furniture
Get spare keys made and store a set in a key lock outside so you never get locked out
Get the car washed and vacuumed
Get a new bed spread or update your ornaments
Go through your medicine cabinet and throw away expired items and restock it with everything you might need such as pain killers, cold and flu meds, bandages, antiseptic cream
Self care activities for your finances
Self care activities for your finances aim to create a safe, happy space for your money.
These self care activities are about cutting out unnecessary spending, saving and investing money for financial freedom, and being on top of things for your own peace of mind.
Here’s the list of self care activities for your finances:
Start this easy money saving challenge
Get yourself out of debt once and for all with this debt snowball method
Find out how to make extra money from a side hustle
Spend less than you earn
Stop buying things you don’t need
Cancel subscriptions you don’t need
Find free or cheap things to do for fun
Get your taxes up to date
Register the business you’ve always wanted to start
Get advice on where to invest your money for compound interest
Sell things that you no longer need, use or want
Take a course to learn new skills and ask for a promotion
Find a better-paying job
Read books that teach you about money, such as Rich Dad Poor Dad
Put a plan in place for retirement
Speak to your partner and work together to get your finances in order
Take out insurance in case you have health issues or get laid off
Get your will in order
Check your credit score
When you do buy something, take time to really enjoy it and appreciate it
Self care activities for your social well-being and awareness
Self care activities for your social side aim to get you spending time with others, appreciating the social aspects of life, and caring for the wonderful world we live in. We are social beings, after all. Even though some of us like socializing more than others.
Here’s the list of self care activities for your social well-being:
Call a friend
Call a family member
Tell your partner you love them
Smile at a stranger
Ask someone how they’re doing – and really listen to their answer
Ask yourself how you’re doing – and really listen to your answer
Invite friends over
Make plans to visit friends
Post something positive on social media
Follow people who inspire you on social media
Learn a good joke and share it with others
Pick up any litter you see lying around
Volunteer for a cause you care about
Ask people to share their points of view and listen to them
Buy something fun on a coupon site like Groupon – then try it
Join a social group
Join a conversational group, where people practice speaking a language
Join a sports group
Go to the company social events and make a point of enjoying them
Go to a conference
Sign up for a class, such as art classes
Keep your head up and don’t be afraid to make eye contact as you walk around
Smile as much as you can
Ask people for advice to start a conversation
Ask others about themselves
Ask questions that get people talking, like ‘Where are you from?’
Donate blood
Become an organ donor
Donate clothes and household items you no longer want or need
Teach someone something
Practice changing the way you talk to yourself – be nice to yourself
Practice changing the way you talk about yourself to others – never put yourself down
Self care activities for your work success
Self care activities for your work success aim to enhance your overall enjoyment, fulfillment and success at work, no matter what you do for a living.
These activities are about thriving at work, whether you work in an office, on the road, or for yourself.
Here’s the list of self care activities for your work success:
Create a vision board of what you want
Decide if you’re lucky enough to have chosen the wrong career
Listen to podcasts that teach you skills for work and success
Clean your desktop
Clean your desk
Empty your inbox
Take a course and learn new skills
Study something you’ve always wanted to do
Register the business you’ve always wanted to start
Have a chat with your manager about your strengths and what you need to work on
Don’t work overtime – you need time for other areas in your life
Book leave for a vacation or road trip
Update your CV
Apply for jobs that you’re very interested in and see what happens
Move closer to work if the commute is a problem
Learn how to time block for productivity
Automate as many tasks as possible
If you work for yourself, hire help if you need to
FAQs about self care activities
What are some self care activities?
There are hundreds of self care activities to help you thrive in every area of your life. Some are as simple as drinking a cup of coffee, giving yourself a manicure, or calling a friend. Others help you set goals, learn new skills, or spend time in nature.
How do I write a self care routine?
Choose two areas from the self care wheel where you feel unhappy. Block time out in your diary to work on these areas – this should be at least once a week but try for more often than that. Then do self care activities to find happiness in those areas. Once these areas are more balanced and you feel happier, choose another two areas to work on and continue with the routine for self care activities in your diary.
What’s your self care routine?
My self care routine is all about consistency. I consistently check in with each area of the self care wheel to ensure that I’m balancing things and giving attention to each area of my life. I block out me time at least once a week to spend time on things I love and that make me feel good.
Conclusion
Self care activities can be quick and easy to do. Choose two areas from the self care wheel that you need to work on, then try some self care activities from the lists to lead a happier, healthier and more balanced lifestyle.
