My 100 Amazing Self-Care Tips to Boost Mood & Health
From simple lifestyle changes to luxurious indulgences, find out below how to give yourself the care you deserve (and rightly so!). Discover below 100 amazing self-care tips to boost your mood and overall health; they will help you relax and recharge so you can feel happy and stress-free.
Let’s Start by Defining “Self-Care”
Self care can be defined as the actions we take to support our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It’s about taking care of ourselves so that we can be our best selves and show up for the people and situations we care about.
When it comes to taking care of yourself, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. What works for one person might not work for another person. It is important to find what works for you and to make caring for YOU a priority in YOUR life.
There are many different ways to practice self care. Some examples include getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals, exercising regularly, spending time in nature or outdoors, practicing meditation or mindfulness, journaling, spending time with loved ones, taking care of your body, etc – all things that are good for your mental health.
Good self-care practices can even help with anxiety and depression. There is no best way to practice self-care, but I can assure you that regular self-care strategies can (and will) change your life. It happened to me, so I can attest to this!
Also check my posts on self-care quotes, best pillow for watching TV in bed, best water to drink for health, best copper bracelet for health.
The Benefits of Self Care
Self-care can mean any necessary human activity that we perform to maintain our physical, mental, and emotional health. It is an important part of our overall wellbeing and something we should all make time for in our busy lives.
There are many benefits to practicing self-care, including reducing stress, improving our moods, increasing energy levels, boosting our immune system, and improving our sleep. When we take care of ourselves, we’re better able to take care of others and meet the demands of everyday life. Last night I spoke to someone who is not taking good care of himself, and everyone around him is suffering the consequences of this. Make sure to engage in self-care to live your best life yet.
REMEMBER: Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming – it can be as simple as taking a few minutes each day to do something that makes you feel good. Maybe you take a relaxing bath, read your favorite book, engage in leisure activities or take a nice walk where you can enjoy the beauty of nature.
Making Time for Self-Care & Self-Love So You Can De-Stress
Self-care is often the first thing to do, especially when we lead busy lives. Usually, we tell ourselves we don’t have time for this, but the truth is that self-care is essential to our wellbeing. When we don’t make time for it, we end up feeling run down, burnt out, unhappy and even angry at life (check here my self-love quotes and self-love affirmations).
Here are some tips for making time for self-care:
1. Set aside a specific time each day for self-care. Whether it’s first thing in the morning or last thing at night, spending even just 15 minutes for yourself can make a huge difference.
2. Get creative with how you spend your self-care time. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Maybe you enjoy reading, taking a relaxing bath, taking a trip or simply going for a walk outdoors. I love watering my plants, which in my books is very effective self-care!
3. It is okay to let yourself take a break. Sometimes it can feel like self-care is just another thing we have to do, but that’s not the case. Just sit back, appreciate yourself, take care of your emotional needs and emotional wellbeing and enjoy!
100 Self-Care Tips that Can Help with Stress Management
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NOTE: I have implemented most tips below into my life. I don’t do yoga (which I do recommend below) because of time restrictions, but this is something I would also do weekly. I can tell you from experience that the self-care tips below work – at least they work on me.
Below are 100 self-care tips that can help you get back on track:
TIP: You can read them all but see which tip you find more attractive, doable or speaks to you “louder” than the others. You can get started with one tip a day, a week or a month. Don’t rush it – it has taken me years to have the self-care I always wanted (over 10 years). So, just do one thing at a time. See how you get on. Contact me if you need help (using the form on the contact page).
1. Get plenty of sleep. A good night’s sleep is essential for your physical and mental health. When I don’t sleep, I feel terrible the day after.
2. Eat healthy foods. fueling your body with nutritious foods will give you the energy you need to take care of yourself. I grow my vegetables, which makes a huge difference.
3. Exercise regularly. Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects. It also helps to reduce stress and anxiety levels. I take care of my trees and land, which is excellent physical activity.
4. Take breaks when you need them. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a few minutes to yourself to relax and rejuvenate. This can be a little difficult sometimes, but trying is good enough!
5. Spend time with close family and friends. Spending time with the people who care about you can help you to feel better emotionally. If you have toxic family or friends be aware.
6. Do something that makes you laugh. Laughter boosts your mood and reduces stress levels, so look for funny things to laugh about during the day.
7. Avoid excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption. These substances might make you feel better in the short term, but they will have negative effects on your health in the long run. I don’t drink or smoke. I do have two coffees daily, but being Spanish this is unavoidable 🙂
8. Stay away from activities that make you anxious. Doing things you dread will only increase your anxiety levels. I stopped doing this a long time ago.
9. Avoid high-pressure and/or toxic environments which can be a source of stress. When you’re in an uncomfortable place or situation, turn around and leave. It’s difficult at first, but eventually, you get used to this level of self-care.
10. Ask for help if you need it. If something is stressing you out, ask for help to get through it (I only liaise with people I trust).
11. Practice meditation daily to calm yourself down when you’re upset or stressed out about a situation. Meditation can help, but If you can’t do it daily, simply do it as and when you can.
12. Pray to improve your spiritual well-being. Religion is not necessary for this, but it can be an important part of your life if you have faith. Sometimes just knowing you are taken care of at all times can put a smile on your face.
13. Maintain a gratitude journal and write down one thing you’re grateful for each day. This will help you to appreciate the little things that have happened throughout the day and help you feel better about yourself in general.
14. Participate in group therapy so you can look at difficult areas of your life and/or if you feel like you need extra support. I do it three times a week, it makes all the difference.
15. Maintain a supportive network of friends and family members who listen to you without judging. When you put your heart into the people around you, they’re more likely to be there for you when you need them most.
16. Give yourself permission to feel sad sometimes. Everyone needs an occasional break or a moment where they can relax and release negative feelings. Crying, screaming, having downtime etc are all part of being human.
17. Spend some time with a pet. If you have a loving pet, it will provide you with comfort and love when you need it most. We tend to ignore pets when we’re busy (I have done this many times) and then I have felt guilty. I try to not do this, although sometimes I can go back to bad behavioral habits.
18. Avoid negative news, internet and social media. These can make you feel worse. I stopped watching TV back in 2005 or so.
19. Drink lots of water so that your body has the nutrients it needs to function properly. Create habits; for example, before every meal, I try to drink 2 glasses of water (I sometimes forget, but as soon as I remember I go back to this habit).
20. Avoid toxic romantic relationships. When you surround yourself with people who make you feel bad about yourself, your emotional well-being will deteriorate. If it takes time for you to see that the relationship you’re in is not good, don’t worry. It took me years to understand this.
21. Give yourself time for self-care. Often we try to do so much for everyone else that we forget to take care of ourselves, and this can lead to exhaustion and most definitely burnout.
22. Don’t compare yourself to other people, particularly if they are “successful” (fame, fortune). People come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s ridiculous to compare yourself to anyone else. You are you, and there is nobody else like you. Fame and fortune don’t equal wellbeing and happiness (in fact, it is usually the opposite).
23. Don’t try to be perfect. Perfectionism can make you think that you need to put out an effort, but if you put so much effort into doing something that can easily make you uncomfortable (the process will just become another stressor). Relax and enjoy the experience without trying to justify it or get it wrong.
24. Spend time in nature and/or outdoors. People who go outside and take in nature tend to feel calmer, happier and more at peace with themselves. I live in a farm… and I can assure you it is my monastery!
25. Listen to soothing music or meditation channels whenever you can. This can help you relax and quiet your mind.
26. Remember that being “too busy” is not the same as being productive, so don’t feel like you should always be doing something.
27. Don’t put yourself down. Verbally or mentally. Yes, nobody is perfect and you’re not supposed to feel good about everything all the time and that is perfectly fine.
28. Make DIY beauty products for yourself. They’re easy and very healthy if you use natural, organic ingredients. I make my own DIY skincare and sell my products at the market on Saturdays. My skin looks great, and people keep coming back to tell me how happy they are with my products. Even a simple recipe can make a huge difference.
29. Ditch the makeup if you can. Why do we have to wear makeup? We are beautiful, we really, truly are. Just use good organic skincare products and your skin will be very happy indeed.
30. Use other natural products like organic shampoo and conditioner, organic body lotion and organic lip balm. Go slowly at first if the swap is too much for you. Even if it takes years, that’s fine. It took me around four years to not use anything from the shops.
31. Upgrade your pillow. You don’t want to put pressure on your neck, shoulders, or back when you’re sleeping. Get a great pillow for sleeping, it will be worth it.
32. Schedule a haircut or visit with a stylist every 6 weeks. I’m leaving my hear shorter now and love it.
33. Talk to a counselor if you feel like you need extra support or if you’re going through difficult times.
34. Ask for help if you need it. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a few minutes to yourself to relax and refresh.
35. Give yourself permission to feel strong emotions sometimes. Everyone needs an occasional break or a moment where they can relax and release “tsunami feelings”, as I call them.
36. Buy some organic lotion bars and use them on your body as a moisturizer before bedtime so that your skin can stay hydrated all night long!
37. If you’re feeling stressed, take a few minutes to make a few yoga moves to relax your body. If you don’t practice yoga (I don’t), just stretch or look at the clouds or stars. Whatever works for you.
38. Be aware of your body language. How you carry yourself will affect how confident you feel about yourself.
39. How about saying hello to someone new every day? This can be an easy way to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people 🙂
40. Smile at someone every day. A smile is contagious, so this is a great way to make someone else feel very good!
41. Try on different clothes often, and explore identity through your outfits. You might find that it helps with refreshing your aura and persona.
42. Call someone you love and have a nice, pleasant conversation with them.
43. If you’re someone who tends to get pimples, acne or oily skin, try and eat a lot of foods that are rich in Vitamin A and E to keep your skin healthy.
44. Avoid negative social media (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat) for at least an hour every day if not more. You can get used to this, believe me.
45. Do regular neck exercises. The can be very relaxing and you can do any time, any day.
46. Take frequent breaks at work. Get up and move around every now and then. Movement is more productive than sitting still, and we can forget that simple movement can make a huge difference.
47. Keep a journal. This can be a great way to document your life and make yourself more aware of your emotions and the things that happen that can tend to cause you stress.
48. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a few minutes to relax and rejuvenate by going outside for some fresh air. So simple, and it works.
49. Learn about the different meditations and relaxation techniques so that you can use them to help relieve yourself from stresses within your life. There is a lot available online nowadays, try different things often. I love listening to nonduality videos. What do you like to listen to?
50. If you’re an extrovert, try to get outside at least two or three times per week to practice social networking by meeting new people, and that way, connect with others. There are apps for this (I know a family member uses them). It can be fun and a healthy way to interact with others.
51. Self-care means taking care of your skin as well. Use a dry brush on your skin to help it stay healthy and stimulate circulation. This can help prevent the development of cellulite and aid in keeping your skin glowing.
52. If you have a lot of trouble de-stressing, take time out of your schedule just to putter around at home with no set goals aside from relaxation. If you love your home, it can most definitely bring you joy to live it consciously.
53. Keep a gratitude journal. Gratitude gives you a sense of meaning and can help you process daily events. I find gratitude is the key to helping you to stay grounded.
54. Take a minute to yourself after you wake up to relax and remind yourself of your goals for the day. I used to do this daily. I somehow don’t need to do this anymore but it helped for many years.
55. Eat well-balanced meals every day, if possible, or at least organic, if possible. This will help keep your energy levels consistent throughout the day and avoid feeling overly hungry or deprived from skipping meals. It takes time to find a balance, but the point is to be aware of what we eat.
56. Try not to let mistakes get you down! Focus throughout the day on the positive. And remember you learn as much from your failures as you do from your victories – you shouldn’t let yourself be bogged down by if you can avoid it (although I know from experience that it takes practice).
57. Do yoga poses with a friend to help motivate one another and stay on the same page. This is such a great thing to do! This gives your body the chance to explore wellness with someone else and also improves connection with others.
58. Make art with your friends or family members like the younger ones, which is always fun. This can be anything from drawing, painting, writing, or how about singing?
59. Make sure that you have a quiet place to come home to every day so that you can rest and relax after school or work if need be! (Or, if you’re like me and you have naughty pets, it is good to find some quiet time from them too!) Sometimes it’s also good to take some time alone to yourself just to let off some steam if no one else is around.
60. Be sure that you have time every single week to do something that isn’t work-related. It can be anything from going to the gym, getting a haircut or a manicure, spending time with friends or family, or whatever else you would like to do outside of your usual routine. I sometimes force myself to visit my friends. It doesn’t sound great, but if I don’t I can self-isolate at times. Not good.
61. Be sure that you are getting enough sleep every night (I struggle with this one due to menopause). Even if you are doing everything else correctly and eating healthy meals, it is hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle when you are sleep deprived. When I don’t sleep well, I’m not good the day after. I actually feel awful.
62. Learn how to make simple meals that include vegetables, grains and protein. When you learn what the core ingredients are in the foods we eat, you will be much better equipped to make healthy choices for yourself in the future. I grow my own veggies, such a plus!
63. Read a book every once in a while. I love self-development and spiritual books. This can be a great way to learn something new, challenge yourself mentally, or just relax and take your mind away from everything else.
64. Vacations days are important and different for everyone. You might prefer a day out and staying the night in a hotel while someone else might prefer to do the full-blown thing and travel far. Sometimes, even a picnic in the park does the trick but for me, what makes the most difference is to fly somewhere and completely disconnect.
65. Try to only drink water during the day. I have found it difficult so I drink a lot of sparling water, which also works for me.
66. How about leaving your phone behind one afternoon a week? Ok, try 10 minutes first, then 20, and so on… Until you can spend an entire day without the phone. I sometimes leave it behind on purpose and it feels great.
67. Listen to music or relaxing sounds when you’re trying to sleep. It can help with helping you relax and fall asleep. I love listening to spiritual podcasts.
68. Try to be as diligent as possible about getting proper sleep every night (I drink a hot drink to help me fall asleep easier).
69. Take some time weekly to go out with your friends or family. If you can’t see them because of distance issues, call them, Facetime them, Skype them, WhatsApp them… you get the idea. I’m not always in the mood to contact my family, but I make sure I do as often as I can.
70. Planning ahead can help to avoid stress. Plan ahead as possible so that you know what your schedule will be like. This can help manage your stress levels, believe me. I don’t go crazy planning ahead, but I do prepare as much as I can and try to always be early to places. It really helps.
71. Listen to relaxing music before bed without any electronics around. Your phone’s light can keep you awake, what I do is turn it around so it faces down.
72. Try to eat a good meal for dinner and, if possible, no food before going to bed (and avoid eating any snacks at night). I must admit I find this one impossible to follow, but hopefully, one day, I will. Here’s some research on nighttime eating.
73. If you need extra help with having a healthy diet, talk to your doctor or get connected with a nutritionist that can help you make specific changes to your diet.
74. I’m not a breakfast person, but many people say that eating your breakfast is important. If you are hungry in the mornings, try your best to eat breakfast every day and don’t skip it if you’re in a hurry.
75. If you eat fast, slow down. Eating slowly may seem like a nuisance at first, but it will keep you from overeating, and it is also good for keeping calm while enjoying your meals (rather than rushing them, for example, when you eat in a hurry).
76. Drink water with lemon or other healthy herbal beverages to help you stay hydrated during the day. I have 2 Britta jugs and double filter my water (and keep the second filter in the fridge, so my water is always fresh).
77. See a therapist if you feel like your mental health is suffering because of your anxiety or stress. When you’re distressed you can better connect with your loved ones and yourself.
78. Breathe. When you’re feeling stressed, take time to breathe deeply and evenly.
79. If you are feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and allow yourself to feel the panic you’re feeling in the moment. Sometimes the feelings feel like tsunamis, but when you let them go through you they pass. Just don’t try to push these intense feelings away or think about anything else – just how you feel at that moment. It is not easy and it takes practice, but I can do this a lot better nowadays, so it does happen if you keep trying.
80. Buy yourself a lovely gift often. You very well deserve it, belive me. (Time for me to get my next gift 🙂 ). I wrote a post on best self-love ring if you want to check it out.
81. If someone gives you a compliment, you can thank them and mean what you say when you do so. Make sure that you are genuinely grateful and appreciative, not just putting on a fake smile to make yourself look better! Well, I have done this for sure, but nowadays I try to do things from my heart and making an effort.
82. Consider seeing a therapist if you’re having trouble dealing with stress or anxiety. 12 step fellowships are wonderful, they have helped me enormously. I very highly recommend them.
83. If you are feeling bad about yourself or your appearance, take some time to notice all the things that you like about yourself and choose those things to focus on instead of pointing out any negative parts. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you love yourself. Not easy at first, but when you get the hang of it you will love it (and yourself 🙂 )
84. If you have trouble motivating yourself, try taking a walk with your dog or going on a run. Anything that gets you moving or going outdoors will most probably help.
85. A meditation or yoga class helps you relax, but also sometimes all we need is a hug. Wanting to feel someone’s touch and care? A massage is always a fantastic idea. And, when you get home, a bubble bath can also help.
86. Try not to take on too much at once if you are feeling overwhelmed. If you do, you are doing yourself a disservice.
87. If a difficult situation arises and another person is speaking to you in an authoritative or demeaning way (for example, minimizing you) remember that it’s their problem and not yours, but do stand up for yourself as and when necessary.
88. If you are feeling lonely, socialize! Call up a friend and go out somewhere even if you aren’t in a great mood. You will thank yourself later for this.
89. If someone is important to you, be sure to communicate with them and let them know that as well. For example, I just told someone at work how amazing they’ve been and how blown away I have been by their enthusiasm and initiative.
90. If you really can’t think of anything to say, send someone a silly picture. My brother just sent me one, and it really made me laugh!
91. If you want to get over a breakup, moving on might feel like an impossible task, but even though it is hard for a while, it often means you will go through an inner transformation over time. Make sure to pamper yourself lots!
92. If you have a negative thought running through your head, write it down in your journal or talk about it with someone you trust so that way it isn’t floating around your mind, which usually ends up causing more stress and anxiety.
93. Try that new restaurant you keep saying you’re gonna try but you never do. Today is the time.
94. If you feel like no one cares about you, take some time to reflect on the people in your life who do care and why they are important to you. These people probably add color to your life, think about that.
95. If you’re having a really terrible day, take a look at the positives and try to focus on those things. Easier said than done? Probably. But it is practice that makes perfect. Over time, turning to the positives happens automatically. I can attest to this.
96. Spend time with your pet now. They’re always waiting for us to “be” with them. Aren’t they?! Now is the time to do it. Stop doing what you’re doing and choose something beautiful, like consciously being with your loved pet.
97. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try setting up a time frame in which to do your tasks. If you don’t know how much time that is, start small and just try to get done within a certain amount of time.
98. If someone is bothering you, walk away before letting it get any worse! I have to do this more often than I would like to. Also, think about this: you wouldn’t want to say anything you will regret later or do something that will hurt the relationship or make you look foolish in front of others. Again, I have also done this more times than I want to admit.
99. If you have difficulty being assertive, try it out! You’ll learn how to speak your mind and stand up for yourself if you are ever in a situation where you need to. NOT EASY, especially for people who tend to people please, but please do try. Start small and work your way up to 100% assertiveness. Online coaching can help with this.
100. Make sure your doctor is aware of what is going on with you and doesn’t brush off any concerns about your health. If you feel like something isn’t right or that something could be hurting your health, make sure to tell them about it too.
Check out my other articles on self-care tips: My Top 5 Self-Care Tips and One of the Best Self-Care Tips: Connection.
Overcoming the obstacles to self care
Self-care can be a difficult thing to commit to, especially when life gets overwhelming. However, taking care of yourself is crucial to maintaining your health as well as well-being. If you find it hard to make time for proper, beautiufl self-care, here are a few tips to help you get started:
1. Setting realistic goals.
Don’t try to do too much at once or you’ll quickly become overwhelmed and burned out. Start with small goals that you can easily accomplish, such as taking a 10-minute break from work each day to take a walk, meditate, read, listen to music, play the piano, and be with your pet.
2. Make a plan.
Once you have your goals in mind, create a plan of action detailing how you will achieve them. This will help keep you accountable and on track with what you have planned ahead. Plans are great if you also remember that they don’t always get done to perfection, which is absolutely fine. The intention is what counts.
3. Be flexible.
As mentioned above, life happens, and sometimes our best intentions fall by the wayside. But the fact that we tried is MORE THAN GOOD ENOUGH. Believe me. I love myself just because I am willing to try. That makes me a success already. I mean it.
Tips for different types of self care
Self care is important for everyone, but sometimes it can be hard to know what wil work for you. Here are some tips for different types of self care:
- If you’re feeling stressed, try some relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation. Exercise can also help reduce stress levels. Other ideas are to learn a new language, find activities you enjoy, starting your day with a wonderful breakfast, etc. Whatever works, find it!
- If you’re feeling low or depressed, try to get outside for some fresh air and sunshine. Spend time with friends or loved ones. Doing things that make you happy, will help improve your mood and can bring up your energy levels. Time to schedule a lovely massage! (I have been thinking about this for a while now).
- If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try to take some time for yourself to do something calming, like reading or listening to music. You might also find it helpful to talk to someone about how you’re feeling.
Learn to Ask Yourself What You Need
To take care of yourself, it is important to learn to ask yourself what you need.
Stop and think: What do I need RIGHT NOW?
This means being honest with yourself about what you need to feel happy, healthy, and supported. It also means being willing to listen to your own answers and, most importantly, take action on them.
For example, if you find yourself feeling stressed, you might ask yourself what you need to feel better. You might need some time for yourself or some help from others. Once you know what you need, you can then take the necessary steps. But first, you will need to identify your feelings and needs. It takes practice but, at some point, you will find it just happens often throughout the day.
REMEMBER: learning to ask yourself what you need is an important step in taking care of yourself. It can help you identify what is missing in your life and take steps to improve your wellbeing. I highly recommend you get used to doing this on a daily basis. Sometimes, even moment-to-moment basis.
Self-Talk is to Meditate, As Love is to Gratitude and Self-Help is to Personal Development
In my personal journey of Self-Actualization, I have learnt that self-care is not only important for a healthy mind, it is essential for mental health.
I have been fortunate to have spiritual mentors who always shared with me their love and gratitude, and gradually, I began to love myself unconditionally and became very self-aware of how important it is to love oneself.
Why Self-Care is Well Worth It
Self-care is often thought of as a luxury, something we give to ourselves when we have time and money that we don’t have to spend on others. But this type of care is essential to our well-being, and it doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming.
Self-care is a daily practice that can easily be set up to include anything from “taking a moment for me” to “eating the right foods” and reading the right books, or going for walks or listening to music.
One of the BEST benefits I have enjoyed because of practicing all of this is to learn to take time to forgive myself and others, love myself unconditionally as well as loving others unconditionally.
It CANNOT get any better than that.
Love,
Patri ❤️💕
