26 Self-Care Ideas that help reduce Stress and Anxiety

February 19, 2020 No Comments

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You probably have your own definition of what self-care means to you. It might be a warm bubble bath and a glass of Merlot. To me, that is part of it in the sense that I need time to focus on myself and unwind my mind, but I think it’s bigger than that.

To me self-care is not only the little, physical things that make me feel better after a stressful day, but it’s the time you spend on yourself to maintain you own physical, emotional and mental health. Its the things I do for myself that make me happy and feel good, so I can tackle the hard stuff.

Why is self-care important?

These days, we are working harder and longer than ever, and with modern technology, and the growth of the gig-economy and “side hustles”, we aren’t really turning off and slowing down. This is leading to faster burnout, chronic stress, and even the possibility of depression and anxiety. Caring for yourself minimizes the possibility of these things happening.

25 Self-Care Ideas

Physical

Get a Manicure
Apply a face mask
Take a hot bath
Do some stretches
Take a few deep breaths
Workout
Make a cup of tea
Cook a healthy meal
Get some sleep
Drink a big glass of water
Go outside for a walk
Buy some fresh cut flowers for your house

You can even do a few of these all at once! Take a bath, have a cup of tea, and read a book! Photo by Maddi Bazzocco on Unsplash

Emotional

Re-watch your favorite inspiring movie
Call a friend
Talk to your mom
Write down 10 things that are good in your life
Purge old clothes that you don’t like or don’t fit
Look at pictures of PUPPIES
Do something you used to love as a child (I love to draw/paint)

Mental

Revisit your goals for the week, month, or year
Read a book
Meditate for 5 minutes
Find an empty sheet of paper and doodle
Unplug and get off social media for a few hours
Spend a few minutes de-cluttering
Write in a journal

Reviewing and updating my goals helps reduce anxiety and create a plan for things worrying you.
Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash

I hope this list of ideas inspired you to take some time for yourself! It’s so important to manage your physical, mental, and emotional health as it has so much potential to turn into a real health issue.

What else do you do to take care of yourself?

xo, Lisa

Lisa

Just a girl who had a dream of moving to Ireland and who was lucky enough to have that dream come true! Loving the travel life and helping people plan their own adventures. Maker of lists and lover of country music and 90's boy bands.