100 of the Best Self-Care Ideas

Self-care is an incredibly important – and necessary – part of life.  Many people still think that taking care of yourself is selfish and a waste of time, but it’s really anything BUT that!

Self-care ensures that you are filling up your own cup, which means that you will be much more likely to make a positive impact in everything that you do out in the world.

If you’re not taken care of, it’s much harder to take care of anything else.  Whether it’s a big school project, an important extracurricular activity, or a long shift at work that you’ve got on your to-do list, it’s not going to go well if you’re in a poor headspace.

Think about this: you wake up stressed because you were up late working on homework and only got 6 hours of sleep.  Now you’re procrastinating getting up and ready for the day because you’re stressed, which leaves you even more stressed once you do decide to get out of bed. 

You’re now rushing through your morning routine, throwing your hair up, and putting on the first clothes you see in your closet.  You realize you don’t have time to make your favorite breakfast, so you end up grabbing a banana on your way out the door. 

You don’t feel your best, you don’t look your best, and you’re about to be late for class.  Before your day has really even started, it feels as though it’s ruined.  What could have prevented this?

Self-care.  If you had gone to bed on time in order to get your regular 7-8 hours of sleep (yes, sleep is self-care), you could have gotten up early to finish that assignment and start the day off in a more productive way.  More time in the morning would have allowed you to curate an outfit and hairstyle that made you feel happy and confident, and you would’ve been able to make your favorite breakfast in order to fuel you for the day.  

Caring for yourself doesn’t have to be going on an extravagant vacation or going out to an expensive spa.  It can be as simple as going to bed on time, making your favorite meal, or taking a break from homework to read or workout.

There are so many ways to practice self-care, and you will find your favorites the more you experiment with it.  So don’t be afraid to get out there and see what makes you feel your best! ((:

100 of the best self-care ideas

1. Get your nails done
2. Treat yourself to a massage
3. Take a nap
4. Bake your favorite treat
5. Go on a walk
6. Make a home-cooked meal
7. Listen to your favorite podcast (mine is the What We Said podcast!)
8. Try a new recipe
9. Go on a run
10. Journal – check out these 5-minute journal prompts!
11. Dance to your favorite playlist
12. Hydrate yourself
13. Meditate
14. Practice your breathwork
15. Give someone a hug
16. Walk your dog
17. Give yourself a day off
18. Take an hour away from screens – check out these screen time alternatives!
19. Meet up with a friend
20. Call a loved one
21. Do a workout – these are my favorite at-home workout resources!
22. Make a vision board
23. Paint
24. Buy yourself something new
25. Color
26. Take a hot shower
27. Exfoliate and moisturize
28. Put on a face mask
29. Take a salt bath
30. Volunteer somewhere
31. Surprise a loved one with a treat, a gift, or a visit
32. Plan a trip
33. Read a new book – check out my last summer reading list for some inspo!
34. Let yourself sleep in
35. Stretch or do some yoga
36. Give yourself some positive affirmations
37. Write 10 things you’re grateful for
38. Clean up your space
39. Make your bed
40. Wash your bedding
41. Reorganize a messy area in your living space
42. Switch up your furniture layout
43. Buy yourself beautiful flowers
44. Switch up – or create – your morning routine
45. Have a movie night
46. Watch your favorite TV show – check out some of my Netflix favorites!
47. Put on a cute outfit
48. Set up a self-photoshoot
49. Cuddle with a partner or pet
50. Plan a picnic date (by yourself or with someone else!)
51. Set boundaries
52. Write down your biggest goals
53. Remind yourself of your biggest accomplishments
54. Write a letter to yourself
55. Send a letter to someone
56. Go shopping at your favorite store
57. Use essential oils
58. Light a candle
59. Do something that’s been on your to-do list for a while
60. Buy a new planner
61. Plant a garden
62. Check out a local thrift store
63. Buy a houseplant
64. Do your make up
65. Style your hair a way you love
66. Try on clothes that are out of your comfort zone
67. Buy yourself a gorgeous new dress
68. Go swimming
69. Sunbathe
70. Watch an inspirational video
71. Listen to an uplifting podcast
72. Sign up for a workout class
73. Order take-out from your favorite restaurant 
74. Go to bed early
75. Say no to plans that don’t excite you
76. Set boundaries
77. Take a social media break – improve your relationship with social media with these 3 tips!
78. Listen to a new audiobook
79. Take a hot bath
80. Make a Pinterest board full of your favorite things
81. Visit a local bakery of coffee shop
82. Watch the sunrise or sunset (or both!)
83. Take a friend or significant other on a surprise date
84. Enroll in a class you’ve been wanting to take
85. Buy new decorations for your living space
86. Grab some cute new pajamas (bonus points if you get matching slippers!)
87. Go for a drive and blast your favorite songs
88. Try a dancing workout on YouTube
89. Make a mood-boosting playlist
90. Support a small business while treating yourself
91. Finish a homework assignment early
92. Pay an upcoming bill ahead of time
93. Use a hair mask
94. Declutter and donate unused items
95. Start budgeting
96. Buy tickets to a concert that you really want to go to
97. Take a few deep breaths
98. Do some yoga and stretch it out
99. Sip on some hot chocolate, tea, or coffee
100. Be patient with yourself

If you try any of these self-care activities, I would love to hear how it goes!  And if you have any favorite self-care activities, let me know what those are in the comments (even if I mentioned them above)!

Thank you for being here; I’ll see you next time! ((: