Treat yourself to 31 days of self-care tips that will soothe your mind, body, and soul whenever life gets tough. Start feeling better today!
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Confession.
While I envisioned creating Christmas cookies & gift guides for you this holiday season, I’ve been a little off my game lately.
That kitchen remodel I thought would be done by my birthday (November 29) lingered until Christmas Eve.
BTW, the kitchen turned out beautiful! You can see it here!
Add to that the craziness of college tests and applications for my daughter (for those who haven’t gone through this, it seems way more stressful than when we went to school), plus aches, pains, and mood swings thanks to midlife hormonal upheaval. Le sigh…
With this in mind, all I’ve wanted to do lately is curl up on the couch with a cozy blanket and a cup of tea and binge-watch Designated Survivor.
That being said, I’m also looking forward to all the opportunities in the new year. I just need to get a little bit of my mojo back, so instead of focusing on a big New Year’s to-do list, I’m taking a gentler approach with 31 days of self-care tips, and I’d love for you to join me!
Hot tea (or any warm drink) and a book, curled up on the couch with a cozy blanket.
Try a new exercise class, either at the gym or at home. Aaptiv has some fantastic online workouts, or check out the line-up of free workout videos at Fitness Blender. You can also take your workout session outside and do some intervals alternating sprinting/jogging, running/walking, or fast/slow walking. Have fun mixing things up!
Schedule a laughter session. Seriously 🙂 Watch a funny YouTube video, Instagram video, or movie that makes you laugh. Be silly with your family. Do something fun that makes you smile!
Unplug from social media for an entire day. If that’s not possible with your job, set a brief window during which you use it.
Take a slow, leisurely walk outside, preferably surrounded by greenery and nature. Listen for birds chirping, leaves rustling, or water running—whatever soothes your mind!
Go to the grocery store and spend time LEISURELY browsing the aisles, looking for some new foods to try.
Start a journal. Even if you don’t do this every day, it’s a great way to de-stress, reduce anxiety, & help put the craziness of life into perspective.
Try a progressive muscle relaxation session. You can do this independently, starting by tensing and relaxing your head and working each muscle group down your body. The Calm app also has some nice guided progressive relaxation sessions.
Start your morning off with a prayer or gratitude.
Go to a bookstore or library and spend a leisurely hour browsing the bookshelves.
Hug your loved ones extra tight, and tell them how much you love them.
Clean out your closet, and donate your clothes to a favorite charity.
Treat yourself to a bouquet of fresh flowers, a green houseplant, or an orchid in a pretty pot. You can also pick flowers or greens from your garden and display them in a pretty vase.
Take a leisurely hot shower. It’s excellent to save water, but a long shower feels divine every now and then!
Spend 20 minutes stretching. If you have a foam roller, use it to work out the kinks.
Get a massage, book one for later, or ask your significant other for one. You can offer to reciprocate at another time.
Have a dance party. For one. Or more. I loved dancing with my kids when they were little. I’m pretty sure they won’t dance with me now that they’re young adults, so I’ll go solo on this one. LOL!
Do something nice and unexpected for a family member or friend. It can be very de-stressing and soothing to take the focus off of ourselves for a while!
Pick an area of your home that you pass by or use often and spend 30+ minutes cleaning or decluttering. It can help clear your mind!
Spend one hour unsubscribing from emails or cleaning out your social media feed from negative people. Nobody’s got time for other people’s negativity!
Book a breathing session with yourself. Here are 10 breathing exercises to try when you’re feeling stressed.
Take a nap! Even if you don’t fall asleep, allow yourself 20+ minutes to close your eyes and chill.
Do something creative. Color, draw, play an instrument, take photos and play around with different filters, write a short story or poem, re-arrange your decor…whatever makes you happy!
Spend some time browsing through your cookbooks, recipe clippings, or Pinterest board, and plan four nights’ worth of dinner for the next week.
Make a self-care jar with all these tips you like, or add your own. Anytime you need a little boost in the new year, pull a self-care tip from the jar and take care of yourself.
