Fill Up Your Gas Tank: 50 Simple Self-Care Ideas
I hear it every day, “Jaclyn, I don’t have time for self-care.” With our lives being as busy as they are, I can completely understand this. We are trying to simultaneously juggle kids, a household, our jobs, our friends, school, family members, our social lives, relationships & marriages, our health.. and the list can go on and on. Sounds exhausting, right? Right. And you’re living that way every…single…day. 
What would happen if you never stopped to put gas in your car? You would eventually come to a screeching halt. What would happen if you put a quarter tank of gas in? You would go a few miles, but not very far. What happens over time if you neglect to get regular oil changes and tune-ups? Your car starts to function differently, more problems arise, and you end up spending more money in the long run. I’m guessing you understand the metaphor here. You are the car, and self-care is the gas. Without it, we are unable to function at our best, and we won’t make it very far when it comes to reaching our goals and fulfilling our responsibilities.
We give so much to everyone else in our lives, when do we start to return the favor to ourselves? When we begin to do that, we actually find that we can give more of ourselves to others, because we have more to give. The fuller the tank, the farther we can drive. Those who struggle to make time for self-care often see the effects of this in their physical, social and emotional health (aka: chronic fatigue, irritability, anxiety, arguments, inefficiencies, etc.)
So in an attempt to begin integrating self-care into your daily (yes, I said it) daily routine, here is a list of 50 simple ideas! Some of them you can even do while you’re standing outside filling up your (literal) gas tank. 50 Simple Self Care Ideas:
- Catch up with friends that support you
- Find 5 nice things to say about yourself
- Experiment with a new recipe
- Exercise (20 minutes is all you need to boost your mood)
- Buy yourself some flowers or house plants to take care of
- Find a quiet spot to meditate
- Say “no” today to allow yourself more rest
- Drink your recommended amount of water today (approx. 12 cups for women, 15 for men)
- Make a gratitude list
- Practice deep breathing
- Create and listen to a playlist of your favorite tunes
- Forgive yourself for something you’ve been struggling with, practice self-compassion
- Ask for help today
- Take a bath or a long shower
- Write a letter to someone you love
- Join a support group; get connected with others who struggle with similar difficulties
- Eat a healthy meal full of colors
- Watch your favorite show or movie
- Practice mindfulness for 10 minutes; do one thing at a time
- Try an adult coloring book
- Read a book
- Look back on old photos, remember a good memory
- Take a 24 hour social media break
- Play a brain game on your phone
- Get 8 hours of sleep
- Practice a new or old skill
- Light an aromatic candle
- Spend some time with your pets
- Make your own “coffee break”
- Identify a habit that no longer serves you and take one step today to help you drop it
- Spend time in nature
- Take steps to tame negative thoughts when they arise today
- Make a vision board (even if it’s on Pinterest!)
- Have a mini pampering session (e.g., at home face mask)
- Do something creative
- Declutter a space
- Try journaling
- Clean up your phone
- Limit your consumptions of bad news
- Set a boundary with someone who is hurting you
- Explore a new interest
- Listen to a podcast episode
- Practice imagery of a relaxing place
- Engage in a small act of kindness
- Indulge in a desert
- Diffuse essential oils
- Take a 20 minute nap
- Express your feelings today
- Say “yes” to something outside your comfort zone
- Go to therapy!
