9 Self-Care Activities So Effective, I Do Them Every Day

I recently asked my newsletter subscribers what they would like to learn more about and one particular topic appeared over and over again:
SELF-CARE.

This isn’t really that surprising, considering so many people want to find simple, effective and meaningful ways to take better care of themselves.

Why? Because self-care isn’t just about making yourself feel good for 30 minutes once a week and spending lots of money on luxury items and experiences.

Self-care involves listening to your needs and maintaining your wellbeing by engaging in beneficial activities and cultivating helpful attitudes that support and nourish you.

And before you start thinking self-care is selfish or too time-consuming or lazy, let me (and the Spice Girls) just say…

Stop, right now. Thank you very much.

Self-care doesn’t have to be selfish, lazy, or time-consuming. Actually, it can be really important! Self-care helps me feel more vibrant, energetic, calm, supported, mindful, productive and optimistic.

So, without any further ado, here are the self-care activities I try to do every single day.

1: Use a breathing technique

There are many different breathing techniques I like to use and they often help me slow down worried thoughts and feel more calm. I use breathing techniques when I’m driving, whenever I need a short break from my work, if I wake up during the night, during difficult conversations and when I’m waiting in line somewhere. I also tend to use breathing techniques when I’m exercising or meditating.

They’re super versatile and accessible, plus they’re easy to do once you know how.

Below is a simple breathing technique you can try yourself.

“Blow a Kiss” Breathing Technique

Take a fairly deep breath in through your nose, then purse your lips and create a small hole (like you’re blowing a kiss), then exhale gently and slowly. Once you’ve finished your exhale, close your mouth and breathe in through your nose to repeat the technique. Aim for 5 or 10 breaths.

By pursing your lips, you can slow down your breathing rate and focus your attention on your breath (which can be a great way to take a break from thinking too much!).

2: Prioritise sleep

Getting enough sleep is definitely a big self-care priority for me. Unfortunately, naps tend to make me feel queasy, so I prioritise sleep by going to bed when I feel tired and waking up at a similar time each morning. When my sleep routine is interrupted, I’ll let myself catch up on the sleep I need by taking a short nap or sleeping in a little.

3: Have fun

Even though it might seem silly, having fun actually plays an important role when it comes to my self-care. Without fun and playfulness, I tend to take things a bit too seriously which sometimes turns into stress, comparison and perfectionism.

Here are a few different ways I invite fun in to my daily life:

-playing with my dogs

-laughing at a joke

-engaging in a creative activity or hobby

-going on an adventure (even if it’s just to a café for a coffee)

-watching a funny television show

-giving someone a gift

-exercising in an enjoyable way

Feeling stuck? Check out episode 160 of my podcast, The Mindful Kind, called “Make a List of Things to do for Fun.”

4: Eat a healthy breakfast

What can I say? I looooove a big, delicious, healthy breakfast! It’s often my favourite meal of the day. Lately, I’ve been preparing a bowl of overnight oats the night before so I can take it out of the fridge in the morning and it’s ready to go.

5: Focus on a meaningful goal

Each day, I like to focus on at least one meaningful goal by taking a small step towards it, whether it’s doing a workout to look after my health or writing an article to grow my business.

Some of my other big goals include:

-strengthening my relationships

-earning money and saving for our wedding in November 2020

-improving my emotional and mental wellbeing

6: Use an affirmation

Positive thinking can be difficult for me sometimes. Growing up, I was particularly self-critical, pessimistic about the future and spent a lot of time ruminating. I’ve slowly learned more about helpful ways of thinking and how I can apply them by studying psychology, reading many great books and working with several psychologists.

Affirmations are a quick and easy way I can encourage myself, re-frame negative thoughts and cultivate self-love.

Below, you can enter your email address to download a free copy of my favourite affirmations!

7: Enjoy a mindful morning drink

I like to enjoy a drink each morning by focusing on it mindfully. Sometimes, I’ll have a coffee, but my favourite warm drink at the moment is a turmeric latte.

To enjoy a mindful drink, I try to tune in to my senses by:

-noticing what the drink and the mug look like (including textures and colours)

-feeling the warmth of the mug and the weight of it in my hands

-paying attention to the beautiful aroma of the drink

-appreciating the flavour

Mindfulness practices like this help me notice the lovely, little moments in my everyday life.

8: Spend time around nature

Various research has shown that spending time around nature has a calming effect and helps reduce stress and boosts creativity and concentration. Each day, I like to go out into nature or appreciate the nature I’ve brought into my home. I have a growing indoor plant collection and my desk faces the window so I can look out at the mountains and garden.

Otherwise, I love going for walks along the river, playing with my dogs outside in the sunshine, exploring the garden, or searching for waterfalls.

9: Write a positive memory in my journal

For the last 2 years, I’ve been writing a positive or meaningful memory in my journal each day. It’s a great way to focus on what I have to be grateful for and I’ve filled two journals with more than 700 beautiful memories I can look back on. This is a practice I plan to continue in 2020.

I use the Saint Belford Curation journal for this practice and it works really well for me! I also love that they are a small, local business that supports great organisations, like Beyond Blue. Please note I’m a proud affiliate for Saint Belford - we even collaborated on a journal together - and I may receive a commission if you purchase via my link (at no extra cost to you).

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my non-negotiable self-care activities. Sometimes, unexpected things happen and I might have to skip a couple, but for the most part, these activities are simply part of my daily routine and help me take great care of myself.