Self care to me is about more than just getting a massage. It’s about why we get the massage. So when I think of self-care, I consider it to be an activity that gives you relief or brings you joy. With that in mind, self care can mean a lot of different things to different people.

 

While massages are one of my FAVORITE ways to unwind (for a while, before I moved to Florida, I would get them routinely every 10 to 12 weeks with Marie, an amazing massage therapist with magical hands!), and so are baths, but sometimes both of those are a bigger time commitment than I feel like I can give and it’s not the only way to self care. You can find a lot of little things to do to care for yourself daily. Since I have a habit of not taking care of myself, sometimes for me, taking a longer shower and just letting the water pour over me is a little bit of self care!

I think outside the box with self care because I consider it more of a feeling we’re seeking to reach. But I also think the most challenging part of self care is actually making the time for it. I see how detrimental it is when I don’t make time for it, telling myself “I need to get this done so I can’t go exercise” but then burning out from not taking a break. And when I do make myself make time, I’m a better human to others, I feel more energized to pour into work instead of trying to make work happen and getting frustrated, I’m happier overall.

 

Here’s a list of 10 ideas for self-care you might not have thought of:

1. Dancing (private lessons for ballroom and in my living room like no one’s watching)
2. Singing (not that I have a Carrie Underwood voice but I still enjoy it)
3. Listening to music in general (but I’ll end up singing lol)
4. Sitting at the beach with a book (fiction, so I get lost in a story)
5. Exercise (I always feel like a weight has been lifted after – I do cycling, walking, and Pilates)
6. Journaling (writing brings me tremendous relief)
7. Meditation (I think so much that my brain hurts by 10 am daily. Intentionally clearing my head for 15 mins is very welcomed)
8. Daily devotional/prayer (Jesus Calling is my fav, I read it as soon as I wake up and right before bed)
9. Hobbies – my hobbies are definitely some of my favorite ways to unwind! Over the years, I’ve picked up vegetable gardening, hand lettering/calligraphy, crocheting, stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, cycling, decorating my home (I love finding new wall art or making my own!), and reading (I recently binge read every single Bridgerton novel I could get my hands on, and I loved the wit and juicy stories so much I’m reading them again!). Did you know getting into the hobby of crocheting for stress relief is what got me started as an entrepreneur? Yep, I’d made so many hats and scarves, I decided to take them to local craft fairs for fun. Thus, an entrepreneur was born!
10. Getting enough sleep. Heck naps could be self care if it makes a person feel better!

 

There you have it! 10 self care ideas to rest and rejuvenate.

What’s your favorite way to self-care? What new idea are you adding to your self-care list? Is there a new hobby you’ve been thinking about and now you’re definitely going to learn as part of your self-care routine? I’d love to know, tell me in the comments below!