Looking for self care tips for your busy life? There’s more to it than a massage, and these 10 creative self care tips have got you covered.
1. Buy a New Body Lotion
A good body lotion or moisturizer can do wonders for your skin. As a bonus, fragrance can dramatically impact our mood, which means that a pleasant-smelling body lotion can lift your mood. Springing on a new body lotion (we personally love all-natural beauty brands) and using it to moisturize your limbs is a fantastic small way to treat yourself.
2. Do a Digital Detox
These days, most of us are connected 24/7. Work seems to permeate our weekends these days through intermittent emails, while our tendency to compare ourselves to others no longer knows no limits, thanks to Facebook and Instagram. Even if you don’t feel like you have issues with social media or off-hours work demands, the simple strain of constantly seeing new media and information can take a major toll. Taking just one weekend to detox from digital mediacan give you a refreshing mental break.
3. Meal Prep on Sundays
Meal prepping as self-care? Absolutely! By prepping meals ahead of time — whether they’re lunches or dinners — you set yourself up to nourish your body with healthy food all weekend long. And like we said, self-care isn’t just about relaxation. It’s about truly taking care of your health and wellness.
4. Take a Class or Lesson
Whether it’s a one-time session or a month-long weekly class, learning a new skill is great for the brain. It also gives you something exciting and interesting to look forward to that helps cultivate new hobbies and boosts your sense of self.
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5. Treat Yourself to a Nice Dinner Out
Going out for dinner should be more than just a date idea. Dates are great, but treating yourself to a solo meal out — or a meal out with friends — is just as fun. While you’re at dinner, mindfully choose and savor every single food that you order.
6. Go for a Walk
Going for a walk is one of the simplest things you can do for yourself. It only requires ten to fifteen minutes, and it’s great for both the body and the mind. Exercise releases endorphins, which makes us happier. Meanwhile, taking in the scenery of the outdoors can help boost the mood and clear your mind.
7. Eliminate Screens Before Bed
In the two to three hours before bed, make an effort to completely avoid screens. Screens emit blue light, which suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone that’s necessary for helping us fall asleep. In order to care for yourself by prioritizing your sleep each night, do yourself a favor and skip the screens.
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8. Watch a Children's Movie
If you’re a parent, this may be something you’d rather not do (in your case, take some time for yourself to watch a nice adult-friendly flick!). But if you don’t see children’s movies often, it can make for a nice change. While many adult-oriented movies tend to be mostly negative in tone, children’s movies usually have an uplifting message that can put you in a more positive mindset.
9. Try Foam Rolling
A good foam rolling routine can help reduce muscle tension, release the fascia, and also be pretty darn relaxing. If you’re not one for yoga (or even if you are, but you want to try something new), give foam rolling a try. Even 15 minutes before bed can do wonders for your relaxation levels.
10. Give Yourself a Scalp Massage
Finally, a good scalp massage is both relaxing and stimulating for the hair follicles — which means it can even promote faster hair growth. That’s just a fringe bonus though… Primarily, it just feels good.
