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When most people think about self-care, they think of spa days and going to the salon, but self-care doesn’t have to be extravagant or time consuming. Self-care can be as simple as taking a couple of minutes to check in with yourself each day.

While having such busy lives, most of us are constantly taking care of others while neglecting ourselves, but by neglecting our own wellbeing, we are not only draining ourselves, but also making it more difficult for others to rely on us. You can’t help others if you’re burnt out and exhausted.

During your busy life, you might have forgotten about self-care. Or, more likely, you remembered but you just didn’t have time. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy and simple ways you can care for yourself, so let’s take a look.

Spa day

Okay, this example is great if you have a little more time to spare. Maybe a weekend to yourself or an hour or two before bed.

When you think self-care, chances are you picture going to the spa with cucumber slices on your eyes, and for good reason. Spa days can put you into a state of ease and relaxation, but you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on going to a spa to feel this way. You can create your very own spa in the comfort of your home!

There are plenty of ways you can give yourself the spa treatment.

• Self-massage
• Face mask
• Put a scented candle on, or a diffuser.
• Moisturize
• Dry brush your skin
• Paint your nails

Try to set a date to have your spa and plan out everything you’re going to do. Maybe put on some relaxing music or play a movie. Make sure to schedule some time for yourself to relax and unwind.

Cozy reading session

Nothing beats cozying up with a cup of tea and a good book. Pick out your favorite novel or try a new one. Brew a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate and cozy up on the couch.

Mindful Coloring

Who says coloring is just for kids? Mindful coloring is a great way to release stress and let your creativity fly free. First, pick out a coloring book. There are hundreds you can choose from, from animals, to places to mandalas and plants. Once you do, use markers, color pencils or crayons to start.

Not only is this a great way to relieve stress and relax, but mindful coloring also allows you to use your creativity and express yourself.

Meditation

Meditation is the ultimate tool when you want to relax. Not only does meditation allow you to take a break from your daily problems and must-do tasks, but it also allows you to better understand yourself and your surroundings.

If you want to de-stress, go to a quiet place and sit or lie down for a couple of minutes. You can either focus on your breath, play relaxing music or follow a guided meditation to help you get started.

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Journaling

Journaling is a great way to de-stress. Want to release the stress of the day? Write them down! Let go of your stress, problems and worries through journaling. You may even begin to notice all the positive things in your life while releasing the negative.

Grab your journal and get cozy in a quiet place where you can focus on yourself and your thoughts.

Journaling is a quick, effective and simple practice to help bring a little bit more peace and quiet into your day.

Listen to music

Music is a great way to put you in a feel-good mood. Music can affect your mood in different ways, depending on what type of music you decide to listen to. If you’re looking to put a smile on your face, put on some up-beat music to dance to, or play some calming, soothing music to help you unwind and leave the stress of the day behind. Whatever you’re looking for, there’s sure to be a song for you.

Spend time in nature

Taking a quick walk can do wonders for your mental and emotional state. Just getting away from all the noise and problems of the day can be beneficial on its own, but spending time in nature helps you to feel better connected and at ease with the world around you.

When we’re faced with difficult problems, it’s easy to get caught up in them and feel as though our world is ending or being turned upside down, but by stepping out into nature, we are reminded that the world continues on and that we are all a part of something much bigger. You may even realize that your problems may not be as troublesome as you had originally thought.

If anything, spending time in nature is a great exercise that’s sure to lift your mood.

Cook a healthy meal

While having such busy lives, it’s easy to take the convenient way out and order takeout or warm up a frozen meal in the microwave when dinner time comes around, but cooking a healthy meal is one of the best self-care practices you can do.

Taking care of your body is a form of self-care, and so is eating right. Your body allows you to experience the life around you, and it’s up to you to care for it, so try cooking a healthy meal once in a while to show it some love.

Paint

Even if you’re not the greatest artist, try it out. Painting is a great way to release stress and relax. Don’t be worried if your art comes out bad, you’re painting to express yourself, not to create a masterpiece (Though, if you do that, that’s great too).

Grab a canvas or some paper, paintbrushes, and paint and get started. You can follow a tutorial or paint on your own and see where your creativity takes you. What do you want to paint? Landscape? Still life? Abstract? You can even finger-paint if you’d like. Sometimes throwing paint around is a great way to release stress (just make sure to lay down some plastic or newspapers to protect your environment).

Yoga

Yoga is often considered to be a form of exercise and meditation which are two things that can help you to unwind and relax. There are many forms of yoga, some are intense and others are relaxing and stress free, focusing on helping you to unwind after a trying day.

Try your hand at some poses and see how you feel. It’s easy to keep stress locked in our bodies. Yoga helps to work out all the kinks and free out the stress from our bodies through the use of poses and transitions.

Practice gratitude and mindfulness

Gratitude is one of the best ways to get into a feel-good state. When you are grateful for what you have, life feels better. Take a look around you. What’s something you may have taken for granted? Can you name a couple of things you are grateful for in this moment? Make a list of things you are grateful for and show yourself and your life some appreciation. It’s guaranteed to make you feel better, especially during difficult times.

The best part is, when you focus on all the positivity in your life, the negative tends to disappear all on its own. This doesn’t mean your problems magically vanish, but it does mean you are able to go back and view them with a more positive perspective.

Get enough sleep

Getting enough sleep is one of the best things you can do for yourself. When you sleep well, you operate better and you have more energy for the day ahead. Try going to bed an hour earlier, or sleeping in an hour later (if you can).

Still have trouble sleeping? Put on some relaxing sounds, such as white noise, whales, or ocean waves. Put on a diffuser with essential oils. Lavender is especially helpful to relax, unwind and sleep with more ease. Turning off electronics at least an hour before bed can also help you to have a more satisfying and restful night.  

Overall

Taking care of yourself is an important part of life and should never be overlooked. Just a simple practice can make all the difference between feeling your best and feeling mentally and emotionally drained.

Try out a couple of self-care practices, or maybe even create your own. The more you set out time for yourself, the more you’ll learn what works best to help you relax and re-energize.

You should never feel guilty about taking some time for yourself. You deserve some love too!