It’s hard to stay positive when you’re feeling tired, cranky, or just generally overwhelmed. It’s even harder when you’re trying to juggle a hundred things at once. That’s why it can be helpful to take some time for yourself every day and do something that makes your mood better.
Self-care is an important part of life, but it doesn’t have to feel like a chore! In this blog post, I’ll share 21 quick and easy ways to reset your mood in no time so that you can go out there and conquer the world again!
21 Self-care Ideas
Talk it out
Suppose you’re feeling down and don’t know why to try talking to someone about how they feel when they’re down. Talking is an incredible form of self-care because sometimes, just being listened to has more than enough power to turn things around.
Exercise
Pick one (or two!) of your favourite exercise activities and make it a habit. Even if you only have time to go for short walks every day, that’s better than nothing at all. Start slow, keep track of what works best for you in terms of frequency and duration, and commit to yourself like never before. You deserve the good life too!
Eat a healthy diet
You know what you should and shouldn’t be eating, but it’s easy to fall off the wagon during tough times! Keep snacks like fresh fruit and vegetables on hand for when that happens–you’ll feel better about yourself in no time.
Don’t forget to drink enough water each day (at least eight glasses!). Here’s a brilliant article on how to drink more water. It will help keep your skin clear as well as hydrated for optimum energy levels throughout the day.
Don’t skip sleep
Sleep more or nap when possible. This is something so many of us neglect because we’re too busy working hard at our jobs! Make sure you get plenty of sleep every night by setting aside some “me” time before bedtime; that way, mornings will come easier for you!
Buy consciously
You might not have been expecting this one as one of the ideas for self-care 😋. Be mindful about what you buy–not just food but also clothes and other items from stores like Target or Walmart. If it’s not on sale already (or if it was never on sale), don’t purchase it unless you really need it to live comfortably without having any debt weighing down on your shoulders each month.
This helps with self-care because you don’t feel like you’re wasting money when it’s unnecessary to buy more things!
Step out
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s not to take being outdoors for granted. Take care of your mental health by going outside each day or playing with pets who need love from their humans.
Studies show that being outdoors is an excellent mood booster–especially when the sun is out!–so try to get some fresh air and Vitamin D as often as possible throughout the week.
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Meditation idea for self-care
Meditation has been shown to reduce stress levels by 68%, improve focus by 46%. You don’t need any special equipment. Find an area where you won’t be disturbed, close your eyes, and breathe deeply while focusing on nothing but breathing.
If it helps, try repeating “I am” out loud each time you exhale and “I am” out loud as you inhale. Meditation helps improve concentration levels while also teaching stress management techniques that will prevent or lessen mood swings in the future. This might seem like the most boring of all the ideas for self-care on this article but it is worth a try
Make a gratitude list
It’s easy to get caught up in all the things we want or don’t have that we forget about what is already good in our lives! Once per day, take some deep breaths and make a list of at least five things for which you’re grateful. You’ll be surprised how much this simple exercise can change your mood!
Listen to music idea for self-care
Music therapy has been proven time and again to be an excellent mood-lifting technique because it forces you to focus on the rhythms and melodies of your favourite songs instead. Whether you like listening to classical music, hip hop, or even just some upbeat pop tunes, find one that works for you and listen!
Cooking idea for self-care
There’s something about being in the kitchen that is so therapeutic for me. It doesn’t matter what I’m cooking; whether it’s baking cookies from scratch or whipping up a quick meal with pantry staples, it always makes my day better.
Cooking can also eliminate any feelings of anxiety or guilt by giving you more control over your life again. You don’t have to go out and buy fancy ingredients either – there are plenty of basic recipes that are easy to put together and can be made in a pinch.
Reading idea for self care
Reading is one of my favourite ways to reset because I can get lost in another world for hours on end without having anything bother me outside those pages.
Whether it’s part of a fantasy world with someone else’s words or just escaping from all my worries and responsibilities for a little while – reading is such an underrated self-care activity.
Reconnect idea for self-care
Acknowledge that you are loved by many people – family members, friends, pets, etc. Sometimes these connections can bring us joy even more than money because they come from love rather than obligation. Find those who love and care about you and hold them close.
Write it out
Writing is a genius self-care idea. It has always been one of the best ways to help me clear my head. It doesn’t matter what you write about, as long as it’s something that makes you feel better or less stressed out by whatever situation life throws at you! Whether you’re into penning short vignettes on paper or writing prose, there are plenty of ways to use writing for mood relief.
Stay off social idea for self-care
Take some time off from social media. Social media can be so addicting, but when you realize how much time you’ve spent online scrolling through feeds instead of doing anything else, it can be so hard to turn off.
Use this time for yourself. Do something that feels good or give your mind a break from all of the negativity on social media (trust me, you’re not alone in feeling like there’s never any peace).
Throw away some old clothes
This may sound silly as one of the ideas for self-care, but when we have too much stuff hanging around our closets and drawers, we start to feel overwhelmed by everything inside them.
By throwing out those pieces of clothing that don’t fit anymore or are just worn beyond their prime, you’ll find space for new things coming into your life instead! It also becomes harder to go mindlessly shopping because going through your old clothes can help you rediscover some of your favourite outfits that got lost in a pile.
Take a bath
A nice, warm bath can do wonders for your mood. It’s relaxing on the body and mind alike with all of that water enveloping you in its warmth – it feels like nothing else but pure relaxation! Even if there is no hot water available, take some time to sit in lukewarm or cold water instead; this will still affect how good you feel afterwards.
If you are feeling up to it. Have a spa day and try out any of these simple body scrub recipes
In fact, I would go as far as saying that taking a cold shower when it’s too hot out may even make you feel better than just standing under running tap water alone.
Do something for someone
Do something for someone else to get out of your head. It could be volunteering or just making dinner with friends to give back. Please give as much charity as possible; when we’re kind, we start feeling better about ourselves in no time at all!
Don’t forget your bed
This is a simple idea for self-care. Make your bed every morning. It’s such an easy way to start the day off on the right foot that many people neglect this crucial habit for too long–but not anymore!
A tidy room is always better than one that looks messy. So make sure everything is in place before you head out each day. Nothing feels better than coming home to a bedroom free of clutter after work (or school)!
Practice self-compassion
This might be the hardest thing to do, but it’s so important and one of my favourite of all the self-care ideas, one that is often skipped. When you’re feeling down or frustrated with yourself, try telling yourself, “it’s okay”, and using kinder words when talking about your feelings or mistakes. You deserve kindness from others–and that includes you!
Do something creative
Whether it’s photography, painting, crafts…whatever gets your creative juices flowing has been shown to increase mood by 86%! Creative work is a great self-care idea and is a fantastic outlet for emotions like anger and sadness. Sometimes, just getting them out on paper can make us feel better instantly.
Get dressed up
This is one of the least popular of all the self-care ideas. Putting together an outfit isn’t always easy (especially in the morning), but it can make you feel more put together and empowered. Even just adding a little makeup or doing your hair differently might be all the difference in feeling good about yourself!
Key takeaway
The time we spend doing self-care is never wasted. The more you enjoy your own company, the less likely you’ll be to seek validation from people around you who don’t deserve it.
When we put our needs first and take some time for ourselves, it allows us to give better attention to others when necessary because we’re refreshed and renewed after a break away from all our responsibilities. It might sound selfish, but taking care of yourself will only make those around you happier in the long run. So go ahead and have fun with these ideas today!
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