Ideas & Opinions What Are Your Favorite Self-Care Activities?

Self-care may not always come easy, but it can change your quality of life, as many of you probably already know. What are some of your favorites?

I’ll begin with listing what I call my core habits, which benefit me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, which include: yoga, meditation, and journaling.

I’m looking forward to see what others have to say

sleep and painting.

playing a musical instrument (even though I'm not very good I slowly improve and feel like I've achieved something)

That’s very cool, @HappyKitty! What instrument do you play?

Yeah, for me sleep and a long hot shower in the morning!

Mainly piano, but I also like the Ukulele, as it's one of those instruments that when I don't really feel like doing anything I can just pick up and have a go at making up a tune

Walking

There are the basics: bathing and tooth brushing. I always feel better when those are done.

Beyond basics, I have picked up some hobbies over the years that help. I knit and crochet and have added embroidery this year.

One thing that helped immensely when I was in the throes of recovery and trying not to self harm was coloring. Back then there weren't "adult" coloring books so I (at my therapist's recommendation) would download coloring pages from the Crayola site and colors kids stuff.

Art of any kind moves the brain to the other side and is a great distraction and a soothing thing. I highly recommend it to folks dealing with trauma and self harm.

I've also had times when I journaled (almost compulsively occasionally). Even just free writing can be such a big help and eye opener.

So sorry, @Ziggy and @HappyKitty. I tagged the wrong person. It’s still early here. You play some near instruments though. Music is great for getting lost in your own little world. Are you self-taught?

Ooh, coloring is a good one. I agree with it being a wonderfully helpful distraction, especially abstract art. Very therapeutic, along with free-writing. Self-connection via creative release can go a long way.

Working out
Going on a short hike/walk
Planning trips
Watching a film
Calling a friend
Playing rope-a-dope with my little furry bastard of a cat (when he'll deign to do so lol...)
Coffee
Extracurricular bathroom, er, activities 😉

I had piano lessons as a child, hated them and gave up as soon as my parents would let me. Picked it up again nearly 20 years later and am glad that I did. Don't have lessons now due to the cost of them but YouTube vids are always good to watch. Someone else mentioned walking, which is again something I love, yet hated doing as a child ("are we nearly there yet?") Funny how time changes you.

I am an avid hiker and try to take my son on walks, and he invariably starts to grumble after a bare mile or so ('my legs are tired!'), but he'll put in ten miles walking around King's Dominion (our local amusement park) all day in the middle of July 🙄

Lol, rope-a-dope? That’s cute, and sounds fun. Playing with kitties can be great when they will play. Great list

Nice! YouTube videos are great for learning new skills and building on ones you already possess. It really is pretty funny how we can start liking things we didn’t used to

I'm a yogini too - I started practising hatha yoga 30-years ago and it stuck! I've more or less had a regular morning practice ever since. I've dabbled with different kinds of meditation over the years too, but began a daily morning practice about four-years ago. I kept it simple, focusing on the breath, starting with 12mins, then 16mins, and now 22mins a day. I've experimented with journaling and gratitude diaries, but they never stick (I worry I'll die and somebody will read my murky secrets ), and I'm not a good writer. I love being out in nature (but hate gardening - it's hard work!), especially during the autumn and winter months (I skulk about in the shade when it's too hot). I wish I could play a musical instrument, especially a cello, although I did learn to play a recorder at school, haha. Cello music is sublime.

Wow! That’s terrific that you have done yoga for so long! I hope I can follow in your footsteps. Also, you’ve really worked your way up with the meditation. 22 minutes definitely takes practice! I’m only at maybe 4-6 minutes, on good days. You’ve got it going on

You have a good point about people finding your journal and reading it. I’ve always been paranoid about that too lol.

You should totally learn the cello!

What I find really helps me, especially this season, is doing anything a bit crafty. I wrote a lot of Christmas cards and more or less decorated them, I DIY'ed boxes for my Christmas gifts and wrapped them nicely, and I made 32 name tags from scraps, using all sorts of stationary I already had at home (plus nail polish, lol).

Physically it works well in diminishing any headaches I might have, and mentally, well, it keeps me busy with things that are not stressful, it makes me happy because it's for someone else, and I don't feel pressured by perfectionism because they're mostly "easy" things to do and I can't really fail them.

I would try that with my cat, only two problems. I am lazy. She is lazy. Hard to decide which of us is the worst. Sleep is always a good one. Getting back to healthier eating and exercise after the first the year is a priority.

Lately I've been doing the daily Calm meditation (ten minutes) on the Calm app. I did pay for a year membership and can gift anyone who wants a free month. Hint that if you create an account and then back out they will send you an email for 1/2 off.

I also like bubble baths with epsom salts and unscented bath oil (which I mix a few drops of lavender oil with). The magnesium in the epsom salts absorbs through the skin - great for muscular aches and pains as well as relaxation

Working out always makes me feel better afterwards. And showering.

Cleaning is a gift that never stops giving, at least for me. I feel more peaceful when our apartment is clean and organized, bathroom is clean etc. We've always had a lot of clutter and I resolved when we got a couple of end tables with drawers that I would keep the place clutter free. It has helped a lot.