100 Self Care Ideas

100 Self Care Ideas to Fill Your Cup

Share It!

Self care can come in many forms and it often looks quite different for men and women. It’s not always about lighting a candle and taking a bath (although that is my personal fave self care ritual!).

Many of us have been taught that we should give to others first, then ourselves second. However, I’m here to tell you that that’s completely backwards.

We are each responsible for filling up our own cup first, then when it’s overflowing, we are able to give so much more to others. A massive part of self care is learning to recognise people who prefer to just ‘take’ the energy of others, rather than learn to fill their own cups. It is not your job to be anyone else’s source of energy.

Here are 100 self care ideas that will leave you feeling relaxed, organised and accomplished, ready to face the world!

RELATED POSTS
5-minute Self Care [30 Ideas] >
How to Love a Solo Christmas >

We are a participant in the Adventure Awaits and eBay Partner Programs, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to ebay.com and other affiliated sites. We may earn a commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you. For more information, see our disclosures here.

100 Self Care Ideas

Making the bed
  1. MAKE YOUR BED
    The very first in 100 self care ideas is to always begin your day by making the bed. You will set off into the day feeling organised, which increases productivity and reduces stress.

2. RELAX INTO THE DAY
Allow yourself some time to relax into your day each morning, however that looks for you. Maybe it’s starting with a meditation or some exercise. For me it’s definitely a hot cup of tea and a few pages of whatever novel I’m currently reading.

3. BUBBLE BATH
Don’t just take a regular bath, add some bubbles or bath salts, light a candle, put on some nature sounds (‘rainy day music’ is my fave) and soak it up with a book or magazine.

4. DANCE
Put on your favourite music and dance like no one’s watching (because they probably aren’t)! Who cares how you look, it’s all about letting loose and feeling good.

5. SWIM IN THE OCEAN
If you live near the ocean, head out and revitalise yourself in the healing sea waters. If you don’t live close to a beach, make a day trip of it, or maybe head to a river instead.

6. WALK THROUGH A FOREST
You don’t have to be a hiker to get the forest benefits. Find a nice bush or forest walk where you can meander at your own pace and feel yourself recharge with the energy of the trees.

7. COOK A HEALTHY MEAL
Next in the 100 self care ideas is to cook yourself a delicious, soulfully healthy meal. Heck, make enough to have leftovers for lunch the next day.

8. MEDITATE
Spend some time tuning out from the world around you and into yourself. If you’re not good with doing your own meditations, find a guided meditation on YouTube to follow along with.

9. SOAK YOUR FEET INTO THE EARTH
Kick your shoes off and stand barefoot in the sand, soil or grass. Close your eyes and take some deep breaths as you feel Mother Earth’s energy fill your soul.

Barefoot in nature

10. GARDEN
Get out into the garden and pull some weeds or tend to the plants. Get the hose or watering can out and give your plants a nice drink. Plant some new seedlings or repot some growing plants.

11. GET LOST IN THE FLAMES
Sit around a fire and let your mind wander as you stare into the flames. If you don’t have a fire pit or fireplace handy, a dark room and a candle will provide you with a nice little flame.

12. LISTEN TO A PODCAST
Choose a topic of interest and browse some podcasts on the subject. Be inspired, educate yourself and soak up the information.

13. COUCH MAKEOVER
Redecorate your couch with throws and cushions to give it a new look and feel. After all, the couch is the number one place we gravitate towards when we want to relax at home.

14. BREATHE
Take some time out of your day to just simply breathe. Close your eyes and be present as you take a few big, deep breaths. Feel any tension leaving your body as your muscles ease.

15. DRINK WATER
Make sure your body is being nourished with plenty of water throughout the day. If you don’t already have one, grab yourself an insulated stainless steel water bottle, so that you’ve always got cool water on hand.

Montiico Stainless Steel Drink Bottle
Montiico Insulated Drink Bottle →

16. TAKE A SHOWER
Depending on the weather, take a lovely long hot or cold shower. Turn on some relaxing music and light a candle to create mood lighting. Spend some time massaging your body and exfoliating under the healing water.

17. HAVE A PICNIC
Pack yourself a nice picnic and head to somewhere in nature that speaks to your soul. The beach, a park, a lookout with a view, even if it’s under a beautiful tree in the backyard. Pack a book and a picnic rug and enjoy some time out of the busyness of life.

18. LIST YOUR GOALS
Make a list of your goals and stick it somewhere as a reminder. Tick off each goal as you achieve it and feel proud of yourself.

19. GET A MASSAGE
Either get someone to give you a massage at home or book yourself in for a professional massage. You deserve it!

20. READ A GOOD BOOK
I’m an avid reader, so I’ve always got a good book on the go. I recommend you do too, that way when you’ve got time to switch off, you’ve got something to reach for. If not, go and buy yourself a book that really interests you and set aside some time each day to get stuck into it.

Relaxing Reading

21. START A HOBBY
Have you always wanted to learn a new language or take a woodworks class? Now’s the time to start it up and add a new hobby to your life.

22. POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS
Jump onto google or pinterest and find some positive affirmations that really hit for you. Write them down in a notebook or journal, so that you can refer to them on a regular basis.

23. GO OUT FOR A MEAL
Treat yourself and head out for a delicious meal of your choosing. It can be fancy or it can be simple, whatever it is that your heart’s desiring.

24. COFFEE IN NATURE
Get a nice coffee and go for a nature walk or sit on the beach. Where ever your happy place in nature is, go there and really savour that coffee while you switch off for a while.

25. BINGE WATCH A NETFLIX SERIES
Give yourself permission to totally veg out with a good series on Netflix, daggy clothes, TV snacks and all.

26. DRESS UP
Dress up in something that makes you feel amazing. Whether it’s a gorgeous dress or a sequin top, go all out. You don’t even have to go out, but if you can find somewhere to wear the outfit to, all the better.

27. GRATITUDE LIST
Spend some time creating a gratitude list. It’s time to take stock of all that you’re grateful for in your life. The people, the things and the experiences.

28. PAINT
Painting is so therapeutic, whether it be a picture on canvas or revamping an old piece of furniture. Find something to paint and set yourself a project.

29. TAKE A NAP
Set your alarm and let yourself drift off to dreamland for a wee while. You’ll hopefully wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the day. Check out these handy tips that’ll help you sleep better.

30. TECH HIATUS
Give yourself a timeout from technology and fully switch off from the notifications, emails, calls and other daily tech demands. Put your phone on silent, let the computer go to sleep and be unavailable.

31. LIST YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Make a list of your achievements and feel the sense of accomplishment and gratitude that comes with it. You could focus on this year’s achievements, or you could list all of the big milestones you’ve reached throughout your life.

Make a list

32. DECLUTTER YOUR CLOSET
One of my favourite of these 100 self care ideas is to give your closet a big purge. Get rid of anything that’s stained or damaged, donate the items that don’t fit or that you don’t like and pair it down to just the items you love.

? READ: 11 Tips on Decluttering Clothes >

33. PICK SOME FLOWERS
Collect some nice flowers, branches and leaves from the garden & make a bunch for the house. Pop them into a vase or jar with water. You could make a few and spread them around the house to add a touch of nature.

34. BAKE SWEETS
Bake something sweet and delicious. A slice, cake or muffins would go beautifully with a nice cup of tea and a book or magazine.

35. GIVE YOURSELF A FACIAL
For a nice pick-me-up, treat yourself to a facial at home. Start by cleansing your face twice, then exfoliate. After that, apply a face mask and relax for 5 – 10 minutes, gently remove, then moisturise.

36. DRAW
If you’re a drawer, get out your sketch book and pencils and take some time to draw. If you’re not particularly good at drawing, give it a go anyways. Find something easy that you can look at and try to replicate. Or just free-hand and let the creative juices flow.

37. ORDER TAKEAWAY
Totally give yourself the day off from cooking and order your favourite takeout. No thinking about what to cook, no preparation and no dishes!

38. PAY IT FORWARD
Take a few minutes to do something nice for a neighbour, friend or complete stranger. Spontaneously giving to someone else without expecting anything in return is so good for the soul

39. WRITE IN A JOURNAL
Already have a journal? Great! Pull it out and write whatever it is that needs to come out. If not, get yourself a dedicated notebook for journalling your daily thoughts. The words don’t need to be edited or make sense, it’s simply somewhere for your thoughts to land.

Leather Journal
Journals (eBay) →

40. GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP
Do something that makes you really tired, then hit the sack for an early night. A good, solid night’s sleep is worth it’s weight in gold. You’ll wake up feeling so refreshed and ready for a super productive next day.

41. GO TO THE MOVIES
Take yourself out on a date to see a movie. Watch whatever the hell YOU want to watch – no need to compromise and settle for an action movie (unless you want to, of course)!

Movie Theatre

42. STACK UP AT THE LIBRARY
How good are libraries! There are so many resources you can borrow for free, it’s awesome. From physical books to audiobooks and eBooks, as well as DVDs, magazines and more. Head to the library for a browse and get yourself a stack of items to kick back and enjoy.

43. SIT, BREATH & BE STILL
Find somewhere comfy and relaxing, outside in nature is good if you can. Sit, focus on taking nice, deep breaths and take some time to just be.

44. BACON & EGGS or PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Make yourself bacon & eggs or pancakes for breakfast. Add all the sauces and trimmings that you love! A lavish breakfast doesn’t need to be expensive, it’s all about the love.

45. DECLUTTER THE HOUSE
Yep, doing a big declutter of the house is a massive one for this list of 100 self care ideas, but it’s totally worth it. Clearing out all of the stuck items will clear out any stuck energy. Clearing your space clears your mind and you’ll feel a huge weight lift off your shoulders.

? READ: How to Start Decluttering [9 Steps] >

46. PLAN A HOLIDAY
Book yourself a holiday or plan your dream holiday if you can’t go yet. You can use pinterest and google for inspiration to put together the details of where you want to go and how it might look for you.

47. TURN UP THE MUSIC & SING
Turn up your favourite music and sing as loud as you want! If you feel like you’ll be disturbing the neighbours, go for a drive where you can sing until your heart’s content.

48. KNIT or CROCHET
If you don’t know how to knit or crochet, but have always wanted to learn, gather your supplies and watch some YouTube tutorials. If you’re an old hand with the wool, kick back in the recliner and knit away.

49. PAINT YOUR NAILS
As ladies, we always feel better when our nails are painted. Who knows why, it’s just a lovely little pick-me-up. If you want your polish to last more than two days, get them professionally done.

Paint your nails

50. VISIT A MUSEUM
Check out what’s showing in the museums and galleries around your town. Find something of interest and go for a meander.

51. PHYSICAL TLC
Take a shower, shave, wash your hair, exfoliate your body, pluck your eyebrows and give yourself some physical TLC.

? READ: 5 Eco Hair Removal Methods >

52. DO A CROSSWORD
Keep your brain active by doing some word or number puzzles. Think crosswords, sudoku, find-a-words and words with friends.

53. GREET THE SUNRISE
Get up early and bring in the new day by watching the sunrise. Listen to the birds as they get into the day and bask in that amazing first dawn hour.

54. CANDLES & INCENSE
Light some candles and incense to create a beautiful ambience. Choose scents that you really love, which will lift the whole vibe of the room.

55. CATCH UP WITH A GOOD FRIEND
Make some time to step away from your world for a while and catch up with a good friend. Even if you’re separated by distance, you can still have a phone or video call.

56. DO A PUZZLE
Put on an audiobook or something inspirational and work away at a jigsaw puzzle. It’s super relaxing, but keeps the hands busy while the mind is free to follow what you’re listening to.

Puzzle
Puzzles (eBay) →

57. COMPLETE A ‘TO DO’ LIST
Knock over your ‘to do’ list of all those little tasks that you’ve been putting off for ages. Being able to tick the items off the list will close those windows that are running in the back of your mind, hence freeing up your headspace.

58. BUILD SOMETHING
If you’re handy at building, create a building project for yourself. Maybe it’s a chicken coup for the backyard or a new bookshelf.

59. MAKE A TEA or COFFEE
This item on the list of 100 self care ideas might seem a little obvious, so let me expand. When was the last time you made yourself a nice loose leaf tea or quality coffee and sat down to enjoy the whole thing without getting sidetracked while it goes cold? Now’s the time to do that and enjoy it.

Coffee

60. DECLUTTER YOUR EMAILS
So, we’ve decluttered the wardrobe and the house, now it’s time to declutter your emails. Delete anything that can go, then create folders to organise what’s left. Your inbox should be fairly clear once it’s all sorted, reducing email overwhelm.

61. COLOUR IN
There are lots of adult colouring-in books available these days, which are really relaxing. This is a task you can do while enjoying some quiet time, watching TV and even on public transport.

Secret Garden Colouring Book
Adult Colouring Books (eBay) →

62. SWIM IN A POOL
Go for a swim for the pure purpose of floating, paddling and just relaxing. If you don’t have your own pool handy, find a local community pool.

63. CLOUD GAZING
Find a nice grassy spot to lie down, then look up to the clouds. Watch them as they move and float on by. What pictures can you make out?

64. TAKE AN ENTIRE DAY OFF
I know, sounds crazy to take a full day off to do absolutely nothing. But sometimes that’s just what our soul needs to unwind and reconnect. No work-related tasks, no housework (besides the bare minimum), just spend an entire day doing what makes you smile.

65. DO YOGA
Stretch your body with some yoga moves. Find a guided session on YouTube and follow along with them.

66. GET YOUR HAIR DONE
Book a hairdresser appointment and get a fresh hair cut, colour, perm, style… whatever you want!

67. PLAY A BOARD GAME
When was the last time you sat down with friends or family and played a good old board game? There’s hours of fun and laughter right there.

68. STARGAZE
Turn all the lights out and head outside to wonder at the stars. If you live around too many lights, go for a drive out of the city and compare how many more stars you can see without the city lights. Download the Star Walk app and use it to find the constellations and star signs.

69. LIST THE THINGS YOU LOVE ABOUT YOURSELF
We are our own worst critics and tend to focus too much on the things we don’t like about ourselves. Put together a list of the things that you do love about yourself. Use it as a reminder whenever the negative self-talk comes back in.

70. GO FOR AN AIMLESS DRIVE
Jump into the car and drive aimlessly while listening to a good podcast or your favourite music. There is no end destination, it’s all about the journey.

Leisurely drive

71. LAUGH
Have a good solid belly laugh. Watch some comedy on YouTube, head to a comedy club, watch a funny movie or hang out with that friend that just makes you laugh till you cry.

72. STRETCH YOUR BODY
Stand up, stretch your arms above your head, then around to the sides. Move your head from side to side, back to front. Bend down and touch your toes (or as far as you can go).

73. WALK YOUR LOCAL AREA
Go for a walk around your local streets or park. Sure, we drive our local area a hundred times a month, but how much do you actually take in when you’re whizzing past? Go for a wander and really take in your surroundings.

74. SORT YOUR FINANCES
Yep, getting on top of your money creates financial intelligence, which is why it makes this 100 self care ideas list.

Basic Budgeting
1. Log all of your regular bills and expenses on a spreadsheet.
2. Work out how much you need to put away each pay cycle to cover those expenses.
3. Set up a ‘Bills’ account and transfer that amount across every time you get paid.
4. Set up as many bills as possible to be paid via ‘Direct Debit’ from that ‘Bills’ account.
5. Open up separate bank accounts (“buckets”) for all of the things you need to set money aside for (e.g. gifts, car maintenance, schooling, emergencies).
6. Work out how much needs to go into each of those accounts each pay cycle and divvy it out.
7. Keep your ‘Everyday’ account for spendings only so that you don’t leave yourself short for bills.
8. Keep a running grocery list on the fridge so you know what you actually need when you do the shopping.
READ: How to be a Barefoot Investor >

75. EAT A YUMMY DESERT
What’s your favourite dessert? Either make it for yourself or go and order it from somewhere. Who cares what time of the day it is!

76. WATCH THE SUNSET
Go to your favourite natural location and watch the sunset. You can find out the exact sunset time with most weather apps. Think about all that you’re grateful for and appreciate the good things that have happened throughout the day.

77. BE PRESENT WITH YOUR KIDS
Switch off and be completely present with your kids. Put the devices down, have a meal together and chat about your days. Kids don’t want for anything fancy, just to have all of you be right there with them.

78. SWITCH THE ALARM OFF
Turn the alarm off one day on the weekend and sleep in until you damn well please. Let your body rest until it naturally wants to get up without the intrusion of being woken early.

79. SUN YOURSELF LIKE A LION
Okay, so this is the Leo coming out in me. But honestly, sitting in the sun for 10 mins (unless it’s the dead of summer) fills up your Vitamin D tank and warms your whole body. This self care idea is especially brilliant in winter when you just want to thaw out.

80. SOCIAL MEDIA DECLUTTER
Go through your social media accounts and declutter anything and anyone who doesn’t bring positivity to your life. Unfollow pages that you don’t need anymore, ‘mute’ toxic people who you can’t unfriend and get rid of people who really don’t need to be on your friends list.

Social Media Declutter

81. LEARN A NEW SKILL
Is there a skill that you’ve always wanted to learn? Be it something handy, creative, useless or useful, go and give it a crack.

82. REARRANGE THE FURNITURE
Pick a room where you’re able to rearrange the furniture (e.g. lounge room or bedroom). Give it a good vacuum and dust as you’re moving the furniture around. This will help to get the energy flowing, removing all the old, stagnant energy and creates a fresh ‘new’ space.

83. SAY ‘YES’/ SAY ‘NO’
A huge one for this list of 100 self care ideas is to say ‘yes’ when you truly want to say yes, and say ‘no’ when you truly want to say no. Too often we agree to things out of obligation, loyalty and just not wanting to disappoint. The problem is, it’s often at our own expense. When you’re coming from a place of self love, you must honour your own truth despite the reactions or expectations of others.

84. GET UP EARLY
Okay, I know I just said before to ditch the alarm. But there is also a huge self care benefit to getting up nice and early on the odd occasion to seize the day.

85. MOVIE NIGHT
Have a movie night, complete with your favourite beverages, snacks and snuggly blanket. Enjoy a movie marathon and stay up a late as you like. Maybe tomorrow is the day you switch off the alarm!

86. CREATE PLAYLISTS
Create a variety of playlists with a compilation of all your favourite songs. One to suit each mood. A chill mix, a heavy mix, a dance mix… whatever your tastes are.

87. PLAY AN ONLINE GAME
If you’re a gamer, it can totally be considered self care to jump online and enter a virtual world for a few hours. If not, there are plenty of other online games to choose from. Hidden objects, word games, farming games etc.

88. SPA DAY
Have a spa day at home with candles, incense, bath bombs, champagne, cheese & crackers, a good book or some magazines, face mask, nail polish. Go all out! Or, if you prefer, you can book yourself into a Day Spa.

89. AROMATHERAPY
Make yourself some aromatherapy blends. You can make up roller bottles for your temples or wrists, plus you can make a nice cooling spray for summer.

90. NIGHTLY UNWIND
Take some time out for yourself to unwind before bed each night. Maybe it’s reading a few pages of a book in bed or doing a guided meditation. It could be as simple as sitting outside and listening to the night sounds away from the busy household and devices for a few minutes. Whatever works for you.

91. QUALITY TIME WITH PETS
Spend some quality time with your pets. Cuddle them, take them for a walk, talk to them, throw the ball. Obviously it depends on your type of pet, but just be with them and shower them with love.

Hugging dog

92. GET ORGANISED
Get your schedule and weekly tasks organised. Use a yearly planner and fill in things as you go. You could create an organiser chart on a pin board to visually see your schedule.

Lunar Planner
Lunar Planners (eBay) →

93. EXERCISE
Head to the gym, do a sport or go for a run to get the endorphins flowing.

94. ELIMINATE TOXIC PEOPLE
When it comes to self love, eliminating toxic people from your life should be number one on the list. Unfortunately we can’t always get rid of everyone who’s toxic (co-workers, family members), but you can do your best to reduce your contact with them and honour yourself first.

95. BURN & RELEASE
Hold a burn and release ceremony to rid your life of negative attachments. Write down what it is that you want to release, then burn the paper in a fire or over a candle and release it back to the universe.

96. JUST CRY
Yep, if you feel the need to cry, head to a space where you’re by yourself and let it all out. Crying is one of the most cathartic ways for us to release what no longer serves us and heal from the burdens.

97. FERRY RIDE
Take a ferry ride at night in the city and enjoy the lights. Or cruise the river during the day and stop somewhere nice for lunch.

98. AFFIRMATIONS
Find some affirmations or quotes that really dig deep for you. Write them out in a journal with nice coloured pens, so that you can read them whenever you need to. If you’ve got the freedom to do so, write them on nice pieces of paper and stick them to your bathroom mirror as positive reminders.

99. CAMPING or HIKING
Go camping for the weekend or take a hike out in nature. Totally leave the stresses of your day-to-day life behind and switch off out in nature.

100. WANDER THE MARKETS
Google which local markets are on in your area. Go for a wander, enjoy the food and soak up the atmosphere. Maybe even buy something special for yourself or keep an eye out for Christmas and birthday gifts for others.

Line Break

Pin It

100 Self-care Ideas PIN
100 Self-care Ideas PIN
100 Self Care Ideas PIN

Share It!

Review Your Cart
0
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal

 
Scroll to Top