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One of ways we help ourselves is to engage in consistent self-care. There’s nothing wrong with prioritizing your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs if it means that you are taking care of yourself while your are working toward important goals.
If you are familiar with the distress tolerance and self-soothing skills from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), you may already know about many of these ideas. Ideally, you’ll want to create your own list of healthy coping strategies for when you need them the most.
Remember: Self-care is not selfish. You are worthy of love and healing.
1. Meditation is free and there are tons of YouTube videos for ideas
2. Practice gentle stretching
3. Take a hot, steamy shower to help relieve stress
4. Apply a scented moisturizer to your arms and legs
5. Recite coping statements and write them on your mirror with colored markers
6. Paint your nails the color of your choice
7. Write down your goals you want to achieve
8. Listen to soothing music and create a soothing playlist
9. Watch your favorite movie and or explore new movie options
10. Listen to a podcast
11. Sit outside on a sunny day to promote the release of beta endorphins
12. Light scented candles
13. Bake special goodies for yourself
14. Make yourself chocolate avocado pudding
15. Follow a pretty account on Instagram
16. Text, call, or FaceTime your friends
17. Love your current emotion
18. Drink warm fruit-infused tea
19. Listen to motivating and positive videos
20. Start a DIY project or craft
21. Draw a picture
22. Start a puzzle
23. Organize your week’s schedule to relieve stress
24. Write down a checklist of things you need to get done
25. Clean up and organize your house
26. Drop some essential orange or lemon oil in some water, let the water come to a low boil on your stove
27. Read a new book or re-read previous favorites
28. Indulge in a non-alcoholic beverage like sparking apple cider
29. Listen to nature (birds chipping, leaves rustling, etc.)
30. Walk barefoot on soft grass
31. Pray and give thanks
32. Listen to ASMR videos
33. Use a hot water bottle
34. Go to a very quiet place to sit and listen to your breath
35. Cuddle with someone (friend, spouse, family member) or something (pillows, stuffed animals)
36. Play with your pet
37. Listen to one song mindfully
38. Try sewing or knitting
39. Play a board game or cards
40. Plant a kitchen garden
41. Try scrapbooking
42. Sit by the fireplace
43. Test out different makeup looks and watch makeup tutorials
44. Get 10 minutes of fresh air outside your home
45. Do an at-home workout
46. Take a nap without setting an alarm
47. Play an instrument
48. Sing a song
49. Listen to a sound machine (relaxing sounds of rainfall, ocean waves crashing, etc)
50. Chew gum
51. Squeeze a stress ball
52. Look at a lava lamp
53. Soak your feet in peppermint epsom salts
54. Spend time online shopping (limit your spending to $25)
55. Practice a head stand
56. Create a deeper connection with your inner self by allowing yourself to become very quiet
57. Learn a new language
58. Dance and watch dance video tutorials
59. Wash your bed sheets
60. Ask for help
61. Go to bed early
62. Plan future trips you have been wanting to take
63. Watch something that will make you laugh
64. Remind yourself that things could be worse
65. Think about all the positive people and things in your life
66. Count your blessings
67. Write and or read a poem
68. Make or watch YouTube Videos
69. Make or watch TikTok Videos
70. Look on Pinterest for inspiration for your home or dorm room
71. Look up and write down motivational quotes
72. Wear fuzzy socks
73. Allow yourself to be very quiet and still for five minutes
74. Use a facial roller and massager
75. Binge trending Netflix shows
76. Wear your cutest shoes
77. Start a blog
78. Develop a plan to be more health-conscious
79. Stretch your arms high above your head, hold the pose for as long as you can without locking your arms
80. Start collecting adorable things
81. Look through old photos
82. Watch home videos
83. Drink a cup of hot chocolate
84. Daydream
85. Look at photo or art books in a library
86. Take deep breaths for five minutes (time yourself)
87. Make a vision board
88. Watch inspiring Ted Talks
89. Make an art journal
90. Do a random act of kindness
91. Find a way to show love
92. Research your ancestry
93. Watch online tutorials of things you want to learn to do
94. Color
95. Have a stress-relieving cry
96. Unfollow judgmental people on social media
97. Say no
98. Use foam rollers on your body to decrease soreness, stress, and pain
99. Swing on a swing set at the park
100. Treat yourself to one cupcake
101. Look at the stars or watch the clouds
For more healthy living ideas, consider:
• Ways to Help Ground Yourself