8 Self-Care Habits You Could Practice Daily

Despite what our IG feeds convey, self-care doesn’t always require a spa day or going out. At its core, self-care is about taking a pause to lower your stress and recharge yourself. Anything that revives your physical, mental, and emotional energy is a form of self-care. And hey, you can do it every day! Want ideas? Here are self-care habits you can practice daily.

Stretch, dance, run, swim, hit the gym, or do whatever physical activity you enjoy. Working out is a key part of self-care or self-love. It isn’t only good for your physical health but can also uplift your mood. Notice how you feel more energized even after just a thirty-minute workout. Worried how you can sneak exercise into your busy schedule? Try ten-minute exercises first. If you’re working from home, create a delineation between personal & work life by ending your shift with 20 to 60 minutes of walking around your yard or joining an online spin class.

There’s nothing like a good, nutritious meal to pump up your day. Try to wake up 30 minutes earlier to cook a hearty breakfast or spend some time meal prepping on weekends to ensure you have healthy & delicious food all week. If you’re too busy to cook at home, you can order food online, but choose healthy options! Be more mindful of what you eat, and you’ll notice a significant difference in how you look and feel throughout the day.

You don’t have to spend an hour or two practicing meditation each day. Use Headspace or any other meditation app to begin or end your day with five to ten minutes of deep breathing. While short, this mini-meditation allows you to be more mindful of your body, thoughts, and emotions. It can be hard at first but do it every day, and you can cultivate a valuable self-care habit that helps relieve some of your daily stresses before you start your day or rest at night. 

Take a few minutes a day to write whatever is on your mind. While you can do the same on Twitter or Facebook, it is better to journal sometimes instead. That way, you can express your thoughts without any filter or holding back. It’ll help you process your emotions better and let go of negative thoughts that weigh you down throughout the day.

In one of his books, American psychologist Dr. Robert Emmons said that regular grateful thinking could improve your happiness by as much as 25%. He also suggested that jotting down in a gratitude journal for as little as three weeks could result in lower stress levels, better sleep, more energy, and improved overall well-being. So while journaling about anything each day, take a moment to list down the things you’re thankful for. You can also try other forms of practicing gratitude, like creating a gratitude jar. Whenever you feel grateful about something, write it on paper and put it inside the gratitude jar. If you feel sad or disappointed any day, you can take a paper from the jar and read it to feel better. 

From our smartphones to our laptops and TVs, digital screens often consume our day. While it’s entertaining to scroll purposelessly through Twitter or TikTok, it draws your attention to things that don’t truly matter. A negative comment or reel even affects your mood. So try to unplug for an hour or two and pay attention to yourself instead. Spend this time doing things to journal, exercise, or do anything that can relax & calm you.

After a busy day, find a quiet place away from others and embrace the stillness. You can do it in your bedroom or workshop shed. Lock the door and just sit still to quiet your mind. If you’re commuting from work, take a detour and go on a walk at a nearby park. Explore the area at a leisurely pace, savor the moment, and be attentive to the things around you. In a fast-paced world, sometimes, all you need is to slow down and focus on nothing but yourself.

Sleep is an important part of self-care. You may not realize it, but the quality and amount of your sleep you get each night can affect how your immune system, skin, mood, and much more! Develop a healthy sleep routine by hitting the sack and getting up at approximately the same time each day—even on weekends & rest days. Sleeping in can break your healthy circadian rhythm. Also, exercise regularly and unwind before bedtime. That may mean putting your phone down at least 30 minutes before bedtime and reading a book instead.