Work Hard, Relax Harder – 101 Self-Care Ideas
- Sep 24, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 26, 2024
Written by: Jola Pypno-Crapanzano, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Self-care is in my opinion the highest form of self-love. I generally take good care of myself but in the past few months, I worked intensely on multiple complex projects, and I noticed that I had come close to a dangerous state of burnout. Yes, it can happen to all of us.
The trick is to be able to recognize it and take appropriate action before it is too late. I noticed alarming signs and I immediately went into a protective mode. I doubled up on my self-care routines and rituals. And within just one three-day weekend I rejuvenated my body, mind, and soul and I restored my physical and mental energy.
This recent event triggered me to brainstorm and create a list of 101 self-care activities which I share in this article. Some of them are super simple, some are more require preparation, some you can do at home, some will require you to visit a specific location. Regardless of which one you choose, try and enjoy a few or every single one of them if you feel like it.
In no particular order here are the 101 ideas for self-care rituals you can start implementing right away:
Get a pedicure and/or a manicure.
Get a massage and/or facial
Read a book or a favorite magazine.
Sit in a garden or a backyard and listen to the birds singing or other sounds of nature.
Take a bubble bath—complete with candles, essential oils, and relaxing music.
Pick or buy a bouquet of fresh flowers.
Go for a walk listening to the favorite music or sounds of nature.
Put on a homemade face mask.
Permit yourself to watch a Netflix show without guilt.
Take a nap without an alarm clock.
Order your favorite dinner.
Do something crafty: like creating a vision board or a crystal grid.
Go to the library or bookstore, find a quiet corner, and read.
Watch a funny movie and laugh hard.
Walk barefoot on the grass wet with the morning dew drops
Perform new or full moon manifesting ritual
Take a dance lesson.
Take a day/week off from social media
Burn your favorite candle or diffuse some oils with scents you love
Sit in a coffee shop and enjoy a beautiful cup of coffee not in the paper cup.
Go shopping at a fancy specialty grocery store and buy some delicious rare or exotic food.
Try out a new hobby.
Practice yoga.
Enjoy guided meditation.
Make a quiet and not rushed breakfast
Go for a ride in the car with the windows down and an open roof.
Go for a bike ride.
Go hiking.
Go to the beach.
Listen to your favorite podcast.
Have a 20-minute stretching or tapping session.
Go to the park and people watch
Go swimming.
Plan your dream vacation or a weekend getaway.
Carefully dress up on clothes that make you feel great.
Declutter an area in your house or apartment.
Do something that you have been procrastinating on.
Bake cookies or a cake you love and eat some guilt-free…
Watch the sunrise or sunset.
Have a picnic with a traditional basket, a bottle of wine, some sandwiches.
Go to bed early or sleep in late.
Research something and write an article about it.
Unfollow a bunch of people on your social media who don’t add value to your life
Go to an art museum.
Go to a happy hour at a bar and enjoy a beautiful fancy cocktail/mocktail.
Buy yourself some new makeup.
Go to a sauna.
Take e nap outside on a hammock or a lounge chair.
Slowly and lovingly brush your hair with a luxurious brush.
Take the time to do your makeup and blow-dry your hair
Write a list of 10 things you are grateful for.
Prepare some healthy meals and snacks for the entire week.
Buy yourself a beautiful new journal or a book.
Call, write a letter, or email an old friend.
Cook your favorite meal and serve it in beautiful china.
Say “no” to someone.
Make your bed in the morning
Create a list of all your successes and accomplishments in life.
Refill your water bottle frequently.
Watch a TED talk or a motivational webinar.
Be selfish- prioritize yourself.
Write a list of things you love about yourself
Put your phone on do not disturb or airplane mode for a day
Buy a new mattress, or a pillow, or a set of new sheets
Change your sheets.
Try a new baking or cooking recipe.
Rearrange the furniture or redecorate some living spaces in your house
Create playlists for workouts, relaxing, meditating, creating, etc.
Look at positive affirmations, motivational quotes.
Watch videos of cute baby animals.
Organize your photos in albums and delete multiple pictures from your camera roll.
Just for fun play an old phone game.
Organize your pantry or/and kitchen.
Cuddle in the softest clothes under the coziest blanket.
Start journaling.
Try a new calming and grounding breathing technique.
Learn something new.
Watch your favorite movie with friends, popcorn, and favorite drinks.
Go skiing or ice-skating.
Do something nice for someone else.
Surprise a friend or a loved one.
Make a super healthy and delicious lunch and focus on chewing every single bite.
Create a list of all the compliments people tell you.
Do absolutely nothing.
Sit by the fire pit.
Take a hot shower and/or ice bath.
Cuddle with a pet.
Take some great photos of yourself or nature.
Stare at the night sky full of stars.
Be a tourist in your own city.
Sing Karaoke.
Solve a crossword puzzle.
Play your favorite board game with friends or family.
Read or write poetry.
Pray and or attend a religious ritual.
Participate in a book club.
Have a lunch date with a friend.
Get a coloring book and color like a kid.
Do something unexpected and spontaneous.
. Start learning the basics of a new language.
Learn how to play an instrument.
Additionally, I noticed that my best ideas and most valuable and brilliant insights come to me when I am in the shower, when I walk outside and when I exercise. A huge benefit of self-love and self-care is a better mental health, because people who love and take care of themselves are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem. Self-love and self-care are so important because they impact a positive mindset which is essential for success in life and for mental happiness.
So, schedule your personal “me time” in the calendar! You are worth it!
Jola Pypno-Crapanzano, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Jola Pypno-Crapanzano is a Certified High-Performance Coach™️, NLP and TLT®️ Practitioner, founder and CEO of Coaching Journey with Jola, two times International Bestselling Author of “One” - Your wellness guide to body, mind, and soul and “stay home”- When you can’t go outside, what happens inside?
She carries Masters Degree in Scientific-Technical Information from Silesian University in Poland. She has over 30 years of combined experience working with thousands of unique individuals and groups of people serving them in many different capacities. First, as a tour guide traveling worldwide (almost 70 countries visited so far) and translating into 4 languages, then working in the entertainment and hospitality industry as part of operational management in a large publicly-traded company in NYC. Finally, coaching people initially as fitness, wellness, and lifestyle coach and most recently more holistically as Certified High-Performance Coach™️, NLP and Time Line Therapy®️ Practitioner. She also helps her clients with positive intelligence, specializing in strengthening their Mental Fitness and supporting them through various strategic interventions.
Her mission is to help one million people live their lives to the fullest, reach heightened and sustained levels of clarity, energy, courage, productivity, and influence and show them that it is possible to live lives of their dreams, on their terms, without regrets, be fully engaged, joyful and confident and build an incredible lasting legacy.
