40 Unique Self-Care Tips You Haven’t Heard A Million Times Before

Self-care conveys different things to different people. With the help of some of our beloved Girlfriend readers, here are 40 diverse self-care practices guaranteed to inspire you.

Birding: Keep binoculars by the window to catch these beautiful creatures in action.

Shower by candlelight: Light candles for a soothing shower.

Paint app: Check out Happy Color, a paint-by-number game.

Peaceful exercise: The Legs-up-the-Wall pose at the end of the day helps banish fatigue and anxiety. 

Zentangle: This form of art creates intricate patterns; a wonderful release — especially for those who love doodling.

Get your laughs: When everyone is tucked in for the night, grab your iPad and crawl into bed to binge on your fav comedy clips on YouTube.

Letter-writing: Free yourself emotionally by writing letters that you’ll never send to those certain people in your life.

Sprinkle lavender essential oil: Before bed, give your pillows a quick spritz of this essential oil known to combat anxiety and insomnia.

TikToks: Creating silly TikToks can relieve stress. Laughter is the best medicine, after all!

Slow food: At lunchtime, shut off screens and devote yourself to making beautiful, wholesome food. Enjoy the feeling of restoring your body’s energy with healthy fuel.

Art journaling: Tear pictures and words from magazines to form an expressive collage, helping what’s buried inside escape.

Butterfly gardens: Visit butterfly gardens and relax in the company of these delicate creatures.

Listen to Yanni: Yanni’s instrumental music is timeless for relaxation and meditation.

Drop serious coin on these 3 things: Care for yourself by splurging on what protects you from the ground: 1) your bed mattress, 2) shoes, and 3) car tires.  

Wear fragrance daily: Even if you’re working alone from home with nothing special planned, make this small effort to treat yourself right.

Crocheting or knitting: Watching patterns quickly emerge provides instant gratification.

Jump: When your kids aren’t looking, access your inner child and jump on your backyard trampoline. Then lie motionless, watching the clouds.

Family videos: Organize videos in an accessible folder, and when you need it get a happy dose by clicking play to instantly connect with loved ones.

Morning foot massage: Massage your feet each morning with Shea Body Butter to start your day “on the right foot.”

Learn to golf: Grab a friend and learn this sport, finding satisfaction in each small skill you master.

Fave shows: Ease the drudgery of housework by playing your favorite show in the background.