101 simple self-care practices for promoting daily happiness
Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel. — Eleanor Brownn
Every plant I’ve owned, I’ve let die.
I even bought a succulent a few years ago (which are supposedly harder to kill) and it still withered away.
Can you guess why?
It’s fairly simple — I didn’t water it. And I didn’t give it enough light.
The two things it needed to survive, I deprived it of.
And without that necessary nourishment, it was incapable of thriving.
What I did do, is leave it in a dark corner, on top of the dining room table. Where it was mostly covered in bags and whatever other clutter was lying about. And stopped paying attention to it altogether.
Funnily enough, I did the same thing to myself when trying to start my first business.
I stopped paying attention to my internal needs and let myself reach a point of burnout.
And perhaps you’ve done the same…
Drowning in overwhelm and doubt doesn’t lead to flourishing
As you can imagine, when we fail to nourish ourselves — our sense of fulfillment and daily satisfaction take a massive dip.
And if you’ve spent any time at all trying to navigate change or a new exciting adventure, then you know that your excitement and “need to succeed” often get in the way of looking after your most valuable asset — you.
We work crazy hours.
Try to learn everything all at once.
Bombard our brains with information we can’t possibly contain (let alone implement).
And end up struggling to juggle our work, family life, and the ever-present plague of self-doubt.
Ultimately, this kind of overwhelm leads to less-than-great outcomes.
In the first 9-months of trying to launch a new career, I was so busy consuming and trying new things, that I completely forgot to look after myself.
I didn’t see my husband enough
I didn’t snuggle with my dog enough
I missed family and social events and
my personal care went out the window
I had stopped doing the things that made me feel good.
And that sucked.
How to reap the blissful benefits of daily self-care
Business is exciting, challenging, and of course — full of learning curves that can rock your confidence.
And it’s remarkably easy to get caught up in the hecticness (that’s a word, I’m sure) and let our commitment to self-nourishment slide.
The problem is, that when we succumb to the fake urgency of whatever task is next on our to-do list, we end up neglecting our inner-most needs. And that is what tends to kill our growth.
We get so overcome with the need to prove to people that we can do it all — that it becomes increasingly difficult to slow down. Focus. And the take time we need to recharge.
In other words — we put ourselves in a dark corner, deprive ourselves of water, and forget to nourish our mind, body, and soul with the one thing that will help us thrive; self-care.
Self-care = self-preservation
Making a habit of recharging and revitalizing yourself, is how you build resilience.
And resilience is what you need to play the long game in business (and life).
You can’t produce your best work if you’re not in an optimal state of mind. And your state of mind is directly affected by how good (or bad) you feel at any given moment.
Whether you like it or not, your mood plays a huge role in your ability to create and be productive.
Of course, there are some simple things you can do to shift your mood:
Exercise (even a quick set of push-ups can change your psychological state)
Breathwork (which can be as simple as one mindful breath or can translate to daily meditation)
Feed yourself (something nourishing and wholesome is best)
Hydrate (dehydration is a mood killer, so more water can make you feel almost instantly better)
Sleep (8 hours a night is a game-changer)
Write it out (thinking as writing is perfect for problem-solving)
But self-care comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms. And to be honest, there are no rules.
Except for this one:
You must practice self-care daily.
101 Simple Self-Care Practices For Daily Happiness
You can practice self-care outdoors, at your desk, in line at the supermarket, or at home on the couch.
You can even include loved ones in your self-care habits (or you can choose to keep them solitary). Whatever suits you, and your preferences is the best path forward.
As long as in some way — every day — you do one thing that takes care of you.
And in order to make that easier for you, I’ve prepared a list!
(You can grab a pdf version here or at the bottom of the post if that tickles your fancy.)
Spend time with your family without any devices
Stretch for 5 minutes on the floor or at your desk
Read something you enjoy
Perform an act of kindness
Take 5 deep breaths (in, 2, 3, 4, out, 2, 3, 4...)
Practice a visualization technique
Read an affirmation out loud to yourself (repeat if necessary)
Buy yourself a present
Buy someone else a present
Light some scented candles
Learn something new
Listen to a music album that you love
Dance to one of your favorite tunes
Practice yoga
Go for a solitary walk in silence
Watch a funny movie
Take a relaxing bath
Go for a massage
Have an at-home spa day/night
Journal your thoughts
Drink a green smoothie
Meditate for 10 minutes
Listen to a hypnosis track
Go to a coffee shop and people watch
Go to the dog park (and dog watch!)
Get some sun on your face
Plan an adventure with your best friend
Write in a gratitude log
Listen to a podcast you’ve got saved
Take pictures of your favorite things
Hug someone for a full 20-seconds
Drink some tea
Go to the library
Take a mental health day
Declutter a space
Create a new space
Experiment with a new look or hairstyle
Take an online exercise class
Lay in the grass
Look at the clouds
Have a hot shower
Unplug from technology
Reflect on compliments you’ve received
Buy a new outfit
Ask for help with a problem
Snuggle under a cozy blanket
Take yourself on a date
Clean something
Create or update your vision board
Compliment yourself
Compliment someone else
Get your hair done
Plan a vacation (big or small)
Take a nap
Sleep in
Reflect on your wins and accomplishments
Drink a glass of water
Set a small achievable goal for the day
Floss your teeth
Visit or talk to a friend
Eat some fruit or vegetables
Go on a date (with a partner, friend, your child, or your dog)
Sing along to your favorite song
Try a new restaurant
Take your dog for a walk
Do 20 mins of free writing
Watch your favorite tv series
Catch up with your favorite blog
Have a glass of wine
Write a thank-you note
Write a love letter (to you or your lover)
Make a hot chocolate
Go to the beach
Cuddle a puppy
Volunteer for the day
Buy or pick some flowers
Call someone you love talking to
Ground yourself (walk barefoot on the earth)
Listen to an interesting TEDTalk
Do some coloring
Listen to an audiobook
Watch a sports game
Read a fiction novel
Bake a cake
Have a cheat day (no food rules!)
Smile at a stranger
Get a mani/pedi
Go for a swim
Donate to charity
Clean out your closet
Start a collection of inspiring quotes
Brainstorm a new idea
Put $50 into your savings account
Start a new habit
Quit a bad habit
Tell yourself ‘you can do anything you set your mind to’
Gift someone your favorite book
Write out your favorite quotes from a book you love
Draw something (even if you suck)
Create a bucket list
Water your plants (they give you life)
That’s a nice long list for you to peruse. And of course, some things will be more fulfilling for you than others.
The important thing is to pick one thing off it and do it today. And if it’s enjoyable, keep doing it.
I hope you enjoy the list. I created a handy downloadable pdf that you can grab here.
Remember — finding the time for self-care is not only vital for your survival, but it will enable you to flourish. To grow yourself, so you can grow your business, too.