Top 20 Self Care Tips

Mental health.

It’s not something we like to talk about is it? In fact some people will avoid this article altogether or even got anxious reading those two little words.

While I make no qualms about my mental health and struggles with anxieties, I know it is not easy for everyone to talk about freely. It can be very isolating. Especially on social media where you are bombarded with beautiful accounts, full of beautiful images of happy, smiling people that appear to have their shit together.

You feel “what is wrong with me?”

I hear you. I see you.

If you are feeling alone, overwhelmed, angry, depressed, frustrated, exhausted … I see you. You are normal. It is normal to not feel alright all the time.

While psychiatrists and talk therapy are your best source of help when dealing with mental health struggles, you can take simple actions every single day that puts the priority on you. This is achieved through self care. Make a list of things you like to do that make you smile, that make your heart or your mind feel lighter. These are not big things, but small, manageable sections of time that is dedicated to you. Your peace, your happiness.

Today I’m sharing 20 of my favourite methods of self care. Feel free to borrow and add to this list! Remember: It is not selfish to take time for yourself. It is not selfish to take a break. And most importantly friends, nothing is what it seems on social media! Every picture represents a small nanosecond of someone’s life. It is NOT the full story.

1. Make a warm cup of something (tea, coffee, hot chocolate) and watch YouTube videos of my favourite bloggers, book reviewers, or ASMR artists.

2. Take a bath with a book and a face mask.

3. Buy a new pair of pajamas.

4. Bake a batch of cookies.

5. Look through past photo albums or my camera scroll (focusing on happy moments).

6. Get take out for dinner.

7. Journalling — especially doodling and placing of stickers. I find placing sparkly stickers all over pages to be very relaxing!

8. Binge watch a favourite TV show.

9. Talk with my husband.

10. Blast my favourite music.

11. Paint my nails.

12. Light a favourite candle.

13. Take a nap. (This is not weakness!)

14. Rearrange a room or portion of the room.

15. Buy a new book.

16. Talk to my dog.

17. Say no to others.

18. Goofy, silly dance … even a few seconds makes a huge difference!

19. Write down one good thing that happened each day. It can be small.

20. Mute my phone and leave it another room.