Want to know some self care ideas for mental health that will have you living a happier life? Read below to learn how you can use these easy ideas any day of the week.
Practicing self care is essential to living a balanced, healthy lifestyle. No matter if it’s a good day or bad day, you deserve to treat yourself to relaxing ideas that will promote self love and bring joy into your life.
Whether you find the simplest joy in picking up your favorite book, to listening to your favorite music while taking a bath, all of these tips and tricks will help you feel your best self in no time.
After learning all these self care hacks, you will be able to use these easy ideas in your daily life.
This post is all about the must-try self care ideas for mental health.
Best Self Care Ideas for Mental Health
1. Read
Have a book you’ve been meaning to read? Now’s the time to treat yourself to your favorite book cuddled up with some tea or coffee in a quiet room.
Consider reading self care books focused on self love and personal development. Some of our favorites include:
1.101 Essays that will change the way you think
Reading provides the perfect opportunity to escape from life’s worries and learn something new. You never know what you can learn from reading just 20 minutes a day.
You don’t need to finish an entire book in a couple of days. Start with reading 20 minutes a day and you’ll be surprised by how fast you can go through a book.
Don’t have a book you actually want to read? We’ve got you covered.
Try finding books on Thriftbooks, Amazon, and your local library or book store.
Reading is a great way to learn something new while also spending time with just yourself.
2. Clean
Does your bedroom or kitchen need some much-needed TLC? Start cleaning and organizing the rooms that need a little pick-me-up. Whether it be gathering and doing all your laundry, organizing your pantry, to dusting your place.
Try putting on some of your favorite music and clean, clean, clean! You’ll find that moving and being productive is a great way to both keep your mind off of your daily stressors while also doing something that will make your life more balanced and organized.
Start cleaning some of the spaces that you know need the most help or the rooms you frequent the most. Your bedroom or living room are great places to start!
3. Cook/Bake
Have a new recipe you’ve been meaning to try? Want to mix up your dinner options?
Here’s the time to call your inner master chef and get cooking in the kitchen.
Trying new recipes provides a great opportunity for you to discover new foods or methods of cooking you LOVE. And, it saves you some money by not ordering out or buying from your local bakery.
Consider trying healthy recipes filled with fruits and vegetables. My personal favorite recipes that are easy are making a yogurt parfait or vegetable stir fry. Each recipe is delicious and requires little to no kitchen expertise, so it’s perfect for anyone, even beginners.
Jam out to your favorite tunes and get cooking. It’s also just as fun to look for recipes on Google or Pinterest. Have fun and enjoy your latest kitchen creations.
4. Take a Bath
There’s nothing better than a nice warm bath to unwind after a long day. Treat yourself to a bath and catch up on some journaling or reading and a nice cup of tea. Now’s the time to relax for some much-needed self care for mental health that is sure to boost your energy and have you looking and feeling your best.
Try a face mask or paint your nails while you’re at it. Or, simply sit and soak for some much-needed time for yourself.
I love when I’m able to put on a face mask, light some candles, and just soak in some Epsom salt. It’s the perfect opportunity to reflect or take a short nap while you’re at it.
5. Go for a Walk
There’s nothing better than going outside and taking a walk. Whether it be a walk around your neighborhood or local park, or exploring a new trail you’ve never walked before. Getting up and exercising, even if it is low intensity, is great for you to get out of the house and get some fresh air.
You can also meet up with a friend and catch up while walking around your local park.
Have a dog? Leash up your pup and go out for a stroll with your furry friend. Not only is it great for your dog to be active by taking them on a few walks per day, but this is a great way for you to walk without ever feeling alone.
6. Listen to Music or a Podcast
Have a favorite band or genre of music? Want to learn something new, maybe in the self care space? There’s nothing better than listening to your favorite music or podcast.
Podcasts are a great way to learn something new or discover subject matters you didn’t even know existed. I enjoy listening to a mix of both informative and entertainment podcasts.
And the best part is, you can mix and match many of these self care ideas here while listening to music or a podcast. While going on a walk, try listening to your favorite music to get you motivated to pick up the pace. Or, make a journaling music playlist and turn that on whenever you want to feel inspired while writing.
7. Call a friend
It’s always great to keep up and connect with friends and loved ones. Whether it be a short simple 10-minute call or hour long facetime, catching up with those closest to you is essential for you to remember who you are and those loved ones around you.
Even better, you never know what you may find out catching up with that friend you haven’t talked to in a while.
Talking with loved ones allows you to connect and keep up with those closest to you while remembering who you are and where you’ve been. There’s nothing like a late-night call with your best friend reminiscing about that spring break vacation you took 5 years ago together that will for sure put you both in a great mood 🙂
8. Journal
Journaling is a great way to get your thoughts down on paper. This is especially true if you struggle with ruminating thoughts or are an avid overthinker like me. Whether it be jotting down words on a page that immediately come to mind, or creating an aesthetic-looking journal filled with images that you can look back on fondly, journaling is a great form of self care.
I’ve been journaling for years now. It’s allowed me a safe place to scribble down any and every idea I have or write down the most mundane details of my life. Although it may seem boring at first, or you might not know where to start if you’ve never journaled before, trust me it doesn’t have to be some daunting task.
Start by writing down what happened to you that day. What are you grateful for? List things you are proud of. Write down things you need to improve upon.
If you are unsure what to write about, try Googling or searching on Pinterest for some journal prompt ideas to get your mind flowing.
I also like listening to some inspirational journal music and have a playlist specifically dedicated to when I free write in my journal.
9. Sleep
Sleep is essential to have you feeling your best. Not only is sleep important to stay healthy, but it also clears your mind and helps you reset. Whether it is a short-timed nap you take during the day to feel refreshed, or going to bed early, sleep is vital for you to feel your best and have the energy to do all the great things you want to accomplish.
Although our society may glorify hustle culture and the need to wake up early or go to bed late, it is important you get a restful sleep. This means getting at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.
You can’t accomplish all the great things you want to do feeling sluggish and exhausted every day!
This post was all about self care ideas for mental health that will help you live a balanced lifestyle.
