THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE SEE MY DISCLOSURES FOR MORE INFORMATION
A lot of people have no idea what fun self-care activities are.
Even though they are really good for you, it doesn’t mean they’re easy to find. This article will change that!
Many people don’t take the time to take care of themselves and as a result, they are always feeling stressed out, unhappy, and not in their best brain space which affects their relationships with the people around them.
On the other hand, there are people who have mastered every type of self-care with some of these fun activities, and we want to turn you into one of them.
Editor’s note: it doesn’t matter who you are or which phase in life you’re at. These self-care activities examples are suitable for anyone who is willing to try:
- Self care activities for adults
- Self care activities for kids
- Self care activities for groups
- Self care activities for teens
Also, you might want to keep track of your self care habits too.
Take a bubble bath
Taking a bubble bath is one of the best activities you can try to stop stressing out.
When you’re in a bubble bath, your mind relaxes and your body feels like it weighs nothing at all.
The feeling of being submerged is amazing to me and I don’t know how much time passes each time I’m in the tub. All I know is that I get entranced by being in the water.
Read a book
Reading is a great way to relax and unwind.
It is also a great way to learn new things, connect with others, or get away from the stress of everyday life.
There are many different types of books to choose from and some may be more appealing than others depending on your interests or mood at the time.
If you want to read a book but don’t know what type might appeal to you, ask your friends for recommendations or try browsing through reviews online until something sticks out as interesting enough for further exploration!
Watch a funny movie
This is one of the easiest ways to relax and have fun. Here are some suggestions on making it a really cool self-care activity:
- Watch a funny movie with your partner.
- Watch a funny movie with your friends.
- Watch a funny movie with your family
- Watch a funny movie with your pets—or better yet, let them watch it! They might not understand everything that happens on screen, but they’ll still be entertained by the antics taking place and the sounds coming out of everyone else’s mouths! Don’t forget to film their reactions!
Journal
Journaling is one of the best ways to take care of yourself as it can help you process your thoughts and feelings, work through your problems and make decisions.
It also helps you reflect on the past year and plan for the future.
Many people find journaling to be therapeutic, and it helps greatly if you make it a habit.
It’s not about writing every day or for long periods of time; it’s about finding a few minutes each day to write down whatever comes to mind.
Here are some tips to get started:
- Choose a notebook that fits your personality — maybe an antique leather-bound book, a bright rainbow-colored spiral notebook, or a premade bullet journal that helps you get organized quickly. Then pick a pen (or pencil) that feels good in your hand — this will make writing more enjoyable!
- Set aside a time every day when you can focus on journaling — perhaps after breakfast or before bedtime — so it becomes part of your daily routine. Make sure there is nothing else vying for your attention during this time frame so you can concentrate on what’s happening in your life (and what isn’t).
Go outside and walk or sit quietly in nature
Walking in nature can be great for your mental health.
A study found that just 20 minutes of walking in a park can make you feel more positive, relaxed and connected to the earth.
That’s because being surrounded by trees and wildlife has been shown to reduce stress levels by up to 68%.
And while it may not sound like much, a 20-minute walk also helps your brain fog clear up—which is good news if you’re feeling sluggish after working long hours or staying up late studying.
Cook/bake something new
Cooking/baking something new is a great way to get creative and have fun.
If cooking isn’t your thing, baking might be more up your alley.
Either way, both activities are a wonderful way to decompress after a long day and to spend time with yourself in the kitchen.
You’ll feel proud of yourself when you see how tasty those cookies or cupcakes turn out!
Start an exercise routine, even if it’s a simple one
Some people believe that exercise is only for physical health—but it’s actually one of the best things you can do for your mental health, too.
You’ve probably heard about how it can help you sleep better, manage stress, and even be happier.
But did you know that it can also help with your productivity and creativity?
If you want to get started on an exercise routine but don’t know where to start (or if you’re already exercising but not enjoying it), the answer is simple: find something that works for YOU!
What feels good to YOU?
For me personally, it’s yoga and running.
You just need to spend a bit of time figuring out which one interests and engages you most in order to reap all the benefits of exercise!
Unplug from screens for a day
You can take a break from your screen by turning off all of your computers, phones and tablets for 24 hours.
This will help you to focus on what you are doing and get stuff done in a timely manner. It will also give you time to think about what is most important in your life.
If you have children, this would be an excellent opportunity for them to take part in family activities that don’t involve screens (games or movies).
Children who spend less time looking at screens tend to score higher on tests as well as maintain better eye-hand coordination than those who spend more time staring at electronic devices.
The same goes for adults! Unplugging from devices has been shown to reduce stress levels significantly – which leads us back into our old friend: relaxation mode.
Take a walk around your neighborhood
This can be a great way to get out of the house, but it’s also an activity that doesn’t require a lot of time or money.
If it’s cold outside where you live, bundle up and go for a walk in the rain and wind; if it’s hot out, just take your dog on a longer walk than usual.
The exercise will help clear your mind and get rid of any pent-up energy you might have built up during the day.
You don’t have to go far or do anything strenuous — just walk around your block or the park near your home.
Give yourself a marula massage
Marula oil is a natural moisturizer that’s also used to treat dry skin and acne.
If you want to try marula oil for your face, massage it onto your skin after cleansing for about 5 minutes.
This can help keep the moisture in and prevent wrinkles from forming.
If you’re looking for a relaxing experience, consider trying out an at-home massage using marula oil!
You can find instructions on how to give yourself or another person a soothing massage using marula oil here.
Get your supplies here:
Enjoy an eyelash and brow treatment
Eyelash extensions are a great way to enhance your natural lashes and make them look longer and fuller. And there’s no need to worry about damaging your own lashes since they can be applied with an adhesive that is completely safe for your eyes.
If you want your eyebrows to stand out even more than they already do, then eyebrow tinting may be the right choice for you.
This treatment involves applying a semi-permanent color (in the form of an ointment) onto the eyebrows in order to make them appear darker, more defined, and more prominent on your face.
The color lasts around 6-10 weeks before it starts fading away naturally over time.
Eyebrow shaping involves trimming excess hairs from above the eyebrow line so that it enhances the overall shape without looking too thin or sparsely filled out around its edges.
Eyebrow waxing is another type of hair removal method which removes unwanted facial hair using hot wax strips or sugaring paste applied directly onto the skin surface areas where unwanted growth exists – this works best when done regularly every 2 weeks!
Take vacation time off
Many people like to put off taking their well-deserved vacation time, or they want to accumulate them so that they can go for a long trip.
Sometimes though, you really don’t need that much planning. Just take a day or two off to spend with yourself.
Vacations provide a chance to get away from your normal routine and practice self care by doing things you enjoy with people you enjoy spending time with.
Sure, it’s nice to get away from work, but vacations can also help you recharge after a long period of sustained work.
Here are some ways to enjoy a break from work without feeling guilty:
If you’re feeling like you don’t deserve time off or that it might hurt your career, those feelings are telling you something.
You may have certain expectations about what taking time off means for your career, such as that it will harm your chances of promotion or advancement.
If so, ask yourself if this is really true — or if it’s just a myth that you’ve bought into.
If it’s true, then consider how much these expectations are costing you in terms of stress and anxiety.
Consider what would happen if you took time off now.
Would everything fall apart? Would all hell break loose? Would the sky fall down?
Probably not!
The reality is that most people do their jobs well enough even when they’re away — and if they need help, there’s usually someone who can step in until they return (and vice versa).
So stop worrying and go for it!
Sort out your budgets
If you’re like most people, your finances are probably a bit of a mess.
And if it’s been a while since you created a budget, then it might seem daunting to start over again.
There are good reasons for making the effort: creating and sticking to a budget helps you see where your money is going (and therefore how much of it is left over), helps keep track of bills and other debts that come up, and allows for savings accounts (and therefore retirement!), and more importantly can save you from serious financial trouble later on in life.
So if this sounds like something worth doing—and I hope it does—here’s how!
- Create a budget
- Make a list of priorities
- Prioritize the things that are important to you
- Make a list of things you spend money on (and where those funds go)
- Make another list of what kinds of purchases/investments would yield good returns for their cost
Listen to podcasts
Listening to podcasts is a great way to fill your time with something other than music. There is just so much to learn from them.
A lot of people think that they don’t have enough time to listen to podcasts, but if you listen to them while you’re doing other things, it really doesn’t take much time at all.
I listen while I’m walking, working out, and driving. Some of my favorite podcasts include:
Learn to say no
First and foremost, it’s okay to say no and to say it often.
It’s also important that you don’t feel bad about saying no.
For example, if someone asks you to do something that makes you uncomfortable or is going to take up a lot of your time, it is perfectly ok to say no.
You do not have to please every single person around you.
In fact, I would encourage saying “no” whenever necessary so that you can spend more of your energy on the things that matter most in your life.
You may not always be able to find a replacement for an event or activity but when possible try substituting something else instead of giving in to peer pressure by doing what other people want from us all too often (which isn’t always good for us).
You can learn more about not being a people-pleaser in our book The Art of Reinventing Yourself.
Call someone you love and tell them you love them
It sounds so simple, but it’s a powerful act to remind yourself of your own worth and the value of those around you.
I’ll be calling my sister in a few minutes.
She has a knack for making me feel like I’m the most important person in her life. She can make me feel loved without making me feel like she’s putting me on a pedestal or trying to impress me with her words.
It’s just who she is.
We have an amazing relationship because we’re both willing to share our feelings and put each other first. We always know we can count on each other, no matter what happens in our lives or how far apart we are physically.
I know that even when things are hard between us (which they often are), there will always be love between us because we choose to communicate openly with one another and put each other at the center of our lives rather than ourselves.
Indulge in your favorite dish
If you’re feeling stressed out, the last thing you want to do is cook a healthy meal. We get it! Sometimes it’s just better to order takeout and spend time with friends or family.
Let’s face it: we all have our favorite comfort foods. Whether you’re craving a home-cooked meal or a slice of pizza, self-care can include indulging in your favorite dishes.
While many people believe that eating too much junk food is unhealthy and can lead to weight gain, the truth is that it can actually be part of a healthy lifestyle. Eating in moderation is key.
Schedule me-time into your calendar
Many of us use the calendar function to fill up our time each and every day, but when was the last time you added something that was specifically about you?
I’m not saying you need to schedule a massage or a pedicure every day, but I am saying that we all need a little bit of time for ourselves.
If you’re like me, you might be tempted to say, “I don’t have time for that!”
But I’ve found that when I make time for me-time, it makes me feel more productive and less stressed.
So how do you find this precious time in your busy schedule? Here are three simple tips:
- Schedule 15 minutes in the evening before bed to relax and read (or watch Netflix) with no distractions (prep yourself with a self care night checklist)
- Make an appointment with yourself at the end of the day to go on a walk or run
- Schedule an hour each weekend morning just for leisurely reading — no phone calls allowed!
Get a manicure or pedicure
Getting a manicure or pedicure is a great way to treat yourself and take some time for self-care.
This can be especially helpful if you are feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed by your busy schedule.
Going to the salon gives you an opportunity to relax and de-stress for a few minutes while receiving pampering treatments from your nail technician.
It’s also a great excuse to get out of the house and have some fun with friends!
Go for acupuncture
Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles into specific points on your body in order to relieve pain and stress.
Worried about getting stabbed by needles? Don’t worry. The needle insertion is extremely quick and doesn’t hurt at all. it feels more like a light pinch than anything else.
If you’re interested in trying acupuncture for self-care, here’s what you need to know:
Acupuncture works by balancing the energy or “qi” in your body.
This energy flows through channels called meridians and has different functions depending on which area of your body it passes through (for example, heart meridian affects blood pressure).
An acupuncturist can treat certain conditions by inserting needles along specific points where qi is blocked.
The stimulation from the needles activates nerves that send messages back to the brain so that pain signals are reduced or stopped altogether.
Here are some of the top benefits: reduced pain, improved sleep, better libido, and increased fertility rates.
Meet friends to play board games
A great way to spend time with friends and family is by playing board games. There are many benefits of playing board games, including:
- Fun way to learn new skills. For example, if you’re learning how to play chess, this board game will help you learn the rules, strategies, and history of the sport.
- Board games are a great way to spend time with your kids or grandkids while they’re growing up. You’ll get some quality time together while having fun at the same time!
- Because everyone has their own turn in most types of these games, each person has an opportunity not only discuss their turn but also listen closely what others are saying about theirs too! This means that everyone gets something valuable out of the activity
Here are a few of my all-time favorites:
- Cards Against Humanity — This card game is all about making people laugh. The game has players creating funny sentences using cards with themes like “inappropriate amounts of money,” “pooping” and “Justin Bieber.”
- Monopoly — This game is all about buying properties, collecting rent and trying to bankrupt your opponents by building hotels on their properties.
- Uno — Uno is a classic card game that involves matching colors and numbers on cards as well as drawing from piles of cards until you can’t draw anymore.
You know what’s even better? Host a self care party and play these games!
Listen to music
Music can be an incredibly powerful tool for self-care as they have proven to make you feel good.
Maybe your favorite song is a piece of classical, maybe it’s jazz or hip-hop—whatever it is, choose music that calms and soothes you.
If something makes you happy and relaxed, it will be easier for your mind and body to relax.
Listening to music helps you focus too.
If there are certain songs or artists who help keep your thoughts from wandering off on tangents (like my husband), then listen to them during activities where staying focused is important (like writing).
For example, I love listening to jazz when I write because the mellow tones help me stay focused without being too distracting—and sometimes I even find myself nodding along as if we were playing together in a jam session!
Visit an art gallery
Art galleries are wonderful places to visit for your mental health. They can help you feel more relaxed, inspired, and interested in the world around you.
Here are some of the benefits of visiting art galleries:
- Relaxation: Art is often thought of as being a relaxing and calming influence on people. This makes sense—after all, most artists start out with a blank canvas or piece of paper and then fill that blank space with something beautiful. When we look at art that someone else has created and see how they turned nothing into something beautiful, it helps us see our own potential to create something meaningful too!
- Inspiration: Looking at other people’s artwork can also be an inspiring experience because it gives you ideas about what kind of creative things you might like to do yourself (or maybe even inspire you to create something new). It may seem intimidating at first but once you get started creating your own work then suddenly all those worries about whether or not anyone else will like what I make go away!
Travel, or plan your next getaway
Travel can be amazing for your mental health. It’s a chance to disconnect from your everyday life, enjoy new places and people, and explore the world.
But before you go on vacation, make sure you’re taking care of yourself first. If you don’t take care of yourself and your mental health, then all the fun in the world won’t matter.
Plan time off work before going on vacation.
If possible, set aside at least two weeks of paid time off before going on a trip. You’ll have time to relax and unwind before going away — but also enough time to spend traveling!
Make sure there are activities scheduled into your itinerary so that you don’t spend all day lazing around by the pool or beach, but make time for that too.
Balance is key.
Write a list of things you’re grateful for
This is a super easy but extremely effective self-love exercise as it allows you to focus on the positive in your life, rather than dwelling on negative thoughts and emotions.
Here are a few of mine:
- I’m grateful for my family.
- I’m grateful for my friends.
- I’m grateful for my home.
- I’m grateful that I am working my dream job, even though it might not pay so well right now.
- I’m grateful that I have a car, even though sometimes it breaks down and has to be repaired.
- I’m grateful that I have more than three pairs of pants in my closet because some people don’t have any pants at all!
Declutter your wardrobe and donate your stuff
Take a look at the clothes you have and decide if they fit, flatter, and make you feel good! If not, put them in a bag for donations.
If you’re like me, you may have some clothes that are still good but don’t fit anymore. Don’t let them go to waste! Give them away to someone who can wear them.
Take a photo of your closet and organize your clothes by color and season.
Determine what you haven’t worn in the last year, and donate it to a local charity or thrift store.
Be sure to ask for receipts so that you can deduct the value from your taxes!
You can also donate directly to shelters or schools in need of clothing donations.
Smile and do something nice to a stranger
If you’re feeling down, it can be easy to become isolated and wallow in your own misery. But making an effort to reach out to others is a great way to remind yourself that the world is full of good people who are willing to help each other out.
Here are some ways you can engage with strangers in ways that’ll boost your self-esteem:
- Smile at someone and ask them how they’re doing. It’s amazing how much this simple gesture can brighten up somebody’s day! If someone smiles back or seems receptive, ask them what their plans for the day are and if there’s something you could do together (like going for coffee or lunch). This can be a great conversation starter if you’ve been having trouble connecting with people lately.
- Give someone a compliment about something they’re wearing or carrying around with them—anything from their shoes on up will work! Complimenting something like an accessory will allow time for a brief exchange before both parties move on their way again. If this person seems open enough, continue the conversation. You never know where it might lead to!
Donate money to a cause you support
Giving money to charity can make you feel good about yourself and give you a sense of purpose. It can also help you build relationships with your loved ones and strengthen your social connections.
Give money to causes that matter to you. Do you want to help children in need or animals? Support social justice issues or environmental causes? Find something that matters to you and donate money toward that cause.
You know what’s even more awesome? Get others involved.
If someone asks what they can do for self-care, suggest donating together!
Ask them if they have any specific causes they want to support, then offer to split the cost with them so they can be involved too!
Learn how to sew
I discovered this recently and it is surprising how therapeutic it is.
Learning how to sew can be a really useful skill.
Not only is it fun, but it’s also a great way to relax and use your hands to make something out of some basic materials.
You can even incorporate sewing into your self care routine by making some basic things for yourself or other people!
Send a care package to someone who needs it
The next time you’re feeling particularly selfless, consider sending a care package to someone who could use it.
Care packages can be a great way to brighten up someone’s day or send your love across the miles.
Here are some suggested recipients:
- Soldier (send them things like snacks or magazines)
- Child in need (send them toys and games that they’ll enjoy receiving)
- Friend (send them something personalized, for example, a favorite book of yours)
- Family member (send them something homemade, such as cookies or jam)
- Teacher/Doctor/Nurse/Therapist (anything that will make their job easier)
Check out my TheraBox review to see if this self care box is suitable for you!
Attend a free martial arts class
If you’re looking for a way to boost your self-esteem and relieve stress, free martial arts classes may be just what you need.
A study from the University of Pittsburgh found that practicing martial arts is linked with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Sign up for a class at your local dojo and see how it makes you feel.
When I signed up for my first free martial arts class, I didn’t know what to expect.
But once I arrived at the dojo (a place where martial artists train), I quickly saw what all the hype was about:
The atmosphere was welcoming and friendly; everyone was focused on learning new techniques; and most importantly, everyone seemed to be having fun.
There are also several other martial arts studios in town where you can learn about self-defense techniques and build up strength, endurance and flexibility.
Watch a funny animal video
Do I really need to elaborate on this one? I mean, I have spent so many hours laughing at these silly videos and they make me feel so happy!
In conclusion: Fun Self-Care Activities Examples
I hope you found some inspiration in these 32 self-care activities!
Many of them are free, and all of them have the potential to add more joy in your life and help you connect with yourself more deeply.
Now you know that a healthy, balanced lifestyle is vital to happiness, and if you’re not convinced yet, I urge you to try some of these activities out.
Make it your mission to practice self care from at least one or two of these ideas every single week.
Take care of yourself—you are worth it!
Now, consider checking out a list of self care toolkit ideas to start your own too!
