27 Self-Care Ideas that Will Change Your Life

Are you struggling with burnout and stress?

It might be time to take a break from the daily grind and hit the reset button.

This self-care checklist is brimming with life-changing ideas to help you recharge your mind, body, and soul.

Choose your favorite ideas to incorporate into your daily routine to recharge your batteries regularly.

You deserve it!

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The top productivity tips and time management ideas that will change your life in college, work, business, or as a stay at home mom. Start staying organized and blast through your to do list by using a planner, becoming a morning person, and mastering your daily schedules, study habits, and writing. Even includes free printables to help you stay focused and utilize these life hacks. Pin this post now so you don’t forget these life changing secrets! #planneraddict #organization #college

Exercise

Moving your body is one of the best ways to show yourself some love. When you exercise, you can release endorphins, build muscle, boost your mood, and strengthen your bones.

Go for a Long Walk

Walking also has some wonderful health benefits and can help calm your mind after a long, stressful day. You can even add some ankle weights for a bit more of a challenge.

Practice Yoga

Yoga is a wonderful way to connect your thoughts with your body, stretch your muscles, and calm your mind. Plus, you can easily find a free yoga video online to try from the comfort of your own home.

Tip: If you’re in the market for a new yoga mat, this is the mat I’m currently obsessing over. It’s cheap and super squishy!

Stretch your Body

If you’re not interested in yoga but are looking to release some muscle tension, try some simple stretches before or after your work day.

Connect With Nature

Get outside and explore a nature trail near you. If you’re planning for a longer hike, don’t forget to bring your 10 hiking essentials!

The best hikes in Washington State to fill your Pacific Northwest bucket list. Trails all over the state including in Olympic National Park, the North Cascades, Eastern Washington, and more! Find the most gorgeous waterfalls, mountain views, and beautiful lakes with this perfect hiking guide that will make the best road trip adventures! Pin now and read about the top tips for the best trails! — Mount Pilchuck Fire Lookout Tower

Eat a Healthy Meal

Eating healthy is a foolproof path to feeling amazing. Easily incorporate healthy snacks and meals into your daily life by meal prepping (here is my foolproof guide).

Declutter Your Space

Set a timer for ten minutes and declutter your most-used space. Or, you can take this one step further and create a simple cleaning routine.

Decorate Your Home

If you’re like me, you love celebrating the seasons. One fabulous way to do this is to decorate your home throughout the year with fun wreaths, throw pillows, and more.

Journal Your Thoughts

Pull out a cute notebook and begin writing whatever comes to mind.

Practice Gratitude

Start or end your day with three things you’re grateful for. You can even keep this list in a cute gratitude journal to look through when you’re feeling down.

Words of Affirmation

Add inspiration to your day with quotes and daily affirmations. One of my favorite ways to do this is with these hilarious and quirky affirmation cards. I keep them at my work desk and read a new card each day.

Meditate

One of the most popular self-care ideas is to regularly meditate. Easily add meditation to your life by using a guided meditation app.

Phone Detox

Challenge yourself to not use your phone or social media for an entire day, week, or month. You can even temporarily suspend your accounts or use a phone lock box to make this easier.

Take a Nap

Recharge your batteries with a quick afternoon nap.

Meal Prep

Easily incorporate healthy, nutritious meals into your daily life by prepping your meals for the entire week. This will help save you time, money, and energy; it is a game-changer. Here is my step-by-step guide to meal planning and prepping to get you started.

Refresh Your Morning Routine

Restructure your morning routine by filling it full of self-care activities and healthy habits to ensure you start your day on the right foot. Here is my ultimate guide to building the perfect morning routine that works for you.

Try a Sunday Reset Routine

One of my favorite self-care activities is completing a Sunday Reset Routine every weekend. This simple checklist includes meal prepping, cleaning, exercise, and other self-care activities that ensure my batteries are charged and I’m ready for a productive work week. Learn how to create your own, curated Sunday Reset Routine that meets your needs in this easy-to-follow guide.

Plan Your Day

Carve out 5 minutes every morning to create a realistic attack plan for the day. This will help keep you focused, productive, and help combat stress. Looking for some inspiration? Here is my ultimate daily planning routine.

In need of a new planner? Check out my Etsy Shop, it includes a ton of great printable planners and productivity worksheets!

Braindump a To-Do List

Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Pull out a piece of paper and jot down everything that is on your mind. Then create an action plan to complete your list! Don’t forget to cancel and delegate all tasks that you can.

Set Meaningful Goals

One of my favorite self-care ideas is to create a path to your dream life by setting goals. Need some direction? Check out this ultimate guide to goal setting and achieving.

Take a Hot Shower or Bath

Ease muscle tension with a relaxing hot shower or bath. You can even listen to relaxing music (using a shower-safe speaker) and add your favorite bubble bath.

Read a Book

Curl up on the couch and dive into an addicting new book. Looking for your next read? Check out my yearly book lists for some inspiration.

Create a Seasonal Bucket List

Add some seasonal fun to your weekends with a seasonal bucket list filled with exciting activities. Need some ideas? Here are my bucket lists to help you out:

Bucket List Freebie

Instead of creating your own seasonal bucket list, snag this awesome free seasonal bucket list printable instead.

Watch a Seasonal Movie

Add even more seasonal fun to your life by watching a movie set in the season you’re in. Here are some great movie ideas to get you started:

Spend Time with a Loved One

Spend time with a beloved family member or friend. This can be anything from a quick phone call to an exciting weekend away.

Listen to Music

Put on your favorite headphones (here’s mine) and blast some amazing tunes to boost your mood and energy levels. Dance like no one’s watching!

Related: How to Beat the Afternoon Slump

Get Crafty

Finally, get your creative juices flowing by spending an afternoon working on a craft project. This could include sketching, knitting, painting, photography, or even coloring in a surprisingly relaxing adult coloring book.