Taking care of yourself and treating yourself is not about indulgence, it is about healthy living.  I think of self-care as a form of frontloading, protecting oneself from the rigours and stressors of daily life.  Leading healthcare centres around the world are promoting the positive outcomes that come from simple self-care habits built into everyday or weekly life.  You could say that self-care is a protective factor that minimises risk and promotes overall health and well-being.

Good self-care will lower blood pressure, reduce migraines, improve your mood and help you keep things in perspective. One could think of it as important as taking your blood pressure medication or daily vitamins!

The weeks don’t often allow for those little extras, weekends are the perfect opportunity to give yourself a little extra attention. So here’s to your health, your whole health… in mind, body, and spirit!

50 Self-Care Ideas for You This Weekend!

#1 Plant something – it could be planting a garden in your yard or some pots in your house, plants and gardens are symbolic of life and will give your home warmth.

#2 Sit out in front of your house, on the stoop or porch and watch the passersby, say hi to a few if so inclined

#3 Watch the sunrise or sunset – soak in the colours

#4 Sleep in – ah sleep glorious sleep

#5 Go on a picnic – throw a few things in a backpack or grab some takeout from your favourite deli

#6 Visit the salon – it always feels good to get a haircut or pay a little attention to whatever makes you feel beautiful

#7 Go for a walk on the beach – take in the landscape, the horizon, notice the sounds and the smells

#8 Watch a favourite movie – movies are stories, find the one that speaks to you

#9 Spend Quality time with your partner, spouse, or family – with the hustle-bustle of daily life, it’s not uncommon to feel like ships passing in the night, use this weekend to reconnect and make time for each other

#10 Connect to your spiritual self – Attend an event or volunteer with your faith community, spend a few minutes in prayer if that’s your thing, or take a few minutes to meditate.

#11 Call an old friend you haven’t spoken to – years can go by without talking to the people who contributed to who you are today, reach out to that friend you miss.

#12 Plan a vacation – something always exciting about planning some time away, if you like to stay close to home, make it an afternoon excursion.

#13 Get outside – just being outside, in fresh air is good for you.

#14 Go for a walk in the woods – not just for tree huggers, there are lots of wooded areas in our public parks and gardens in the middle of the biggest cities in the world!

#15 Make time for your favourite hobby

#16 Cook a new recipe – self-care ideas that are as simple as they come but can pack a whole lot of wow for you and your loved ones.

#17 Take lessons in a new skill you’ve wanted to develop

#18 Clean out the closet and donate to a charity

#19 Make time for your favourite workout

#20 Buy fresh flowers for your home.

#21 Spend time with your 4 legged buddies, take them on an excursion

#22 Step out of your comfort zone and try a new activity

#23 Set some goals for yourself

#24 Discover a new book and set time aside to enjoy it.

#25 Spend an evening around a bonfire

#26 Skip stones on a lake, river, or ocean

#27 Get lost in a new place, not that could be stressful, but you know what I mean… lose track of time in a new place and just wander…

#28 Volunteer – giving back has an unbelievable way of giving to you!

#29 Take a nap – naps have been known to promote longevity.

#30 Pick a room or a corner in your home to organize and clean

#31 Do nothing, find a spot to gaze upon, and just sit

#32 Get Coffee from your favourite coffee shop and then go for a walk in a park or favorite outdoor space

#33 Discover something new

#34 Book a therapy, or acupuncture session

#35 Play with animals – yours or a friend’s, or you could visit an animal shelter like the humane society or ASPCA.

#36 Use planning tools and strategies (an agenda or calendar) to keep tabs on appointments and your to-do lists.

#37 Make healthy food choices

#38 Listen to music

#39 Write down three things that you are grateful for.

#40 Journal – writing your thoughts and feelings is a powerful way to sort through challenges or engage the creative reservoirs of your brain.

#41 Take your shoes off and walk barefoot in the grass, or at the beach, in the water and sand.

#42 Leave your work at the office

#43 Turn your cell phone off for a little bit or turn off notifications to get a break from the constant pings.

#44 Fingerpaint with a kid for the sheer pleasure of having fun and creating something, even getting a little messy

#45 Build a sandcastle

#46 Roll down a grassy knoll

#47 Play a favourite sport, frisbee, hacky sack, or a simple game of catch.

#48 Play a board game

#49 Baking something  – the smells alone wafting in your home are in and of themselves restorative.

#50 Do whatever it is that you love to do!

Remember…

Never feel guilty for taking care of yourself, self-care is as important as eating healthy and exercising, which by the way are both forms of self-care, but the more accepted versions…

I hope you discovered some new self-care ideas here for yourself if you have others feel free to drop a comment below!

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