291 Essential Self Care Activities For the Soul
Self care for the soul is so important. But sometimes it can be hard to figure out what self care activities you should be incorporating into your life and which might end up being a waste of time.
Take some time for yourself, and use this comprehensive list of self care activities for the soul to find the right self care idea for you and your needs.
The idea post is a one stop shop for self care activities, and you can revisit this list later on after you try some self care ideas and want to look for some more. Caring for the soul doesn’t need to be complicated either – a lot of these ideas are simple and have no cost.
This post is going to give you 290+ self care ideas for a happy and healthy soul.
Types of self care
Self care can mean many different things. It is essentially any activity you do to benefit your physical, mental, and emotional health.
And everything is connected – caring for the soul or caring for your body it can also benefit your mental health and vice versa.
Self care for the soul could be things to benefit your mental health like therapy, journaling, etc. Self care activities could be things to benefit your physical health like exercise, healthy food, etc. And self care can be things to benefit your emotional health like creating boundaries with others.
In this post, we are going to focus on eight types of self care:
- Mental self care
- Physical self care
- Social self care
- Fun self care
- Cleaning and organization self care
- Personal growth and productive self care
- Sensory self care
- Compassionate and spiritual self care
This list is intended to give you a comprehensive look at self care ideas, and you can choose self care ideas within each type of self care or just one area that resonates with you. This list is for you, so use it based on your needs and wants.
Benefits of self care
Self care has numerous benefits for both your physical, mental, and emotional health.
These benefits vary based on the type of self care you participate in, but may include:
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Improved mood
- Increased productivity
- Boost your immune system
- Relieve pain or discomfort
- Increased self love and self awareness
But there are also so many other potential benefits to self care. Like I said, it really depends on the type of self care activities you choose.
Overall, self care is critical to reducing stress and anxiety, boosting self love and confidence, and improving your physical health and well-being.
And I can say from experience, if you work at building a consistent self care routine you will see these benefits throughout your mind, body, and soul.
Additionally, you will find that each of these self care activities have multiple benefits. For example, while all physical self care ideas target physical health, you may also find that these self care ideas also help your mental health as well.
In that way, a lot of these forms of self care are connected.
Now let’s get into the 290+ self care ideas for a healthy and happy soul.
Mental self care activities
Mental self care is any form of self care that benefits your mental health. For example, this may include dealing with your feelings and emotions, challenging your brain, and reducing stress and anxiety.
1. Journal
Find the right journaling style for your personality style in this post.
2. Meditate
To learn how to meditate, read more here.
3. Take something off your to-do list
4. Unfollow toxic people on social media
5. Challenge your negative self talk
To learn how to manage negative self talk, read more here.
6. Take a nap
7. Light some candles
8. Listen to happy music
9. Do some arts and crafts
10. Read a good book
For some book recommendations, click here for 13 books for the soul.
11. Unplug for a couple of hours
12. Listen to a podcast
13. Use a pro-con list to make a decision that’s been weighing on you
14. Watch a nostalgic TV show or binge a new one
15. Set healthy mental health goals
16. Watch funny YouTube videos
17. Create a to-do list
Need a daily planner? Fill out the form below to get a daily planner that includes a to-do list, space for self care, a place to record daily gratitude, and more.
As a bonus, you’ll also get three other life changing self care resources: A weekly self care schedule, a stress management checklist, and a monthly journal.
18. List five things you love about your life
19. Do some arts and crafts
20. Say some positive affirmations
For 35 Daily Affirmations That Will Boost Self Love, read more here.
21. Try on some clothes that make your feel confident
22. Spend time outdoors
23. Write down a list of everything you love about yourself
24. Make a vision board
25. Dial back your expectations
26. Download Sanity and Self, a great self care app for women
For more information on Sanity and Self, read more here.
27. Cuddle a pet
28. Do something you’ve been putting off
29. Get out of your comfort zone
30. Draw something
31. Try something new
32. Establish a new routine
33. Reconnect with a hobby from your childhood
34. Read more blog posts on self care
35. Forgive yourself for something from your past
36. Start learning a new language
37. Take a mental health day
38. Listen to an audio book
39. Find a therapist in your area
40. Work on a puzzle
41. Forgive someone else for a grudge you’ve been holding on to
42. Have a good cry – let it out girl!
43. Try some mindfulness exercises
44. Give yourself a pep talk in the mirror
45. Reminisce about happy times by looking at old text messages, pictures, etc.
46. Write down three thoughts you want to let go of and then shred or throw away the paper
47. Find an inspirational quote that resonates with you and put it on a sticky note on your wall for a daily reminder
For 37 inspirational self care quotes, read more ere.
48. Do a crossword puzzle
49. Do a word search
50. Let go of perfectionism
51. Communicate your emotional needs to others
52. Buy yourself some flowers
Physical self care activities
Physical self care is any form of self care that benefits your physical health. This includes exercise, beauty, healthy diet, pain or injury management, etc. Use these ideas to get healthy and feel confident in your own skin.
53. Face mask
54. Make a doctor’s appointment
55. See a physical therapist
56. Take some vitamins
57. Do some cardio
58. Tweeze your eyebrows
59. Get a manicure or pedicure. Or do your own nails at home!
For a step by step at home pedicure, read more here.
For a step by step at home manicure, read more here.
60. Get a massage
61. Do some yoga
62. Meal prep for the week
63. Hydrate
64. Get a facial or give yourself a facial at home
For a step by step at home facial, read more here.
65. Have a cup of tea
66. Cook a healthy meal
67. Treat yourself to some take out
68. Moisturize your skin
69. Take a bubble bath
70. Go to bed early
71. Stretch
For 7 stretches for back pain, read more here.
72. Plan out your exercise routine for the week
73. Buy some new athletic wear
74. Buy something new for your kitchen
75. Go grocery shopping for some healthy food – and maybe one treat 🙂
76. Use a lip scrub
77. Weight lift
78. Workout your core
79. Go on a walk
80. Listen to tunes that make you want to dance – and dance your heart out
81. Create a skin care routine to use every night
For a nighttime skincare routine, read more here.
82. Take a shower
83. Shave your legs
84. Have an at home spa day
85. Go on a hike
86. Try a new recipe
87. Do a hair mask
88. Order some custom hair care products – I recommend Function of Beauty!
For $5 off your purchase at Function of Beauty, click here.
89. Try a new hair style
90. Invest in a Fitbit
91. Buy some more athletic equipment
92. Get a gym membership
93. Try a new hair color
94. Treat yourself to a new outfit that makes you feel confident
95. Hit up a local coffee shop for a fancy coffee
96. Purchase tupperware that will help you master meal prepping
97. Make a smoothie
For a green smoothie bowl recipe, read more here.
98. Research a new workout you’ve been curious about
99. Set some goals for healthy eating
100. Sign up for the Self Care Seeker 30 Day Stay Active Challenge
101. Sign up for the Self Care Seeker 30 Day Eat Healthy Challenge
102. Try a new food you’ve never tried before
103. Give your body a break from working out for a day
104. List out everything you love about your body
105. Reduce alcohol intake
106. Make your own DIY body scrub
For four DIY body scrub recipes, read more here.
107. Go swimming
108. Go running
109. Take your dog for a walk
110.Get your teeth cleaned
111. Do a low impact version of your favorite workout
Social self care activities
Caring for the soul doesn’t always involve alone time! Social self care is self care that you can do with others or involve interaction with other people. A lot of times when you think of self care, you picture alone time at home. However, for extroverts self care might feel the best when done with others!
Social self care activities can also be great for when you want to connect with friends or family.
112. Have a spa day at home with friends
113. Text a friend you haven’t talked to in awhile
114. Call a family member
115. Hit the beach
116. Join a book club
117. Join a local sports team
118. Talk to someone about what you’re going through
119. Surround yourself with positive people
120. Delete photos of negative people you no longer hang out with
121. Delete phone numbers of people you don’t talk to anymore
122. Have a picnic with friends or a significant other
123. Join a support group
124. Take a road trip with someone
125. Chat up a stranger
126. Join a group exercise class
127. Find a Facebook group with people who have a shared, similar interest
128. Plan a date night with your significant other
129. Have a pool party
130. Host a movie night
131. Bring your dog to a dog park
132. Give someone a hug
133. Ask for help and lean on others when you need to
134. Binge a show with someone
135. Take a music lesson
136. Meet someone for coffee or tea
137. Reminisce shared memories with someone
138. Host a game night – or a virtual game night!
139. Take a cooking class
140. Make purchases in-person instead of online to interact with others
141. Go to a yoga class with friends
142. Take a weekend trip with friends or family
143. Go to happy hour
144. Go on a bike ride with someone
145. Single? Join a dating app and put yourself out there
146. In a relationship? Recreate your favorite date with your partner
For more self care ideas to do with friends, read more here.
Fun self care activities
Fun self care is any form of self care that brings you pleasure and enjoyment. Use fun self care to blow off steam, let loose, and enjoy yourself! You may even find a new hobby emerge from it.
147. Go to the movies
148. Volunteer at an animal shelter
149. Take a vacation
150. Paint a picture
151. Build something with Legos
152. Do an adult coloring book – or use an adult coloring app
153. Do a puzzle
154. Read a book
155. Listen to a podcast
156. Book a night in a nice hotel
157. Blast the music in your car and sing at the top of your lungs
158. Take up knitting
159. Eat your favorite comfort food
160. Go to a museum
161. Go to a comedy club
162. Attend a play
163. Go see a concert
164. Find a restaurant with live music
165. Try a new brewery
166. Go on a wine tasting
167. Read a magazine
168. Attend a trivia night
169. Do some karaoke
170. Swing on a swingset like you did as a child
171. Visit a National Park
172. Cross something off of your bucket list
173. Go to a farmer’s market
174. Try a new, bold nail color
175. Plan an extravagant vacation even if you have no intention of booking it or taking the trip
176. Visit your hometown
177. Have a photo shoot
178. Adopt a pet
179. Attend a sporting event
180. Go camping
181. Play a board game
182. Test drive your dream car
183. Try something new
184. Build a blanket fort
185. Have a dance party
186. Play a video game
187. Create a scrapbook
188. Write out a bucket list
189. Start a garden
190. Go camping in your backyard
191. Watch the sing-along version of a Disney movie
192. Roll down a hill like when you were younger
Cleaning and organization self care activities
Cleaning and organization self care is any form of self care that helps you clean your living space and organize your life. As a rule of thumb, use these self care ideas to get your life in order and reduce the stress that comes from disorganization.
193. Do the dishes
194. Clean out the fridge
195. Sort through the mail
196. Clean the bathroom
197. Vacuum your home
198. Make your bed
199. Swifter or mop your floors
200. Tidy up the kid’s toys or pet toys
201. Do some laundry
202. Change your sheets
203. Wash the windows
204. Clean out your car
205. Get your desk in order
For calming desk decor, read more here.
206. Organize your closet
For closet organization tips, read more here.
207. Donate clothes you don’t wear anymore
208. Clean the stovetop
209. Rearrange your living room
210. Add some home accents to make your space feel cozy
For ways to relax at home and make home cozy, read more here.
211. Organize electronic cords
212. Dust your bookshelves
213. Take out the trash
214. Clean out your wallet or purse
215. Clean your makeup brushes
216. Delegate tasks to others if your schedule is jam packed
Personal growth and productive self care activities
Personal growth and productive self care is any form of self care that helps you grow as a person, become more productive, and achieve your goals. I recommend to use these self care activities to achieve success and become the boss babe of your dreams.
217. Update your LinkedIn profile
218. Set healthy personal goals
To learn how to set goals and achieve them, read more here.
219. Establish a weekly self care schedule
220. Choose a new daily affirmation to say every day
221. Update your resume
222. Set career goals
223. Build up a new skill
224. Research a class or development opportunity
225. Think about higher education
226. Find some inspiration to achieve your goals
Click here for 8 media devices that will inspire you to achieve your goals.
227. Check something off of your to-do list
228. Build a self care morning routine
For a self care morning routine, read more here.
229. Build a self care night routine
For a self care night routine, read more here.
230. Challenge your negative self talk
231. Forgive yourself for past mistakes
232. List five things you are grateful for
233. Forgive past grudges
234. Create a five year plan
235. Work on breaking an unhealthy habit
236. Feel stuck at work? Research job openings
237. Get ahead on birthday gifts for friends and family
238. Organize your finances
239. Do your taxes
Sensory self care activities
Sensory self care is any form of self care that engages your senses. This form of self care is really beneficial to highly sensitive people, or someone who experiences things more intensely than others.
Use these sensory self care ideas if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or have been experiencing sensory overload lately.
240. Listen to calming sounds
241. Light a candle in a dark room and just sit
242. Go cloud gazing
243. Sit outside by a fire pit
244. Try aromatherapy using candles or an oil diffuser
245. Create a soothing playlist
246. Go star gazing
247. Go to an art museum
248. Wiggle bare feet in the grass
249. Lay down and close your eyes for a few minutes
250. Take some deep breaths
251. Use a weighted blanket
252. Watch the sunrise or sunset
253. Watch an ASMR video, like this one:
254. Find tea or spice specialty store to enjoy some smells
255. Put on some comfortable clothes that feel soft to the touch
256. Do something with your hands like gardening or woodworking
257. Pet a dog or cat
258. Put up some unique lighting in your home
259. Get in bed early
260. Put on some noise cancelling headphones
261. Eat your favorite food or dessert
262. Remove yourself from a toxic situation
263. Turn off phone notifications for news outlets
264. Fill your home with plants
265. Reduce clutter
266. Get some fresh air – maybe keep the windows in your home open for the day
267. Drink some hot water with lemon
268. Take some time to process your emotions in this moment
269. Use some essential oils
270. Do a body scan, checking in with each part of your body and taking note of how each part feels
Compassionate and spiritual self care activities
Compassionate and spiritual self care is any form of self care where you engage your spiritual beliefs (whatever they are!) and your compassion for others. Use these self care ideas to get in touch with your spiritual side, explore other beliefs, and to help others.
271. Meditate
272. Attend a church service
273. Do some yoga
To learn about the physical and mental health benefits of yoga, read more here.
274. Pray
275. Read about beliefs that are different from your own
276. Attend a bible study
277. Jounral about your spiritual beliefs
278. Donate to a cause you are passionate about
279. Take a religion course
280. Practice mindful eating
Click here to learn how to practice mindful eating.
281. Go on a retreat
282. Volunteer for an organization within a cause you care about
283. Donate food or other items to others in need
284. Add some mindfulness activities to your morning routine
Click here for mindfulness activities to add to your morning routine.
285. Go on a mindfulness walk
286. Determine your personal values
287. Figure out what your priorities in life are
288. Read poetry
289. Find some inspirational quotes
290. 30 Day Meditation Challenge
291. Use a guided meditation app
Click here to read about the best guided meditation apps to find the best one for you.
Those are the 290+ self care ideas for the soul.
Self care has numerous benefits for you physical, mental, and emotional health. Use these self care ideas to find those benefits in your own life.
Caring for the soul is important. Take some time for yourself today and try one of these self care activities. You deserve it!
Comment below with your favorite way to practice self care for the soul.
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