17 Fun Self Care Ideas to Do With Friends
Self care doesn’t just have to be things you do on your own. There are plenty of self care ideas to do with friends.
Connect with friends or family members by engaging in these self care ideas together.
Don’t get me wrong, sometimes self care is best when relaxing alone at home. You know, you might want to save that bubble bath for private time.
But it can also be really fun and calming to enjoy some self care with the people you are close with.
The best way to find the right self care activity to choose with your friends is ultimately what you both want and need at that given time.
Benefits of doing self care ideas with friends
If you like to be around other people, doing self care ideas with friends is a great way to have company while you add self care to your day. Even if you are a bit of an introvert like me, it can be a lot of fun to include your friends in the self care activities you love!
Here are some of the benefits of doing self care ideas with friends…
Connect with friends
Doing self care activities together will help you connect in a different way than you might from other activities you do together right now. It may spark deeper conversation and solidify each other as a support system when you both need it.
Share self care ideas
Doing self care ideas with your friends is an opportunity to share all of your favorite self love activities you like to do on a regular basis with other people. You might inspire them to add some of those self care ideas to their daily routine!
Learn new self care ideas and self care tips
When you get friends together for some self care time, you’ll likely learn a lot of new self care tips from the others in the group. And just like you’ll share self care ideas with them, you will likely gain more self care ideas you hadn’t thought of yet.
Improve mental health
Self care in general is a great way to improve mental health such as reducing stress and anxiety. While self care is certainly not a cure all solution, it can do wonders to help you relax and de-stress.
Mix up your usual routine with friends
If you and your friends are in a social routine of going out for drinks, it can be a great way to mix it up and have a self care day instead.
Keep yourself accountable
Do you ever tell yourself that your going to make that 6 pm yoga class after work and then when the time rolls around you can’t find the motivation to go? Hey, it happens.
But if you are planning to join a yoga class with friends, you’ll be much less likely to bail. This concept applies to all self care activities you plan on doing – you will be more likely to follow through when someone else is holding you accountable.
Now let’s talk about the 17 self care ideas to do with friends.
1. Get a manicure or pedicure
Getting a manicure or pedicure is a great self care activity to do with friends.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I go to a nail salon by myself it can be a little boring. Or I just end up looking at my phone the entire time.
With friends, you’re able to take a break from your screens in favor of chatting and catching up while you all get pampered.
2. Go to a yoga class
Another one of the best self care ideas to do with friends is a yoga class. Doing yoga with other people can be fun and will hold you accountable for showing up to the class.
It can be especially good to bring someone with you to your first yoga class to make it less intimidating.
To learn about the physical and mental health benefits of yoga, read more here.
If going into the yoga studio isn’t quite your thing, you and your friends can also set up some yoga mats in your house or the yard and follow along with a guided yoga video on Youtube.
3. Have an at home spa day
Sometimes it can be really fun to do some self care ideas right at home!
Get some friends together for an at home spa day. Use your favorite face masks, paint your own nails, or do a hair mask.
While you apply your treatments, you can chat, listen to music, watch fun movies, etc. To make it really feel like a spa, you can also put out some cucumber water, light candles, and play relaxing music to help everyone get into the calming vibe of a spa.
For some of my favorite cruelty-free products to use for at home spa days, read more here.
4. Spend time outdoors
Spending time outdoors is good for both your mental and physical health. So why not do it with friends?
Being outside is a great way to find peace and connect to nature. It’s also good for you because you will absorb Vitamin D from the sunshine. If you have a job where you sit inside all day, it will be a great change to soak up some sunshine outdoors.
Looking for ways to spend time with others outside? Go for a walk, take a bike ride, or meet up for lunch at a restaurant with outdoor seating.
5. Create vision boards
Making a vision board helps you visualize your goals and what you want to achieve in life. This can be things related to health, work, relationships, fashion, etc.
Print off photos from the Internet or round up some magazines and get together with a friend to put together vision boards that will inspire you to achieve your goals.
It can be fun to sort through photos together and find inspiration in each other’s ideas.
To learn about 3 ways to create a vision board, read more here.
6. Volunteer at an animal shelter
Volunteering fills your soul and spending time with animals can be really stress relieving. Why not combine both?
Spend some time you can feel good about by volunteering at your local animal shelter. It can be a fun way to bond with a friend and do some good at the same time.
Plus, who doesn’t love spending time with dogs and cats all day?
7. Do something creative
It can be calming and freeing to get in touch with your creative side making it one of the best self care ideas to do with friends.
Get together with a friend and do something creative together. You can start a DIY project together or sign up for a painting class together.
I really like painting classes through Painting with a Twist and Yaymaker. They both have virtual classes as well if you prefer to do a class right from home!
8. Meet up for a cup of tea
Tea is a healthy and calming beverage. And it might taste even better to enjoy your tea with some conversation and good company.
Meet up at a local cafe or brew some tea at home! While you enjoy your cup of tea, you can talk and bond.
9. Cook a healthy meal
Treating yourself to a healthy meal is a wonderful form of self care.
It can be fun to cook a meal with someone else. Try a new recipe or one of your healthy go-to meals. While you cook, you’ll be able to share cooking tips with each other. You can also put on some music and jam out while you prepare your meal.
10. Do some exercise
Exercising is beneficial to both your physical and mental health. But sometimes it can be hard to find the motivation to hit the gym on your own.
Keep yourself accountable and find your time at the gym more enjoyable by inviting a friend. Going on a walk together or signing up for a fitness class are great self care ideas to do with friends.
11. Go for a drive
It may sound simple, but going for a drive can be a good way to connect with a friend and relax.
Listen to your favorite podcast or just disconnect from technology and enjoy each other’s company while you explore a new area.
12. Start a new hobby…or reconnect with an old one
Having a hobby outside of work can help you find work life balance because it can help you find passion, achievement, and purpose in your personal life.
It can be even more fun to start a hobby with a friend. Join a community sports team together, learn an instrument, etc. Find something new to bond over and a fun activity to relax.
It can also be fun to reconnect with an old hobby that has slipped off your calendar.
13. Binge a TV show
It may sound simple, but one of the best self care ideas you can do with friends is having a chill day to binge a TV show. Sometimes you just need to take a day to relax on the couch with your favorite show and a good friend – no shame in that.
Pick a favorite go-to like Friends or The Office, or try getting hooked on a new show!
14. Get dressed up…just because!
It can be really fun to get dressed up just for the heck of it. Getting dressed up can also be a great way to build confidence and feel good about yourself.
Invite some friends over to get ready together. Play some music and chat while you do makeup and get dressed.
Then just enjoy each other’s company at home or take your looks out on the town and treat yourselves to a fun dinner or some drinks.
15. Hit the pool or the beach
Have a beach day with friends, soaking in the sun and ocean air. Or enjoy the water poolside.
Read magazines or just chat while you sit back and relax together. You can also make some fun drinks to sip on while you enjoy the sun.
16. Treat yourselves
Just like in Parks and Rec, sometimes you need to “Treat yo self”. Treat yourself with friends by indulging in your favorite sweet treats or go shopping for a new outfit.
Do whatever you want to treat yourselves and enjoy your day.
17. Do a self care challenge
Lastly, one of the best self care ideas to do with friends is to participate in a self care challenge together. You will keep each other accountable and motivated throughout the challenge.
It can also be a great way to bond as you share what your experiences are together.
Those are the 17 self care ideas to do with friends.
Self care should be whatever makes you feel healthy and relaxed. But there’s nothing stopping you from doing self care ideas with other people!
It can sometimes even be more fun to plan self care with friends or family members.
Comment below with your favorite self care idea to do with friends.
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