Most of us know that self-care is important, however, incorporating some me-time into our daily lives can easily slide down to the bottom of our to-do lists if we’re not careful. Creating a robust self-care routine will not only help to reduce stress and anxiety, but it will also make you an all-round happier and chilled out human.

Although self-care can sometimes be perceived as a luxurious activity that we can only afford as a treat (like a holiday or an expensive massage) there are SO many free and easy self-care activities you can do in the comfort of your own home that won’t cost you a penny. 

Here are a few of our favourite self-care tips to help you take care of yourself now, so that you won’t be paying the price later down the line.

1. Ecstatic Movement

Before you roll your eyes and imagine dancing barefoot to drums in a forest, hear me out. Ecstatic movement is actually just about moving your body to music in a way that feels good to YOU. Think of it as your very own dance party where you can kick off your shoes, blast some tunes and dance like nobody’s watching. It’s a great way to get a little silly and to move some stagnant energy that can sometimes get stuck in our bodies. Next time you feel a little frustrated or need a pick-me-up, pop on your favourite playlist and get groovin’!

2. Drawing, Painting  or Creating

Ask yourself, when was the last time you created something? Not something digital on the computer, but something with your actual hands? With all the benefits that an increasingly digitized world brings, going back to basics and creating something physical can be incredibly therapeutic. If you think back to when you were a child, I’m sure you had no qualms busting out the crayons and colouring in a picture – or the walls if you were an especially creative kid like me (sorry mum!). As adults, our judgement of being “good” at something has gotten in the way of simply enjoying being creative. Oftentimes it’s just fun to put some splashes of colour onto a blank canvas and express ourselves in a different way.

Why not give it a go? Dig up the watercolour paints or get some drawing pens and let your imagination run wild.

3. Wake up and Watch the Sunrise

If you’re an avid traveller you may already have this trick up your sleeve. Getting up early is an excellent way to see a certain destination without the crowds. But why not continue this habit when you’re back home too? Waking up with the sun is one of the best ways to begin your morning on the right foot. The world is incredibly peaceful at sunrise, and this will undoubtedly set the tone for the rest of your day. If you’ve already given yourself space and silence before the rest of the world wakes up, you’re setting yourself up for success.

4. Journaling

Journaling is possibly one of the most powerful, yet overlooked activities that we can do when it comes to self-care. Taking care of our minds is just as important as taking care of our bodies. The awesome thing about keeping a journal is that it’s like being your very own therapist. Look at it as trapping your monkey mind on paper, so you can get the heck on with your day. Through journaling, you can have a conversation with yourself and make sense of some of the complicated thoughts and ideas that are living in your head.

5. Reading and Reflecting

There’s a reason why this tip doesn’t just say reading. Reading is wonderful, but when we have chockablock schedules and busy work-lives, the thought of starting a 200-page long book can feel like another large task to tick off. Instead of adding to the pile of things to do, a sure-fire way to unwind is to read a book you’ve already read (and know that you loved). You can open it up at any page you feel called to, and reflect on some words and knowledge that is familiar to you. It’s calming on the mind without being too stimulating – the perfect balance.

6. Having a Bath

Contrary to what social media wants you to believe, you don’t need to post a picture of your bubble bath for you to be indulging in #self-care. In fact, our advice is to leave the phone outside of the bathroom for this one. The point of running a hot bath (or a cold one, if you’re feeling brave) is to take an hour of connecting with YOURSELF. And no, texting your 5 best mates whilst sitting in some warm water doesn’t really count as relaxing. See it as a time-out from your everyday obligations and a valuable moment to find some inner peace. Do this regularly (sans technology) and “blissful” will be your middle name.

7. Free flow yoga

If you’re not a hardcore yogi, that’s fine! As opposed to feeling intimidated by a class where people are almost always way more flexible than you, this is about letting it flow freely. AKA, you decide exactly what you want to bend and twist (or flop). This can actually be a really nourishing practice though, as you can hone in what your body is needing at that particular moment. Try and not get too stuck in your head of what you should or shouldn’t be doing. Let it flow, baby.

8. Meditation

Ahhh, our all-time favourite self-care practice. A common misconception is that meditation is merely an emergency handle to pull the brakes on a particularly stressful day. Although this has its place, we prefer to use it as a more preventative measure. By having a daily meditation routine, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, you’re less likely to get to that overwhelming danger-zone in the first place.

If you’re new to meditation and have no idea where to start, check out the Mindspo Meditation Method, where you’ll learn all the tools to acquire a fool-proof daily meditation routine.

9. Create a Vision Board

A lot of people underestimate the epic power of making a vision board. If you have big dreams for your career, relationships or life (duh, of course you do, you’re human) then a vision board is a must. It’s a great opportunity to see a visual representation of what you want to manifest, not to mention it motivates the crap out of you. One of the best ways to invest in ourselves is to invest in our future, and this powerful exercise will help you create the reality you want to live in. 

10. Clear your space

Crucify me for being cliché, but it’s true when they say “a messy room is a messy life”. We are firm believers at Mindspo that your outer world is a reflection of your inner world. Pay attention to when you’re feeling stressed or anxious – what does your living space look like? 9 times out of 10, it’ll be unorganised, messy and in need of a bit of a spring clean. When we make time to tend to our home surroundings, we allow ourselves to think clearly and have a clean slate when we wake up the next day. And besides, who doesn’t love the smell of clean sheets?

As you can see, self-care doesn’t have to be an extravagant or a once-in-a-blue-moon kind of thing. The secret really lies in the little things, which add up over time and amplify our wellbeing and happiness. If you love looking after people, remember you can’t give to others unless you first give to yourself. Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s vital! 

What self-care practices do you currently do? Let us know!