Your complete self-care should include a balance of activities focused on refreshing yourself, mind, and body. Why? Actions or activities that refresh your mind and body are fundamental to your well-being (particularly if you’re feeling overwhelmed or overworked). 

What Is Self-Care?

Any action we take to preserve or better our well-being counts as self-care. Although we care for ourselves intuitively in many ways, some self-care activities require our deliberate effort (as you likely know). 

You’re Worth It!

Caring for yourself, in personally meaningful ways, renews all of you (mind and body). An effort is required, but you’re so worth it! You know it’s vital to be proactive with your care. Hence, you are here, seeking ideas to add to your self-care toolbox. 

The List

The list below provides self-care activities, which refresh your mind and body. Although we may prefer to replenish ourselves in different ways, there are sure to be activities on this self-care list that appeal to you. Likely, you’re already incorporating some of the listed self-care practices (yay, you!). I’ve included ideas of varying lengths (time-wise), yet most can be adapted to suit your individual needs.

11 Self-Care Activities to Help Refresh Your Mind and Body

1. Forest Bathing. This term was coined in the 1980s in Japan and is a form of preventative care. You’ll notice a sense of inner calm when you allow yourself to be absorbed in moments while exploring greenspace. Connecting with nature renews us on a cellular level. So, let it all soak in: the sights, sounds, and smells. 

2. Feel the Music. Our minds tend to equate music to memorable moments. We remember particular moments in our life when we hear specific songs. Blast your favorite tunes and focus on the music. Feel the music and let go of worrying thoughts.

3. Meditate! Meditation renews all of us (mind, body, and spirit). The calm generated during meditation usually brings us to the present moment, disarming tension. When you temporarily cease chasing thoughts, you naturally renew yourself (a simple breath or mantra meditation will do nicely).

4. Walk It Off. Walking releases natural endorphins (our brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters) into the body, which benefits our emotional health, reducing the adverse effects of everyday stress.

5. Bust a Move.  Busting your best moves is a stimulating physical activity that promotes restorative vibes (even if dancing isn’t your thing). Crank up your favorite tunes and lose yourself in the music. Think Footloose-caliber liberation, folks. Bust a move to bring the calm.

6. Phone-a-Friend. Have a long talk with an old friend. This thoughtful act is revitalizing because recalling ancient times invokes blissful nostalgia.

7. Binge-watch Your Favorite Shows. Net-flix-a-thon, anyone? Whether we serial watch an addicting series on Netflix or catch up on recorded episodes of our fave shows, a bit of binge-watching is what we sometimes need.

8. Play Games. Activities geared toward fun are fab self-care ideas, too. Games distract and entertain our minds for a while (whether board games, video games, or otherwise). This break of sorts can be rather rejuvenating.

9. Embrace Your Artistic Side. Whatever your artistic inclination, embrace it. In general, we tend to be present when creating, which invokes a sense of peace. Think: painting, drawing, crafting, coloring, etc. (side note: “adult” coloring books are incredibly calming, see below for an example). 

10. Organize and Prioritize with Lists!  Often the weight of our responsibilities causes us to become overwhelmed. You can organize various tasks into smaller chunks with “to-do” lists. Categorize your lists however you deem fit, with an emphasis on prioritization. The act of managing our responsibilities in this way lessens their weight.

11. Go for a Long Drive. Long drives induce relaxation.  A scenic drive may be your thing, or maybe you don’t have a preference. Some choose quiet when driving, while others prefer to multitask and sing their heart out, or listen to podcasts, audiobooks, and music while navigating. Do what works for you.

In Closing

Be proactive about your self-care time. If your current schedule prevents you from utilizing your time and energy (resources) for yourself, prioritize your care as you do others’ care. Use your limited resources to renew yourself (mind and body); you’re so worth it!