Self-Care Ideas for hard days
If today is a day that feels hard, being intentional about self-care is a healthy practice. Here are 20+ self-care ideas for hard days.
Take a shower or bath: Hot water calms our nervous systems. For additional soothing, add a bath bomb or shower steamer (these are 50% off and truly amazing).
Read or listen to a book: Let your mind escape with a good book! If you don’t have a book on hand, listen to a book on Audible. You can try Audible for just 99 cents right now, so it’s the perfect time to get it. My favorite recent listen is The Frozen Rover.
Journal: Writing is helpful for getting out feelings that we have inside. This daily journal is a simple way to practice gratitude, which is a good perspective shift on a hard day. I also love this daily motherhood journal.
Get Outside: Breathing in fresh air and taking in nature is always calming.
Move your body: Exercise lowers stress hormones and increases endorphins, which make you happier. If you need an exercise program, this one is only $3 for a year and has classes from yoga to strength.
Sleep: Sleep is a great way to get rest and care for your body.
Get creative: Pick a favorite craft and make something. For a new creative endeavor or a guided class, check out Craftsy. It’s only $1.49 for a year and has hundreds of creative classes from baking to stitching to painting.
Host a dinner with friends: It doesn’t have to be fancy, but having people over for dinner always is fun. Sometimes the best thing to do to care for ourselves is to be with other people we love.
Watch a movie: Pop some popcorn, get cozy with a blanket and watch your favorite movie or a new to you flick.
Log off social media: If social shares make you anxious or cause you to compare, consider logging off altogether.
Build a puzzle: The slowness of building a puzzle and the satisfaction of seeing something come together is a perfect stress-reliever. This puzzle board is a must-have for puzzle hobbyists.
Get a massage: Touch and stress relief is helpful for relieving pain in your body.
Write a card: Tell someone you love them or show appreciation by sending a card. The kindness will bless you and them.
Make appointments: If you have appointments that need to be made, make them! Reducing the mental load of those looming tasks will feel so good.
Cook comfort food: What is a meal you actually love? Cook something comforting to eat. (This post has dozens of great meals and lots of them are comfort foods!)
Meditate: Use a meditation app to soothe and calm your mind.
Talk to someone: Sharing how your feeling with a trusted friend or therapist can offer the support you need on a hard day.
Make a family memory: Enjoy being with your kids and do something memorable, like decorating for the holidays.
Listen to music: Turn on your favorite artist or playlist and sing along! If you don’t have a music service, check out Amazon Music. It streams easily on any device and has all your favorite artists and songs.
Volunteer: Sometimes serving others is a great way to shift your perspective, especially on hard days.
Pray: Connect with your higher power and ask for peace and guidance.
If you are feeling grief or disappointment that extends beyond a hard day, order my forthcoming book, I Thought It Would Be Better Than This: Rise from Disappointment, Regain Control and Rebuild a Life You Love. It offers personal stories and practical tips that will empower you to make your life better than you can imagine, despite hard circumstances and disappointment.