Self-Care
Self-care (n): Any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health (PsychCentral)
Movies & Books
Movies
Books
We strive to create an inclusive environment and hope to respect everyone’s experience as we create these lists.
If any of these books or movies are triggering for you, please contact us here and we will revise the list.
More Self-Care ACTIVITIES
Watch a funny YouTube video.
Get a mani/pedi.
Knit/crochet.
Try acupuncture. Read up on it if you’ve never tried it.
Get a book from the library (free) or bookstore about some topic you’ve been interested in
Use a planner or a calendar to intentionally schedule “me time.”
Listen to music that inspires and motivates you.
Write a list of things you’re grateful to have in your life and post it somewhere you can see it often. We have a tendency to focus on the negative, so remind yourself of the good stuff.
Go through your closet and purge the clothes you haven’t worn in years. Donate them to a charitable organization.
- Engage in some type of exercise. This could include walking, biking, hiking, running, swimming, a fitness class, yoga, and/or strength training.
- Share a kind smile with strangers on your way to and from work. Some people may go all day without anyone acknowledging their existence.
- Start a cycle of encouragement. Tell someone near you what you appreciate about them. They may return the favor when you need it most.
- Buy yourself a fancy coffee instead of making your own
- Call someone you care about to talk
- For fun, dress your pet in a silly costume and take them on tour to make others smile.
- Learn a new hobby, such as sewing.
- Learn a breathing exercise and practice it for a few minutes each day.
- Intentionally reestablish contact with someone you’ve lost touch with and would like to reconnect.
- Try out a form of martial arts.
- Take a moment at the end of each day and consciously list a few good things in your life. This can help refocus your emotions on all the positive things that happen each day, even when it doesn’t seem like it.
- Turn off your phone and step away from the computer.
- Work on a puzzle or play a board game.
- Go out with friends.
- Start/write in a journal how you are feeling and what is going on in your life.
- Engage your creative mind with a form of art. This could also include coloring in an adult coloring book.
- Take a long shower, dry your hair, and put on clothes that make you feel good.
- Meditate.
- Watch the sunrise or sunset.
- Ask someone for help.
- Attend therapy: individual or group.