40 Little Things You Can Do for Yourself Today
If you’ve been feeling stressed lately, you’re not alone. (Is there anyone who isn’t feeling burned out after this past year?!) While you probably know that self-care is one of the most important things you can for yourself, even that can start to feel like just another thing to add to your ever-growing to-do list. How can you find the time for a spa day when you can’t even have 2 minutes to yourself to go to the bathroom?!
Here’s the solution: bookmark this list of little things to do for yourself. They might not be a spa day, but most of them are small pick-me-ups that you can work into your day to make yourself feel good.
- Buy yourself a bouquet at the grocery store. Have you seen the flower selections at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s? Pick one out next time you’re running errands and brighten up your kitchen. (Bonus if you have time to use it to make your own flower arrangement.)
- Text a friend you’ve been meaning to catch up with. And not the friend who’s all drama and venting—we mean that friend who makes you laugh until your stomach hurts or the one who you can talk to about The Bachelor for an hour.
- Order from your favorite restaurant for lunch. You don’t have to come to a family consensus about where to get takeout from when you’re just ordering for yourself. Vegan poke bowls FTW!
- Make some time for a sheet mask. After the kids go to bed, wash your face and treat yourself to a sheet mask—even if you end up wearing it while doing the dishes or folding laundry.
- Pick out a new piece of art. Even if you don’t end up buying new art for your home, just the act of browsing a site like Minted can be relaxing.
- Take a day off of social media. You might love social media, but we promise you’ll feel really good going a day without it. In fact, you might end up making a habit of it—you’ll find a lot more time for yourself without all that mindless scrolling.
- Read a magazine. When’s the last time you sat down and read a print magazine from cover to cover? This is one of those things you can do for yourself to help you wind down before bedtime.
- Hire someone to deep-clean your home. If the sound of someone washing the floor is your ASMR or if you’re the type who just can’t relax if your home is anything less than pristine, treat yourself to a house cleaner.
- Bake up something delicious. Our vegan and gluten-free lattice-top apple pie will give you a sense of accomplishment, a tasty treat, and make your kitchen smell incredible too.
- Purge your closet. You’ll feel a weight off your shoulders when you get rid of all those old clothes you don’t wear anymore (or, even worse, those clothes you don’t feel good in, but continue to wear just because they’re there).
- Buy yourself some new underwear. Or a bra. Maybe pajamas. Even socks! We often focus on updating the rest of our clothes each season and neglect undergarments and loungewear, so it can bring you a bit of joy to buy something that only you know is new and special.
- Sign up for a class. Have you always wanted to learn calligraphy? Or maybe you’ve been meaning to try your hand at knitting? Sign yourself up for a class—either online or in-person—and learn something new.
- Spend some time outside. Even just a few minutes in the sunshine can lift your mood. (It’s also a great way to boost your vitamin D naturally).
- Light a candle. You might be doing homework with your kiddos or catching up on emails, but there’s something about burning a candle that instantly makes you feel a little bit calmer.
- Take a bath. You don’t have to spend an hour in the tub, either. A quick soak with some bath salts or a CBD bath bomb can help you sleep better tonight.
- Hit snooze. If you’re a mama, have your partner take over kid duties in the morning so you can sleep a little bit later. If not, plan a late start at work and spend an extra hour in bed. You deserve it.
- Get yourself something you don’t really need. How often do you talk yourself out of making a purchase because you don’t really need it? It’s time to buy yourself that Machete comb or a pair of comfy slippers.
- Give yourself a gua sha massage. A body gua sha feels amazing—it somehow leaves you feeling both energized and relaxed. You only need a few minutes to do it, too.
- Make an appointment to have your eyebrows done. If you’ve neglected all those stray hairs during the pandemic, it’s time to give yourself a fresh start.
- Create something. Choose your preferred medium, whether it’s painting, sewing, drawing, or anything else, and take the time to channel your creative energy into making something beautiful.
- Watch a show that makes you laugh. You know what they say, laughter is the best medicine.
- Play with your kids. Play with your kids. Be mindful and present, not distracted and distant. When you stay in the moment and set aside your mental to-do list, you’ll be surprised how grounding it can be to do this.
- Mix up a cocktail. Or, if you’re feeling more virtuous, make yourself some celery juice. When it comes to little things you can do for yourself, a daily juicing habit can have a big impact on your health.
- Plan your next vacation. What sights will you see? What hotel will you stay at? You might scrap all of your plans a week from now, but it can be fun to daydream.
- Call in sick to work. Then spend the day doing whatever the heck you want.
- Reach out to an older family member. Call your grandma, your aunt or uncle, or anyone else who you haven’t talked to in a while. They’ll appreciate it and you’ll feel good having connected with them.
- Spend 5 minutes meditating. If 5 minutes feels like an eternity, start with 3 minutes. Meditation is a proven way to reduce anxiety and feel better.
- Listen to your favorite album. Or play some of your favorite songs from when you were in high school or college.
- Give yourself a pedicure. We don’t mean just painting your nails. Give your feet a soak and a scrub too.
- Knock something off your to-do list. It will feel good to finally call the electrician or make that appointment with the dentist if it’s been on your to-do list for the past month.
- Solve a crossword puzzle. And if crosswords aren’t your thing, try an actual puzzle. The goal here is to shift your brain to a different kind of thinking so you can set aside your anxiety for a bit.
- Add a new houseplant to your home. For those who have too many houseplants (guilty!), take some cuttings from one of your faves and repot them.
- Do a random act of kindness. Order groceries and give your shopper a $50 tip. Send that friend who’s going through a tough time a gift card for a cup of coffee. Making someone else’s day can make your day too.
- Inspire yourself. Browse through a coffee table book about your favorite artist or look at landscaping ideas on Pinterest. Give yourself some inspiration to help get you out of feeling like you’re in a rut.
- Deep condition your hair. Grab that hair mask that you never have time for—it’s time to finally use it!
- Set some goals. There’s something empowering about writing a list of your short-term and long-term goals. It doesn’t even have to be those broad, big picture life goals either—it could be goals for improving your home or your health.
- Savor a cup of tea. You’ve heard of mindful eating, right? Well, let us introduce you to mindful sipping. If you’re not one to meditate, try this instead—brew yourself a cup of your favorite tea, then sit somewhere quiet and focus on the warmth of the teacup in your hands, the aroma from the steam, and the taste as you sip it.
- Stretch your body. Stretching is one of the most under-rated forms of exercise. Not only does it feel good in the moment, it also has a number of wellness benefits, including improving posture, relieving anxiety, and increasing your range of motion.
- Support a small business. Your dollars make a much bigger impact when you use them to support a small business you believe in.
- Diffuse your favorite essential oil blend. Ahh, Stress Away.
Shop this Story.
Story Details
Photography
- David Prado
