With school starting up soon, I’ve been feeling stressed out. However, I have some great self-care practices that help relieve stress and make me more relaxed, less anxious, and ready to be productive. Self-care is VERY trendy as of recently, but it isn’t necessarily what you may think. Yes, putting on a sparkly peel off face mask CAN be called self-care, but most of the time, self-care is more than that.
The Types of Self-Care
There are 8 types of self-care. Here’s a great graphic I found on pinterest explaining them:
Personally, I use personal self-care, physical self-care, and emotional self-care the most.
Here’s my list of the ten most relaxing self-care practices:
Personal Self-Care: reading
Reading a good book can be one of the most relaxing types of self-care. I’ve had a TON of summer reading, and I’ve actually come to really enjoy it. Getting cozy in my bed and reading before I turn off the lights is not only incredibly relaxing, but it clears my mind of the day’s anxieties and helps me get a better night’s sleep.
Some of the best books I read this summer were Jane Eyre, Little Women, Jaws & Garlic and Sapphires.
Physical: taking a long shower or bath
Getting clean is relaxing in itself, however, the act of actually showering or taking a bath is SO relaxing too. If you want to take a SUPER relaxing shower, exfoliate beforehand, use a nice smelling body wash (this one is my fav), shampoo and condition your hair, use a hair mask, do whatever your heart desires the make that time the most refreshing it can be.
If you would rather take a bath, I add a few drops of lavender oil and some epsom salts. You would not BELIEVE how relaxing it is.
Space: tidying up
Cleaning up your room for a few minutes before bed ensures you have a de-cluttered environment to wake up to. Having a clean space before bed always helps me feel more relaxed, as well as more motivated in the morning.
Cleaning doesn’t have to be extensive. Just tidy some things up! Clean up your bed and maybe put away any clothes that are out. After that, do more fun versions of cleaning. I like to turn on my oil diffuser and my fairy lights. If you’re looking to be really productive, follow the cleaning tips I wrote about in this article about how to easily declutter your room, which can also be found through this Tik Tok:
Personal: make a mug of tea
I LOVE tea. I drink at least one cup of tea every night (usually herbal or rooibos) and a cup of green tea every morning. Drinking a steaming hot mug of tea can be so relaxing to your mind and your body. I LOVE Celestial Seasonings, and these are some of my favorite types of tea:
I usually drink my tea in bed while reading or watching a relaxing TV show.
Emotional: watch a plot-less TV show
Watching a TV show without a plot can be SO relaxing. When I go to sleep, I don’t like the watch any shows that are particularly gripping or anxiety producing. Some of my favorite shows are actually not helpful for me to watch before bed because I get too involved in the plot (Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, Bob’s Burgers).
Instead, I like to watch shows where nothing significant really happens. It’s really calming because it gives you something almost superficial to focus on instead of what might be stressing you out. When I’m stressed or trying to relax, I watch The Pioneer Woman, or The Great British Baking Show Masterclass.
I hope you all enjoyed this article, and I hope you’ll try some of my favorite self-care practices when you need a break or just need to relax.
Great article! So many people are stressed during this challenging time; there is something that each of us can add to our repertoire in the article. Thanks for posting.