Four Surprising Ways To Practice Self Care

According to a recent study, the number of people making time in their routine for self-care is growing year on year. For example, right now, 64% of Americans practice self-care, up from 57% in 2020.

This is something that should be celebrated. After all, it means that as a nation, we’re working to ensure our needs are addressed in our daily lives, which can only be a good thing. If self-care does not currently factor into your routine, however, it is time to turn things around.

Fortunately, there are many ways in which you can go about this, especially if more traditional forms of self-care, such as skincare, aren’t your thing. Read on to find out more!

Self-Care Activity: Gardening.

Gardening is one of the best ways to practice self-care. For example, not only can it provide you with a welcome distraction from whatever is bothering you, but countless studies have found that it reduces stress, anxiety and other negative emotions. It also incentivises you to spend more time outdoors, which is a welcome change for those who work behind a desk or at a screen for hours at a time. 

Pro Tip: Whether you’ve been gardening for some time or are a complete beginner, buying the right supplies will allow you to get the best results when gardening. This, in turn, will encourage you to stick to your new self-care project, as you’ll feel proud of the work you’re carrying out. Fortunately, you’ll be able to find everything you need, from a lawn mower to shears, online! 

Self-Care Activity: Start saying no.

Self-care isn’t all face masks and bubble baths (though it absolutely can be). Sometimes, self-care is simply being more intentional about the way you spend your time, so that you are giving yourself time to relax and breathe. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by starting to say ‘no’ to plans that you don’t want to, or are too busy to, be a part of. While it may seem that way, there’s nothing selfish in doing so, and you should not overburden or overwork yourself in order to make others happy. 

Pro Tip: Instead of viewing saying ‘no’ as some kind of villainous activity, try to see it for what it actually is. It's a way of giving time back to yourself, which can help you to relax and 

cope with stress. Those around you will totally understand your reasoning for turning down plans, and they have likely done similar things themselves in the past. It also helps to be honest about why you’re saying no as opposed to trying to make up an excuse. This encourages others to be more genuine, and should help to prevent any feelings of guilt that are associated with turning people down.

Self-Care Activity: Re-reading your favorite books. 

Reading, in general, is a great act of self-care, especially for those who find peace and contentment in escapism. After all, the hours you spend reading are hours spent in a different world entirely (providing they are well-written). However, re-reading your favorite books or novels can be particularly beneficial. This is because it evokes a sense of nostalgia, which often leaves us feeling relaxed, comforted and confident. 

Pro-Tip: If you’re enjoying reading and want to make more time for it in your day-to-day routine, consider joining a book club. By having to read a book each week/month, you’ll be sure to hold yourself much more accountable moving forward, as you’ll want to make sure you have something to say at the next meeting. This also gives you an excellent opportunity to make new friends with shared interests. You could, at some point, even suggest that the group reads your favoirte book, while discovering others that you love along the way.

Stepping outside of your comfort zone.

Sometimes, the best way which to show yourself some love is by putting yourself in a situation you feel somewhat uncomfortable in. This is because, when stepping outside our comfort zone, we’re giving the future version of ourselves a boost. For example, it could help us to develop new skills, meet new friends, or simply learn just how powerful and strong we are. 

Again, there are many different ways in which you can start stepping outside of your comfort zone. For example, you could enrol in an online course that, in time, will help you to take the next step in your career or learn more about a subject that you are genuinely passionate about. Alternatively, you could join an exercise class as opposed to working out on your own. 

Pro-Tip: Start small. Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be incredibly daunting, especially if you’ve stayed within your shell for a long time. However, it is important to note that you don't necessarily have to leap out of your comfort zone - you could start by taking a small step forward. Small steps can help you cover long distances over time!

You may also find it easier to start venturing out of your comfort zone by doing it with a friend or loved one by your side. This makes the process feel a lot less frightening, as you’re not alone and you’re with someone who is going to support you every step of the way. 

Final thoughts. There are many, many benefits associated with fitting self-care into your daily routine, from reduced stress to improved confidence. As such, it is something that we must all make a priority moving forward, no matter what excuses come to your head relating to your current lack of self-care routine.

After all, there are plenty of self-care tasks that you can get involved in, which means that you are sure to find an activity that you like. This includes some of the more unusual activities that are not usually brought up in self-care conversations,  such as stepping out of your comfort zone, gardening, learning to say no, and re-reading your favoirte books.