In 2016, I challenged myself to complete a yearlong self-care challenge. Every day for 366 days (2016 was a leap year) I experimented with a new self-care strategy. This articles highlights over 300+ self-care activities to help you find new rituals to integrate into your practice.
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Self-Care Activities to Design a Healthy Lifestyle
The following list of 300+ self-care activities is organized by self-care dimension to help you explore new acts of self-care:
The Systemic Dimension of Self-Care
The Systemic Dimension of Self-Care focuses on how you eat, move and rest.
- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
- Limit sugar
- Practice deep breathing exercises
- Track your menstrual cycle and symptoms
- Open a Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Get a flu shot
- Eat a fermented food
- Take a walk in nature
- Go paddleboarding
- Toss out expired medications
- Upgrade your skin care routine
- Attend a wellness retreat
- Organize your pantry
- Practice safe sex
- Plan a picnic
- Bake something
- Run (or walk) a marathon
- Make a list of questions to ask your doctor
- See a dermatologist
- Try reflexology
- Hire a registered dietitian
- Try a new type of exercise
- Go for a swim
- Buy a new pillow
- Take a Pilates class
- Hire a health or fitness coach
- Try a new recipe
- Clean out your refrigerator
- Change your home and auto air filters
- Get an acupuncture treatment
- Pack your lunch
- Exfoliate your skin
- Register for a 5k
- Use a sugar scrub
- Have a healthy snack
- Take a walk with a friend
- Enjoy a mocktail
- Go plant-based
- Get a stand-up desk
- Prepare a living will
- Care for your feet
- Get a scalp massage
- Include strength training in your workouts
- Take a cooking class
- Plan your menus in advance
- Get a manicure
- Get a fluoride treatment
- Buy a water filter
- Organize your recipe collection
- Quit smoking
- Buy new gym clothes
- Have a pharmacist review your medications
- Take a self defense class
- Get vaccinated
- Give blood
- Go kayaking
- Buy a new mattress
- Use a pressure cooker
- Prepare a 3-day emergency kit
- Buy new athletic shoes
- Drink unsweetened water
- Take medications as prescribed
- Schedule a walking meeting
- Get a pedicure
- Visit a friend
- Use sunscreen
- Volunteer at a community garden
- Learn to ferment food
- Hire a personal trainer
- Do a breast self-exam (BSE)
- Go canoeing
- Sleep in
- Get a deep tissue massage
- Build a home treadmill workstation
- Enjoy a cup of tea
- Unwind in a hot tub
- Floss
- Set a bedtime alarm
- Shop the farmers’ market
- Try a morning meditation
- Create a personal medical record
- Eat colorfully
- Make a grocery shopping list
- Get CPR certified
- Take a hike
- Get a mammogram
- Spend time in silence
- Cry
- Get up-to-date with your health screenings
- Get a facial
- Eat something green
- Go cycling
- Walk a dog
- Take a stretch break
- Schedule preventive exams
- Say no to something
- Cook with an iron skillet
- Learn about nutrition
- Get an annual physical
- Go for a run
The Emotive Dimension of Self-Care
The Emotive Dimension of Self-Care focuses on your how you express yourself—your externalized thoughts.
- Say thank you
- Practice deep breathing exercises
- Talk about what you do want more than you talk about what you don’t want
- Adopt a pet
- Go to a writing retreat
- Take a bonsai class
- Learn to crochet or knit
- Make a scrapbook
- Get a pedicure
- Go to a silent retreat
- Go to the symphony
- Identify your emotional triggers
- Share your story with someone you trust
- Establish a new morning self-care ritual
- Have your house professionally cleaned
- Cuddle
- Get a manicure
- Enjoy a sunset
- Get a scalp massage
- Create a self-care survival plan
- Listen to the ocean
- Speak up
- Take a warm shower
- Listen to music
- Join a support group
- Get a relaxation massage
- Write a letter of gratitude
- Float a river
- Get a spa treatment
- Write in a journal
- Relax by a fire
- Watch a funny movie
- Hire a therapist
- Enjoy a cup of tea
- Write poetry
- Unwind in a hot tub
- Take an art class
- Try an evening meditation
- Write affirmation statements
- Relax with aromatherapy
- Accept what is
- Volunteer at the food bank
- Snuggle with pets
- Write a letter of gratitude
- Be kind to everyone
- Downsize your belongings
- Go to the beach
- Sit in silence
- Cry
- Make a list of things you love
- Make a list of things you’re grateful for
- Turn off social media notifications
- Celebrate your successes
- Start a blog
- Walk a friend’s dog
- Go to bed early
- Make new friends
- Set healthy boundaries
- Laugh
- Decline an invitation
- Learn to play a musical instrument
- Ask for help
- Give a gift
- Take something off your to-do list
- Perform a random act of kindness
- Create a vision board
- Go for a run
- Take a tai chi class
- Attend a live music event
- Take a day off
- Take a soothing bath
- Apologize
- Color
- Sing
- Take a yoga class
- Take a dance class
The Luminescent Dimension of Self-Care
The Luminescent Dimension of Self-Care focuses on how you illuminate your inner truth—your strengths, spiritual and cultural beliefs, perceptions, values, personality, preferences, and what makes you uniquely YOU.
- Identify your core values
- Get a new haircut
- Ask for what you need
- Hire a therapist
- Take an art class
- Hire a wardrobe stylist
- Vote
- Go to an inner child retreat
- Understand your personality
- Know your strengths
- Read old journals
- Try a walking meditation
- Hire a coach
- Accept what is
- Share your story with a trusted mentor
- Do your best
- Create a capsule wardrobe
- Be kind
- Change your mind
- Speak up
- Read scripture
- Make a scrapbook
- Sit in silence
- Get clear about what you want to do, be, have and feel
- Make a list of things you love
- Start a blog
- Write a book
- Set healthy boundaries
- Get your makeup done professionally
- Create a vision board
- Take a tai chi class
- Uncover your personal brand
- Go to a yoga retreat
- Take a dance class
The Financial Dimension of Self-Care
The Financial Dimension of Self-Care focuses on how you allocate your resources—your earning, spending, giving, and saving habits.
- Define what your “enough” looks like
- Become (and stay) debt-free
- Ask for what you need
- Downsize your belongings
- Hire a financial adviser
- Create a capsule wardrobe
- Get clear about what you want to do, have, be, and feel
- Have leftovers for dinner
- Say no
- Cook at home more
- Reduce your spending
- Fund your retirement account(s)
- Open a Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Cancel unused memberships
- Create a budget
- Use a money management app
- Hire a CPA
- Create a vision board
- Get a new professional certification
- Create a last will & testament
- Set up automatic bill payments
- Go window shopping
- Review your finances regularly
- Opt for generic medications when possible
- Shop around for insurance
- Review your medical statements carefully
The Cognitive Dimension of Self-Care
The Cognitive Dimension of Self-Care focuses on how you think—your mindset.
- Tune into your mental health state
- Expect good things for your future
- Release expectations
- Drink alcohol in moderation (if at all)
- Weigh the pros and cons before making a decision
- Establish a new morning ritual
- Research your options
- Schedule a walking meeting
- Improve your self-awareness
- Overcome a fear
- Learn to sail
- Write in a journal
- Listen to a podcast
- Create a self-care survival plan
- Learn to crochet or knit
- Think about what you do want more than you talk about what you don’t want
- Hire a therapist
- Get clear about what you want to do, have, be, and feel
- Work a puzzle
- Go to a bookstore
- Write poetry
- Hire a coach
- Create a bucket list
- Learn to play a musical instrument
- Join a book club
- Visit the library
- Try a guided meditation
- Think the best of everyone
- Take a continuing education class
- Explore new possibilities
- Accept what is
- Be kind
- Plan your weekly schedule ahead of time
- Define what your “enough” looks like
- Give yourself permission to change your mind
- Sit in silence
- Make a list of things you love
- Turn off social media notifications
- Schedule a planning retreat
- Stay hydrated
- Start a blog
- Get a new certification
- Attend a workshop
- Start a new journal
- Take a nap
- Write a book
- Set healthy boundaries
- Say no
- Ask for help
- Listen to an audio book
- Set weekly goals
- Vote
- Read a book
- Create a vision board
- Become the director of your healthcare team
- Eat regular meals
- Take a day off
- Create a manifestation space
- Establish your personal brand
- Take a yoga class
- Travel to another country
- Update your insurance policy beneficiaries
The Aptitudinal Dimension of Self-Care
The Aptitudinal Dimension of Self-Care focuses on how you contribute to the world—your life’s purpose.
- Take an art class
- Delegate something
- Hire a business coach
- Take a continuing education class
- Ask for support when you need it
- Take something off your to-do list
- Hire a career coach
- Make a list of your essential tasks
- Create a manifestation space
- Do your best
- Make your schedule more efficient
- Use a planning system
- Learn to play a musical instrument
- Hire a coach
- Make a list of things you love
- Designate specific times to check email
- Practice active listening
- Schedule a planning retreat
- Establish a new morning ritual
- Start a blog
- Attend a workshop
- Speak up
- Write a book
- Say no
- Find a mentor
- Set weekly goals
- Create a vision board
- Take a day off
- Get a new certification
- Start a bullet journal
- Create your personal brand
- Track your goals
- Build something
- Download a health app
- Take an online course
- Make a list of your top 5 goals each week
The Relational Dimension of Self-Care
The Relational Dimension of Self-Care focuses on how you connect with others.
- Say thank you
- Develop a family emergency plan
- Understand the personalities of the people closest to you
- Practice deep breathing exercises
- Cuddle
- Become an organ donor
- Practice safe sex
- Help a neighbor with a project
- Ask for what you need
- Have the courage to be disliked
- Meet new people
- Forgive
- Hire a therapist
- Share your story with someone you trust
- Get your family photos updated
- Spend time with friends
- Hold space for someone
- Join a book club
- Plan a picnic
- Think the best of everyone
- Take a walk with a friend
- Know your emotional triggers
- Volunteer at the food bank
- Get CPR certified
- Write a letter of gratitude
- Speak up
- Reconnect with an old friend
- Plan a date night
- Organize a gathering
- Give blood
- Be kind to everyone
- Ask for forgiveness
- Turn off social media notifications
- Listen actively
- Join a support group
- Start a blog
- Edit your inner circle
- Grow your community
- Set healthy boundaries
- Say no
- Buy coffee for a stranger
- Ask for help
- Complete a living will
- Give a gift
- Perform a random act of kindness
- Join a civic organization
- Create a last will & testament
- Have coffee with a friend
- Ask questions
- Schedule a walking meeting
- Find a new mentor
- Join Toastmasters
- Apologize
- Spend quality time with family
- Establish your personal brand
- Travel
- Volunteer at a community garden
- Update your insurance policy beneficiaries
The Environmental Dimension of Self-Care
The Environmental Dimension of Self-Care focuses on how you harmonize with nature, your community, and your personal spaces.
- Donate something you no longer need
- Tidy up your workspace
- Take a walk outside
- Play with a pet
- Have your house professionally cleaned
- Plan a trip
- Go paddle boarding
- Consult a permaculture designer
- Enjoy a sunset
- Listen to the ocean
- Go fishing
- Use reusable grocery bags
- Repurpose something
- Take a road trip
- Go on an adventure
- Learn to sail
- Play in the snow
- Relax with aromatherapy
- Recycle
- Volunteer at the food bank
- Snuggle with pets
- Compost
- Get CPR certified
- Spend time in the garden
- Take a hike
- Add fresh flowers to your home or office
- Go to the symphony
- Visit a museum
- Downsize your belongings
- Go to the beach
- Buy a houseplant
- Change your sheets regularly
- Take a self defense class
- Plant a tree
- Attend a live music event
- Go sightseeing
- Go berry picking
- Take a shorter shower
- Use a water filter
- Travel
- Clean your yoga mat
- Volunteer at a community garden
- Join a civic organization
- Go camping
- Take a cold shower
- Go canoeing
- Buy a new pillow
- Go for a swim
- Go stargazing
- Float a river
- Take a bonsai class
- Clean out your refrigerator
- Change your air filter
- Organize a closet
- Become a master gardener
- Create a music playlist
- Make a donation to a charity
- Put together an emergency kit for your car
- Create a manifestation space
- Vote
- Rearrange furniture
- Make your bed
Which Self-Care Dimension Needs Your Attention Right Now?
Use the Rate Your 8 self-care assessment tool to check in with your needs regularly. Then, revisit these 300+ self-care activities as often as you need to update your self-care routine.
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Information on this website should not be interpreted as providing or replacing medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content is intended for adults over the age of 18. LivingUpp is a participant in affiliate programs, which means we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases on links to Amazon and other sites at no additional cost to you.