50 Self-Care Ideas for Beginners

Sometimes, self-care can be an intimidating subject. For those who are not too familiar with the concept of caring for themselves, trying to find the right way to do it can seem challenging. On one side, we hear people diminishing the importance of following a skincare routine in the name of self-care. On the other, we hear that self-care can be as simple as spending time outdoors.

So, who’s right? Here’s the thing, they’re both wrong. Why? Because self-care is whatever you need at a specific time to care for yourself. And, guess what, that definition changes every day. Today, I’m here to share a list of self-care ideas for beginners so you can tap into them whenever your body, mind, and soul ask for help.

Body Self-Care Ideas

One of the easiest ways to venture into a self-care journey is to start with the physical aspect. Self-care for your body means taking care of your body in all possible ways. You can start with simply drinking more water each day or, be a bit more aggressive by signing up for a weight management challenge. The best thing about self-care is that you get to choose what feels right for you.

1. Start cooking healthy food
2. Aim to exercise at least 3 times a week
3. Adjust your bedroom to improve your sleep
4. Stay away from bad habits like smoking, drinking, and so on
5. Get a routine health check-up
6. Get a massage
7. Make sure you’re getting enough vitamins from diet and supplements
8. Drink the right amount of water for your body
9. Consider a sugar detox
10. Find a skincare routine that works for you

Emotional and Mental Health Self-Care Ideas

Taking care of the emotional and mental health portion of self-care is perhaps more intimidating than signing up for a workout. Even with the stigmas around mental health disappearing, most people still struggle with the idea of caring for their mental health. When it comes to self-care for your mind, there are countless activities beyond therapy that can help.

1. Start getting comfortable with saying “no” when you want
2. Practice mindfulness
3. Become more grateful
4. Start journaling to reflect on your worries and emotions
5. Tap into the power of affirmations
6. Explore your talents
7. Speak with your friends about your mental health struggles
8. Consider getting professional help when you need it
9. Practice positive self-talk and self-love
10. Give yourself forgiveness

Soul Self-Care Ideas

Whether you call it spirit, soul, or what have you, caring for your inner self is one of the most significant gifts you can give yourself. Here’s where things can get more challenging for self-care beginners, however, don’t let that discourage you. Self-care for the soul takes time and practice, start small and keep walking through your self-care journey, knowing that you’re putting in the effort.

1. Start with a mini-meditation session
2. Learn to express gratitude
3. Have a mindful leisure walk in nature
4. Show small acts of kindness to strangers and loved ones
5. Keep journaling
6. Do something you’ve been putting off for a while
7. Embrace positivism to bring positive things into your life
8. Learn to master a breathing technique
9. Find your mantras
10. Listen to relaxing music

Personal Self-Care Ideas

By now, you probably understand why I say self-care is uniquely yours. When we talk about personal self-care, it’s a play on self-development if you will. The more we start caring for our mind, body, and soul, the more we will appreciate the importance of focusing on our development.

1. Sign up for an online course
2. Read self-development books
3. Listen to a personal development podcast
4. Set a goal to develop a new skill
5. Do something you feel passionate about
6. Write down your self-development goals
7. Learn to forgive toxic people in your life
8. Find ways to invest in yourself
9. Try to master self-discipline
10. Work on your public speaking skills

Social Self-Care Ideas

While self-care focuses on your persona, we’re social beings, and caring for others is part of self-care. When you practice social self-care, you’re acknowledging the importance those you love have in your mental health wellbeing.

1. Make sure to call a friend to check-in
2. Schedule family and friends visits
3. Plan a dinner or outing with people you love
4. Learn to set healthy boundaries
5. Realize you need to spend time alone
6. Work on relationships that are important to you
7. Recognize toxic relationships in your life
8. Plan a date night with your partner
9. Sign up for a group fitness class
10. Analyze and detox your social media accounts

A Note from GR8NESS

As you can see, self-care can morph into many activities and actions. If you’re new to this whole self-care concept, don’t feel intimidated. Go at your own pace, don’t be afraid of failing or disliking an activity, and never doubt that your progress is slow or fast enough. Self-care is an intimate and personal journey, only you can judge your progress. If you’re looking for a place to start, start here.