1. Crying
Crying is a natural human response to emotions, and while it is often associated with sadness or distress, it can have several benefits for our physical and emotional well-being. Here are some potential benefits of crying:
1. Emotional release: Crying can be a healthy way to release and express emotions. It allows us to let out our feelings, from sadness, grief, and frustration to joy, in a safe and cathartic way. Suppressing emotions can have negative effects on our mental health, and crying can be a way to release and process those emotions.
3. Improved mood: Crying has been linked to the release of endorphins, which are our body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals. This can lead to an improved mood and a sense of emotional relief after crying.
4. Social connection: Crying can also foster social connection and empathy. When we cry, we often seek comfort from others, which can strengthen social bonds and promote emotional closeness with loved ones.
5. Physical benefits: Crying can have physical benefits as well. Tears help to moisturize our eyes and prevent dryness, and crying can also help to flush out irritants that may cause eye discomfort.
6. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence: Crying can also help us become more self-aware and develop emotional intelligence. By acknowledging and expressing our emotions through crying, we can gain a better understanding of our feelings and learn to cope with them in a healthy way.
Remember that it’s okay to cry!
2. Cleaning (Decluttering Space)
Taking care of your environment can have immense effects on your mental, emotional and physical well-being, and its a form of self care that can be a perfect part of your self-care routine. Some other benefits are:
1. Reduced stress and anxiety: Clutter in your physical environment can contribute to increased stress and anxiety. It can make you feel overwhelmed, create a sense of chaos, and make it difficult to focus or relax. Decluttering your space can help create a sense of order and calm, reducing stress and anxiety.
2. Increased productivity and efficiency: When your space is clutter-free, it can be easier to find what you need and stay organized. This can lead to increased productivity and efficiency in your daily tasks and activities. You can save time and energy by not having to search for items or deal with unnecessary clutter.
3. Improved mental clarity and focus: A clutter-free space can also promote mental clarity and focus. When your physical environment is organized, it can help clear your mind and allow you to concentrate better on your tasks or activities. This can lead to improved cognitive function and overall mental well-being.
4. Enhanced relaxation and self-care: Having a decluttered space can create a more relaxing and inviting environment for self-care activities. Whether it’s practicing mindfulness, meditation, or simply enjoying a quiet moment, a clutter-free space can help create a peaceful atmosphere conducive to self-care.
5. Better sleep: A tidy and organized bedroom can contribute to better sleep. Having a clean and clutter-free bedroom can create a calming atmosphere that promotes relaxation and better sleep quality, which is essential for overall health and well-being.
6. Enhanced self-esteem and sense of accomplishment: Decluttering can also give you a sense of accomplishment and boost your self-esteem. It can be empowering to take control of your physical space and create a more organized and functional environment. This can positively impact your mood and overall well-being.
3. Doing Nothing
Our lives are way too stressful to fill every inch of every day with some sort of activity. One of the best forms of self-care is to do absolutely nothing! Here are some of the benefits
1. Reducing stress: Engaging in quiet, restful activities such as sitting in nature, reading a book, or simply resting without any distractions can help lower stress levels. It allows your body and mind to relax, which can reduce the production of stress hormones and promote a sense of calm.
2. Restoring energy: Giving yourself permission to do nothing can help you recharge and restore your energy levels. It allows your body and mind to rest and recover, which can help improve your overall productivity and performance in the long run.
3. Enhancing creativity: Allowing yourself to have unstructured time and space can foster creativity. When you’re not constantly occupied with tasks and distractions, your mind is free to wander and come up with new ideas and insights.
4. Cultivating mindfulness: Doing nothing can be an opportunity to practice mindfulness, which involves being fully present in the moment without judgment. It can help you develop a deeper awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations, and help you build trust within yourself and your intuition with the decisions you make.
4. Saying "No". Setting Boundaries
Setting boundaries is necessary for your mental well-being. We are often pulled in different directions and giving ourself the grace and ability to say no should be more common. Setting boundaries allows you to fill your cup first before you try to pour into others, because you can’t do that at the best of your ability until it is full.
1. Improved mental health: Setting boundaries allows you to protect your mental health by prioritizing your needs and well-being. It helps you establish limits on what you are willing and able to do, which reduces stress, burnout, and overwhelm. When you have clear boundaries, you can create a healthy work-life balance, avoid overcommitting, and prevent emotional exhaustion.
2. Increased self-respect and self-esteem: Setting boundaries demonstrates self-respect and self-esteem as you communicate and assert your needs and values. It sends a message to yourself and others that you are worthy of respect and consideration. When you set healthy boundaries, you establish a sense of self-worth, which boosts your self-esteem and self-confidence.
3. Enhanced relationships: Boundaries are crucial in maintaining healthy relationships. They help you establish clear expectations and communicate your needs and limits to others. This promotes mutual respect, understanding, and healthy communication in relationships. Setting boundaries also helps you identify and address toxic relationships, ensuring that you surround yourself with people who respect and support your well-being.
4. Increased productivity and effectiveness: Setting boundaries allows you to focus on your priorities and manage your time and energy effectively. It prevents distractions, interruptions, and unnecessary demands on your time, allowing you to be more productive and efficient in your work or personal life. When you set clear boundaries, you can allocate your resources wisely and achieve your goals more effectively.
5. Laughing
We all know laughing is good for the soul! But did you know that these were some of the benefits of laughing…
1. Reduces stress: Laughing triggers the release of endorphins, which are known as the “feel-good” hormones. Endorphins help to reduce stress, anxiety, and tension, and promote a sense of relaxation and well-being. Laughing can also lower the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the body, which can help to alleviate the physical and mental symptoms of stress.
2. Enhances mood: Laughing is a natural mood booster. It can help improve your mood and outlook on life by promoting positive emotions and increasing feelings of happiness, joy, and amusement. Laughing can also shift your perspective and help you see things in a more positive light, which can be beneficial for your mental and emotional well-being.
3. Strengthens social connections: Laughing is often a social activity, and it can help strengthen social connections with others. Laughing together with friends, family, or colleagues can create bonds and foster a sense of belonging and community. It can also improve communication and build trust, which are important aspects of healthy relationships and social well-being.
4. Enhances physical health: Laughing has been linked to several physical health benefits. It can boost the immune system by increasing the production of antibodies and activating immune cells, which can help to prevent illness and promote overall health. Laughing can also stimulate circulation, relax muscles, and improve pain tolerance, leading to potential benefits for cardiovascular health, muscle tension, and pain management.
6. Forgiving Yourself & Others
This might be one of the hardest but most beneficial and underrated self care practices on the list! That is why I have to share the 7 benefits that comes along with forgiving yourself and others:
1. Relieves emotional burden: Holding onto grudges, resentments, or guilt can create emotional burden and stress. Forgiving yourself and others can help release this burden and free you from negative emotions associated with past mistakes, conflicts, or hurts. It can help you let go of emotional baggage and move forward with a lighter heart and mind.
2. Promotes emotional healing: Forgiveness can be a powerful tool for emotional healing. It allows you to acknowledge and process emotions related to past hurts or mistakes, and it can promote emotional closure and resolution. Forgiving yourself and others can help you come to terms with the past, let go of emotional pain, and foster a sense of emotional well-being and inner peace.
3. Enhances self-compassion: Forgiving yourself is an act of self-compassion. It involves acknowledging your imperfections, accepting yourself with kindness, and treating yourself with love and understanding. Self-forgiveness can help you cultivate self-compassion, which is an important aspect of self-care. It can boost self-esteem, self-worth, and self-acceptance, leading to improved overall well-being.
4. Improves relationships: Forgiving others can also improve your relationships with them. It can help repair broken trust, restore communication, and foster reconciliation. Forgiveness can create an opportunity for healing, growth, and deeper connections with others. It can also promote empathy, understanding, and compassion, which are important components of healthy relationships and social well-being.
5. Reduces stress and anxiety: Holding onto grudges, guilt, or resentment can increase stress and anxiety levels. Forgiving yourself and others can help reduce these negative emotions and their associated physiological responses, such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and heightened cortisol levels. Forgiveness can promote relaxation, emotional regulation, and stress reduction, leading to improved physical and mental well-being.
6. Enhances mental health: Forgiveness has been linked to improved mental health outcomes. It can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. Forgiving yourself and others can help you let go of negative thoughts, rumination, and self-blame, and promote a more positive mindset and emotional state. It can also improve coping skills, resilience, and overall psychological well-being.
7. Fosters personal growth: Forgiving yourself and others can be a catalyst for personal growth and transformation. It requires reflection, self-awareness, and a willingness to let go of the past. Forgiveness can help you learn from your mistakes, develop greater self-awareness and empathy, and cultivate a mindset of growth and resilience. It can also promote self-reflection, introspection, and self-improvement, leading to increased self-growth and self-development.
7. Have Sex/Masturbation
This one might surprise you, but YES pull out that sex toy or find ya partner – with consent – and go have some stress relief. These are some of the things sex and masturbation can do for you:
1. Physical well-being: Sexual activities can release endorphins, which are natural feel-good chemicals in the brain, and promote relaxation. Orgasms can also release oxytocin, which is known as the “love hormone,” and can promote bonding, intimacy, and emotional well-being. Sexual activities can also improve blood flow, boost the immune system, and improve sleep quality, which are all important for overall physical health.
2. Stress reduction: Sexual activities can be a form of stress relief. Engaging in pleasurable sexual activities can help reduce stress and tension, and promote relaxation and a sense of well-being. Sexual activities can also serve as a distraction from daily stressors and help you relax and unwind, contributing to better mental health.
3. Emotional connection: Sexual activities with a partner can foster emotional connection, intimacy, and bonding. Engaging in consensual sexual activities with a trusted partner can promote a sense of closeness, intimacy, and emotional connection, which can improve overall relationship satisfaction and emotional well-being.
4. Improved self-esteem and body image: Engaging in sexual activities with yourself or with a partner can promote positive self-esteem and body image. It can help you feel more comfortable and confident in your own skin, promote self-acceptance, and improve overall body image and self-worth.
5. Improved mood and mental health: Sexual activities can release endorphins, which are known to improve mood and mental well-being. Engaging in pleasurable sexual activities can promote a positive mood, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and contribute to overall mental health and well-being.
6. Self-exploration and self-care: Masturbation can be a form of self-exploration and self-care. It allows you to connect with your body, understand your own sexual preferences and desires, and practice self-care and self-compassion. Taking time for yourself and engaging in sexual activities that you enjoy can be a form of self-care and contribute to overall well-being.
8. Ride Through Dream Neighborhood/Location
This is a self care practice that is very underrated because it allows you imagine and visualize your future and what you want it to look like. Doing this in a way that gives you joy and relaxation, plus these other benefits:
1. Mindfulness and presence: Visualization and daydreaming can be a form of mindfulness and presence. When you engage in visualization or daydreaming, you are directing your focus and attention to the present moment, and allowing yourself to fully immerse in your imagination. This can help you cultivate mindfulness, be present, and experience the moment fully without judgment or distraction.
2. Stress reduction: Visualization and daydreaming can be calming and help reduce stress. When you engage in visualization or daydreaming, you are using your imagination to create positive or pleasurable images in your mind, which can help you relax and unwind, and reduce stress and tension.
3. Creative expression and problem-solving: Visualization and daydreaming can stimulate creativity and problem-solving skills. When you allow your mind to wander and engage in visualizations or daydreams, you may come up with new ideas, solutions to problems, or creative inspirations. It can be a way to tap into your subconscious mind and explore different perspectives or possibilities.
4. Goal setting and motivation: Visualization can be used as a powerful tool for goal setting and motivation. When you visualize yourself achieving your goals, you are creating a mental image of success, which can help you stay motivated, focused, and committed to your goals. Visualization can also help you build self-confidence and increase your belief in your ability to achieve your desired outcomes.
9. Plan an Extravagant Date with Yourself
There’s nothing more fun than taking yourself on a date! This is a form of self care that has many benefits and can also help you romanticize your life while also treating yourself in ways that help you realize how you want to be treated in a relationship. These are the other benefits of this underrated self care activity:
1. Relaxation and stress relief: Taking yourself on a date can be a great way to unwind and de-stress. It gives you a chance to focus on yourself and your own needs, which can be very rejuvenating.
2. Increased self-awareness: Spending time alone can help you become more self-aware and in tune with your thoughts and emotions. It can also help you identify what you need and want in your life.
3. Boost in self-esteem: Doing something special for yourself, like taking yourself on a date, can boost your self-esteem and sense of self-worth. It shows that you value yourself and your own happiness.
4. Increased creativity: Trying new things and exploring new places on your own can help stimulate your creativity and inspire new ideas.
5. Improved relationships: When you take care of yourself and prioritize your own needs, you are better equipped to show up as your best self in your relationships with others.
10. Volunteer with a Friend
Volunteering can be a super fun and fulfilling way to help others. It’s an underrated self care activity that allows you to make an impact on a cause you care about. Some of the other benefits are:
Improved mental health: Volunteering can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment, which can boost your mood and overall sense of well-being. Studies have shown that volunteering can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Increased social connections: Volunteering allows you to meet new people and connect with others who share your interests and values. This can help combat feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Reduced stress: Helping others can be a great way to take your mind off your own problems and reduce stress. Volunteering can also give you a sense of control and agency in your life.
Personal growth: Volunteering can provide opportunities for personal growth and skill development. You may learn new things, gain new perspectives, and challenge yourself in new ways.
Increased sense of purpose: Volunteering can provide a sense of meaning and purpose in your life. It can help you feel like you are making a positive impact on the world and contributing to something larger than yourself.
11. Audit who you Follow on Social Media
This might be the most underrated and powerful form of self care on this list! Auditing your social media following means to go through your Instagram, Tiktok, Twitter, or any other social media account you have and start unfollowing people who affect your mood in a negative way when you see their posts. Then go about following people who inspire and uplift you. Some of the benefits of doing this are:
1. Reduced anxiety: Social media can be a major source of stress and anxiety. Unfollowing people who make you feel anxious or stressed can help you feel more relaxed and at ease.
2. Improved self-esteem: Comparing yourself to others on social media can be damaging to your self-esteem. Unfollowing people who make you feel bad about yourself can help you feel more confident and self-assured.
3. Increased productivity: Social media can be a major distraction that takes up a lot of time and energy. Unfollowing people who post content that doesn’t add value to your life can help you focus on more productive activities.
4. Enhanced well-being: Social media can be a breeding ground for negativity and toxic behavior. Unfollowing people who spread negativity or engage in toxic behavior can help you cultivate a more positive and uplifting social media environment.
5. Greater authenticity: Social media can be a place where people curate their lives to present a certain image. Unfollowing people who don’t align with your values or who don’t seem authentic can help you surround yourself with people who are genuine and authentic.
Hopefully you enjoyed this list of underrated self care practices. Sometimes you don’t realize the benefits of some of the simplest activities. Please let me know how you enjoyed engaging in these self care activities. Check out our other blog posts about journaling and self care. 🙂
