40 Practical Self-Care Ideas to Give Your Energy A Boost
You're not asking for a lot. You just want self-care that is more than locking yourself in the bathroom to get 5 minutes of peace and quiet.
I had been looking forward all day to curling up with tea and a new book I’d been wanting to read for months.
My arse barely grazed the couch cushions, when the inevitable, “Mooooom!” echoed from upstairs, forcing me to freeze, “mid-sit”. (Well, at least I got in ONE squat today.)
Even when you go through the trouble of scheduling "self-care time", it gets derailed.
Video Credit: Nocolis via Tenor
You shouldn't be forced into pretending you’re using the bathroom to get a few minutes of mindless scrolling and calling it “self-care”. (Although it's a start.)
You deserve more than that.
But all the self-care ideas you can think of:
Take too much time
Require a babysitter
Or involve white sandy beaches and drinks with little umbrellas
Self-care CAN be energizing and fun and not just another obligation. Become the “mad scientist” of your own life with this free “Self-Care Experiments” PDF.
Table of Contents
I. Before Work: Give Yourself the Best Possible Start With Quick Wins
II. Keep Your Energy High By Finding Small Moments During the Day
III. A few Special Tips For Teachers (like me, and maybe you)
BONUS Free PDF for Teachers: How to Hack Your Prep Time
IV. Self-Care Ideas To Boost Your Energy into the Evening (Even When You're Tired)
I. Before Work: Give Yourself the Best Possible Start With Quick Wins
Get up 10 minutes earlier so that you have time to enjoy your morning coffee or tea.
Take 5 minutes as you get ready for work and listen to a podcast that interests you. I love Laura Vanderkam’s “Before Breakfast” podcast, but there are tons of other 5-minute podcasts to suit your listening preferences!
4. Take 2 minutes to get some extra enjoyment out of pet snuggles (a gift for both of you).
5. If you don’t usually eat breakfast, get up 10 minutes early to prepare:
Scrambled eggs
A piece of multigrain toast
Some sliced strawberries
Your favorite coffee
Fueling your body well is the perfect way to show yourself some love.
6. Maybe you’re more of a smoothie person. Take 3 minutes to make yourself and the kids a healthy, delicious smoothie.
7. After your shower, take an extra moment to put on your favorite body lotion to care for your skin.
8. Start your day with a 5-minute meditation so you begin your day feeling calm.
9. Get 1 minute of fresh air first thing in the morning. I live in Canada (so I know sometimes the air is on the chilly side).
But stepping out onto your front porch and breathing in the morning air is such a refreshing way to start your day.
No expectation to do anything.
Nothing to accomplish.
Take a few moments to yourself to breathe in the fresh air.
10. Stretch for 5 minutes with this gentle yoga flow.
II. Keep Your Energy High By Finding Small Moments During the Day
11. Take short breaks. No brainer, right? Well, you’d think.
When you’re busy, it’s easy to convince yourself to put your head down and “power through”.
That’s exhausting.
Instead, try to break up your time by gifting yourself a few moments of self-care.
Practice mindful box breathing to get refocused. It only takes a minute of your time but can help you:
Regain focus
Improve productivity and efficiency
12. Take time for yourself at lunch:
Throw on a few funny cat videos while you eat
Enjoy the silence
Think about 1 thing you have to look forward to after work
13. Look for “self-care mini moments”. You’re standing at the photocopier.
Instead of running to do three other things, take those 2 minutes to intentionally be grateful for something that happened that day…
If nothing else, the copier had both toner AND staples.
Small moments of appreciation may seem silly but they help to build a habit of gratitude without stealing more time from your day.
III. A few Special Tips For Teachers (like me, and maybe you)
15. If your students do independent reading and you usually use that time to prep, take the opportunity to join them!
It could be the ONE way you finally get that book read plus you’re modeling being a reader at the same time.
16. Design your prep time so it’s enjoyable
After you get to the bathroom:
Grab your favorite tea or coffee
Shut your classroom door
Listen to your favorite playlist as you correct, prep, or tidy your classroom
17. If you have a day where you don’t have a prep to replenish your energy, be extra kind to yourself on that day!
And, if you want to be more intentional with your prep time, so you have more time for self-care in the evening, grab your free PDF: How to Hack Your Prep Time.
IV. Self-Care Ideas To Boost Your Energy into the Evening (Even When You're Tired)
18. Instead of staying late to finish up a few more things, leave when you’re allowed to leave and take a quick 20-minute walk before you head to pick up your kids.
Maybe a colleague would even like to join you and you can debrief your day before you even get home!
20. Take 15-30 minutes to do a workout of your choice after supper (my favorite free app is currently FitOn).
21. Watch an art tutorial and sketch for 20 minutes.
22. Take 30 minutes to do your hobby of choice :
Write
Knit
Scrapbook
23. Play in the yard with the kids.
24. Watch a funny show, movie, or stand-up routine and make time to laugh!
Are YOU The Perfect Mother?
25. Take a luxurious bubble bath with bath bombs and everything.
(Is it really a self-care list if “bubble bath” isn’t on here?)
26. Take 10.
Plan to take 10 minutes to do whatever you want.
Game on your phone
Meditate
Mindlessly scroll - pick your pleasure.
27. Reconnect with a friend - text or chat with one of your favorite people.
28. Reconnect with a partner - sit and chat with the tv off and phones away. Enjoy each other’s company.
29. Take 20 minutes for body maintenance - do your nails or a face mask/scrub - on a weeknight!
30. Practice some self-love by doing some positive affirmations.
31. Dance!
It’s almost impossible to dance around your kitchen without smiling. Try it and enjoy the boost in your mood.
32. If you enjoy cooking:
Plan a special meal to enjoy - perhaps on a Friday evening when you don’t have work the next day.
Take it as an opportunity to reconnect with your family and let them help, if they’re willing!
33. Listen to an audiobook (I'm a big Audible fan.)
34. Take 2 minutes to reflect on your day. What was the highlight?
35. Hydrate - especially if you usually refuel with caffeinated beverages.
36. Take your dog for an extra long walk.
38. Brush up on your French, with an app like Duolingo, for the trip to Paris you've always dreamed of.
39. Reconnect with your favorite people and have family games on a school night.
Our favorites:
Sequence
Blokus
Or playing a round of MarioKart on the kids’ game system
40. Get to bed a bit earlier and reconnect with your partner - or sleep! Or reconnect and then sleep 😉
V. Too Tired to Decide: Spin the Self-Care Wheel
Hopefully, you’re realizing self-care can be worked into the ebb and flow of your day, and not only those extended “bathroom breaks”.
But if you’re still not sure where to find the time, I think you’d love this free guide: How to Make Yourself a Priority.