Self care has become more popular in recent years. It comes up the most when you’re feeling a little off, feeling a little stressed, or simply overwhelmed with every day life.

But by practicing self care more regularly, you’ll start creating a lifelong habit that won’t have you scrambling for the spa every time you get stressed. Instead, self care will be built into each and every day.

What does self care mean?

Self care doesn’t need to take forever

Let’s get something straight right off the bat. Self care does not need to take up hours (or even days). I think one of the biggest reasons self care still gets the proverbial scoff is because it feels time consuming.

You can give yourself five minutes of refreshing, stress-fighting self care time and feel like your old self again.

Self care is not selfish

The other common excuse against giving ourselves more self care is that it feels selfish.

Here’s another way to look at it that is terribly cliche, but true: can you give from an empty cup? Of course not.

When you’re exhausted and depleted, there’s no way that you can be your best self. By doing some simple acts of self care, you’ll feel like you have more energy, more calm, and most importantly, feel like your best self.

Self care is unique to you

With that said, acts of self care are different for everyone. Some of us want alone time, some of us want creative time, some of us want girlfriend time. So pick and choose from the list below and try what works for you!

9 Ideas for Acts of Self Care

So many of us — especially women and, more specifically, Moms — don’t take the much-needed time for ourselves that we not only crave, but need. Here are some easy ways to start infusing acts of self care in your life.

1. Do something you love

It seems so simple, but prioritizing the things we love to do (but never seem to get to) is a true act of self care.

Whether you love taking baths, reading books, or rock climbing, it’s real self love to spend the time and energy needed to do what you truly love for yourself.

2. Get fresh air

We’re spending more time indoors and on our devices than ever before, so it’s important to be proactive about stepping outside.

Spending time in nature and getting fresh air has been scientifically proven to boost our mood and improve our health. No matter where you live, you can make outdoor time part of your self care routine.

Here are some easy ways to start getting outside more:

• Eat outside: take your meal outdoors and have a fun picnic
• Hike: Take a local hike at a state park, up a mountain, or on the beach
• Take a ride: get on your bike or rollerblades and enjoy the great outdoors in a more cardio-focused way
• Take a walk: lunch time walks, an out-of-the-way walk into work, or an extra walk with the dog or kiddos all count!

3. Get some sleep

Countless studies tell us how getting less sleep puts additional stress on our bodies. So not only are we tired, but the additional stress leads to weight gain, anxiety, and so many more negative side effects.

The average adult should be getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night, so ensure you’re giving yourself enough time each night to get to bed, with plenty of time to wake up and get ready in the morning.

If you’re the type that loves to nap, why not try to put some time aside when your schedule allows to give yourself the gift of a nap?!

4. Listen to something you love

Whether it’s a great song or a podcast, listening to motivational recordings or happy music can help stimulate your brain for the best.

Certain music has been proven to boost creativity, so try giving it a listen in the background while you work or even while you cook or drive!

5. Meditate

It’s no secret that meditation can create calm in an anxious body, help you focus on what matters, and give your mind and your body a much-needed break.

If you’re new to meditation, do some simple searches on YouTube to find videos that can walk you through a guided meditation.

6. Move your body

Movement — in whatever form you like best — boosts our cardiovascular health, increases all those feel good hormones, and improves metabolism.

So whether you love to lift weights, do yoga, go walking, or dance it out, moving your body in some way should be a priority each and every day.

7. Nourish your body

You already know that feeding your body healthy foods will help you feel your best. But did you know that eating nourishing foods can be a great form of self care too?

Try adding one more serving of fruits and vegetables to your daily diet and notice how your body feels as a result.

Take the time to truly cook, taste, and enjoy the foods you eat and notice how each one makes you feel. Eat more of what feels good, and less of what doesn’t.

8. Turn off your devices

Unplugging is something that feels oh-so-good and yet, we rarely do it.

Step away and take a break for the sake of your your brain and your creativity can do wonders for your self care.

9. Write in your journal

Regularly writing in a journal can help you process thoughts, help you visually see thoughts of gratitude, and so much more.