23 Self Care Ideas to Help You Relax and Recharge in 2022

Self-care is like the oxygen mask on an airplane. If you don’t take care of yourself first, you won’t be able to help others for very long.

When you take the time to focus on yourself, you can recharge and return to your everyday tasks with more focus and joy, and a fresh attitude.

In this article, we share 23 of the best self-care ideas that can help you rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit!

Let’s get started improving your emotional health, physical health, and mental health, by adding these ideas to your routine.

What are the 23 Best Self Care Ideas?

1. Sunlight

Sunshine is a key ingredient for good health and a strong immune system. Your body needs sunlight to produce vitamin D, which helps protect against diseases like osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancer. Sunlight also helps to reduce anxiety and boost your mood by increasing levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain.

2. Grounding at the Beach

There’s a scientific reason why grounding at the beach is so beneficial. Saltwater is a natural conductor of electricity, and when you walk in it, you are exposed to negative ions. These ions are known to reduce stress levels, boost immunity, and improve circulation. So the next time you feel drained, or stressed out, take a trip to the beach and let a walk in nature help restore you.

3. Grounding at Home

If you can’t get to the beach, grounding at home or at work is the next best thing. Connect to the Earth’s energy by walking barefoot on concrete, grass, or dirt, or swimming in a concrete bottom pool or any natural body of water. If you can’t get outside, use a grounding mat under your feet or grounding sleep mats for all night grounding. Benefits of grounding include reducing inflammation, stress and anxiety, and improving sleep. You should make daily grounding a very high-priority in your self care tools. Here’s a great 11-minute documentary short if you’d like to learn more about grounding.

4. 528 Hz Tuning Fork Therapy

528 Hz tuning fork therapy is a form of energy healing that uses vibrational sound to recalibrate the body’s biofield and assist in cellular repair and DNA regeneration.

When the body’s energy field is in alignment, the body heals itself more effectively.

Tuning forks are a really important part of my daily life. I use 528 Hz, 174 Hz, 144 Hz, and 417 Hz for mental health and balancing emotions by redirecting energy flow. I listen to them before meditation and prayer, or before I take a nap or rest, or anytime really. Relax and enjoy the benefits of sound healing with this 528 Hz video I created. More on Tuning Fork Therapy in this post.

5. Mineral Drinks

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can cause a wide range of health problems, such as fatigue (iron deficiency), anxiety and insomnia (magnesium deficiency), depression, and even dementia. This is because mineral imbalances can cause chemical imbalances in the brain. Correcting these imbalances with mineral drinks can help to improve mental clarity and focus. I drink 32 ounces of water with one pack of Modere Go, one Revitalize, and one Power Pak, every day. This has helped me kick Starbucks, reduced my feeling stressed, and (combined with Intermittent Fasting) helped me take off 47 pounds.

6. Get Some Sleep

Did you know sleep deprivation can contribute to mental illness? When we don’t get enough sleep, our stress hormone cortisol levels spike and we can become anxious and stressed. Not getting enough sleep disrupts our body’s natural production of melatonin, which can lead to depression.

As we sleep, we produce more human growth hormone, which helps to repair tissue and build muscle and allows our body to repair itself. It is essential for brain function. Getting a good night’s sleep helps improve memory and cognitive function.

If you have trouble sleeping try a little self-love by soaking in a warm bubble bath. Take melatonin supplements, listen to rain or ocean videos or white noise and don’t look at blue light (tv, cell phone, monitors) a few hours before bed. Stop eating 4 hours before sleep so your last meal is digested. You can also try relaxium, which I first thought was another synthesized pharma product, but turned out to be all natural. It has melatonin. ashwagandha, magnesium and a few other ingredients, and works great for me.

7. Rain Videos

Here’s a direct link to my favorite rain video from youtube. Add this to your self care list.

8. Stop Negative Thoughts

Negative thoughts take a toll on our mental and emotional health. Here’s an amazing and quick exercise to release the energy of the emotion attached to past traumas:

Imagine a balloon about 18 inches from your eyes. Now move whatever thought is on your mind into the balloon. Now pop the balloon as you take a deep breath, in through your nose, and release.

Continue as new thoughts come. Don’t force a thought, just put whatever or whoever pops into your mind into the bubble. I did this for about an hour for my first session and had life-changing results of peace, forgiveness, and joy, within days. It peeled off decades of heaviness and eliminated triggers from my present moment. So simple, yet miraculous for me! This is far beyond just positive thinking. I made this video to help you visualize and practice this healing method.

9. Make a Sacred Place

Clean and spiritually cleanse a beautiful spot in your house, set aside for you to spend time in meditation, prayer, and quiet. Write in a gratitude journal or affirmations journal. No TV or cell phones allowed here! Practice self care and self-compassion. Do deep breathing and visualizations. Hang pictures of your ideas of you perfect life, and things you love like your family, your friends. Play your favorite music (positive and peaceful). Rest, relax, create. Be inspired here.

10. Meditation

Spend time connecting to God in meditation and prayer. Align yourself with pure love. Practice feeling and BEing bliss and love. Be in the now moment, no past or future, just the perfect now. See what is good and beautiful and give thanks. You are always connected to the infinite supply of love, wisdom, and power. Access divine energy and your life will improve in every way. Peace, love, and joy are already yours. Just connect.

11. Breathe

Breath is spirit. Spirit is life.

Sit. Breathe in deep, extending your belly, imagining a golden ball of light coming in the top of your head and passing straight through you into your pelvic area. As you breathe out, see the light go through to the ground below you. Now reverse. As you breathe in, see the light come up from the ground into the pelvic area, to the belly, the heart, the throat, behind the eyes, and hold. Now breathe out and the light goes out of the top of your head.

A great book I found by Dr. Sue Morter called The Energy Codes has a more in-depth look at healing with breathing techniques and energy.

9. Red Light Therapy

Ideally, if you can afford it, having your own red light bed or infrared sauna at home is best, but if that’s too pricey, head to your nearest Planet Fitness, once or twice a week, and do a 12-minute session in their red light therapy bed. Black card membership is only about $30 a month. Some things you can expect are reduction of inflammation, skin rejuvenation (with long-term use), and pain reduction, just to name a few. (More posts on this soon.) Call them first to make sure they have the red light beds as not all locations do. Other gyms may have them also.

Red Light Therapy can also be used with Blue Light Therapy for acne and for oral health like gum disease and receding gums.

13. Gratitude

Start every morning basking in the feeling of gratitude. Think, then speak out what you’re thankful for. Family, friends, pets, a job or career you like, or maybe just simpler things like your favorite shoes, a warm cup of coffee, a rainstorm… Make your own list. Write down everything you can think of to be grateful for. Focus on the good and practice positive thinking. Read your list throughout the day and stop to really “feel” the gratitude. Even if you think you have very little in your life, focus on the feeling of thanks for what you have, not just in the physical world, but also intangible gifts like love and joy. The more you “live” in this gratitude, the more you will attract greater things.

14. Kettle Bell

Kettle bell workouts require little effort for great results at home. A few 2-minute sessions through the day and you’ll be stronger quickly. Start with a 3 lb, 5 lb, or 10 lb, whichever you can do. Here’s a direct link to Greg Brookes Kettle Bell Exercises for Beginners.

15. Make a Cup of Hot Tea

One of the simplest ideas on the list, but a great comforter and help with sleeping. My favorite is organic Caramel Bedtime Yogi Tea.

16. Epsom Salt Bath

Epsom salt is a mineral compound made up of magnesium sulfate. When you soak in an epsom salt bath, the magnesium sulfate is absorbed through your skin and into your muscles. This can help to relieve muscle soreness by reducing inflammation. In addition, the magnesium sulfate can help you to sleep better.

17. Walk

Walking can help to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. It can help to de-stress and improve mental well-being.

Get some fresh air and sunshine without the extra cost or time commitment of joining a gym. What a powerful self care routine to improve your overall health and get a little Vitamin D.

18. Blue Light Therapy

Blue Light Therapy kills bacteria that causes acne vulgaris and also that causes gum disease and periodontal disease. So, it helps with oral health, good breath and clearer skin.

19. Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is alternating between periods of fasting and eating. Studies show major health benefits, including improved insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cancer, improved heart and brain health, and it can help with weight loss.

The weight loss benefits of intermittent fasting are thought to be due to a combination of factors, including reduced calorie intake, increased satiety, and increased fat burning. Additionally, intermittent fasting has been shown to boost metabolic rate, which can further promote weight loss.

IMF is generally considered safe for most people, but isn’t recommended for those with certain medical conditions or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. So, of course, talk to your doc first. (*this is not medical advice.)

20. Help a Friend

Social self care is important. It’s okay if you’re shy or prefer being on your own (I love to be alone). But taking care of a friend that needs help is healing for you and them. So, be like a weighted blanket, warm and comforting. It’s good for your soul.

21. Brain Yoga

Brain yoga is a type of exercise that helps to improve brain function. It is based on the principle that the brain is like a muscle, and that it can be strengthened through exercise. Brain yoga exercises typically involve activities such as Sudoku, crosswords, and brain teasers. These activities help to improve memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, brain yoga can also be certain positions in physical exercise, such as the lotus position. More on redirecting energy with (physical) brain yoga in Dr. Sue Morter’s book The Energy Codes.

22. Make Your Bed in the Morning

Mental self-care is just as vital as physical self-care. So, it may seem like a psychological hack, but fix your bed in the morning, then congratulate yourself on a huge success! This starts your day with you seeing yourself as a winner and with a feeling of joy as a great accomplishment is checked off your to-do list. Do this every time you get something done. Finished a report? Congratulations! Filled your tank up? Way to go! Bought groceries? You get the vibe. It may seem silly, but try it. You’ll be surprised how good you feel. And great job reading this paragraph! You are awesome.

23. Take Yourself to Dinner at Your Favorite Restaurant

And last but not least, coming in at #23… eat a fancy meal!

Do it in style. Get dressed-up. Take yourself to your favorite restaurant. If you’ve been on a diet, take a well-deserved day off. Don’t over-indulge, but do order your favorite food and enjoy it like they do in Paris, savoring every bite!

Turn your phone off.

Enjoy spending time with yourself or invite someone special.

Resist all temptation and don’t post on social media.

This is for you!

Make the most of your life. Live your dream and take care of yourself so you can enjoy every moment.

Every day is a new opportunity to do something great, so don’t let it go to waste.

Remember you’re beautiful… body, mind, & spirit. Be happy with who you are right now. You are the light of the world.

We hope these tips have helped you start thinking about how great your life already is and how to make it even better.

Miki Hart

Miki Hart