50 Strategies for Self-Care
A few years ago, I heard a colleague describe our capacity for stress like a bathtub’s capacity for water. It was so powerful, and it’s something I’ll never forget. The bathtub represents our capacity to take on stress (new jobs, weddings, deaths, traffic, not having almond milk for you latte, co-workers, etc). The faucet represents all of the stress that comes into our lives and the drain represents all of the ways that we release stress. Some of us have HUGE bathtubs and are able to handle an endless amount of demands. Others, have a tea-cup sized capacity for stress.
We can manage stress in two ways: We can cut off the source of stress or we can drain stress from our lives regularly. We have to do one or the other so that our “bathtub” doesn’t overflow.
Most successful professionals that I know like the level of stress in their lives. They enjoy the reward of challenging work, but they aren’t doing enough to support themselves on the back end.
Scheduling in rest and relaxation is essential to a healthy, fulfilling life. Late nights, takeaway, and 80 hour weeks may "work" in the short term, but that pace is not sustainable. We all need to take time out to recharge our batteries to ensure career longevity. Quality rest is important to your mental and physical health.
Below are 50 of my favorite ways to “drain the bathtub” that don't involve a ton of technology.
GET ACTIVE
- Go for a walk
- Have a dance party
- Move all of the furniture in your room to a different location (you may need to enlist a friend!)
- Go for a run
- Play with your pet
- Build something
- Plant something
- Clean out your closets
GET CREATIVE
- Color
- Take a photograph
- Make a movie
- Make a happiness playlist
- Make a soothing senses kit
- Draw on the pavement with sidewalk chalk
- Rewrite the lyrics to your favorite song
- Sing!
CARE FOR YOURSELF
- Cook a healthy meal
- Take a shower
- Brush your teeth
- Just step outside
- Get a haircut
- Paint your nails
- Take a nap
- Take a bath
- Smile
- Light a candle
EXERCISE YOUR MIND
- Read a book
- Take a class online
- Go to the library
- Listen to a Podcast
- Listen to music
- Visualize your favorite place in the world using your 5 senses
- Do a grounding exercise
WRITE IT OUT
- List of 5 things you have accomplished in your life (big or small)
- List 7 things you are grateful for
- List 10 things you like about yourself
- List all of the people who inspire your
CONNECT
- Pray
- Call a friend
- Meditate
- Volunteer
- Send a card to someone just because
- Donate something
- Go to your place of worship
- Tell someone a joke
- Teach someone to do something
- Play a board game
- Unplug. Go technology free and connect to yourself and people IRL.
- Ask for help
