15 Ultimate Self-Care Routines for a Rejuvenated Mind and Body

Self-care is probably one of the best things you can ever do for yourself. With all the stress coming from deadlines, raising children as well as working, you need to create room for yourself. The good thing about self care, is that it is not a one size fit all approach. You should do find things that bring you joy and also impact you positively. Say, if you don’t enjoy yoga but your friends keep on pressuring you to attend the sessions, I say to hell with it. Self care is all about you and the things you love and find fascinating outside your career.

Remember, it does not have to be a chore or a punishment. In this list, we have combined 15 best self care routines that may impact your life positively. You can choose to try whichever you want, as long as you enjoy the activity and it brings you peace of mind. The thing about self-care that is often not talked about enough, is that it can help boost your productivity as well as your confidence. When you feel comfortable and confident in your own skin regardless of what other people think, you become unbeatable in any path you choose in life.

Another important aspect of self-care that you should come to terms with, is that it can be uncomfortable in the beginning but with time you get used to the activity. One good example is starting any form of martial arts. In the beginning it’s always tough, but with time you fall in love with the art which gives you the motivation to practice it frequently.

As for productivity, sometimes we get burnt out due to the insane amounts of work we do. It is always good to take some time off the grind, in order to rejuvenate. This can be in form of a weekend holiday or even a spa day. Once your body and mind have revitalized, it is inevitable that you will be more productive. Without further ado, let’s get started.

1. Declutter your house.

Decluttering is the process of sorting and organizing things around your home. According to a study done a while back, at least 44% of home owners experience ‘mess-stress’ weekly. Decluttering can be in form of donating the stuff that you don’t use, folding your laundry, re-arranging your utensil rack and the list goes on and on.

What most people don’t realize is that a messy room can affect you psychologically which can lead to less productivity, unwanted stress or even depression. It is important to set aside some time to declutter your home. It can be done as often as weekly or even monthly. One of the best things about decluttering, is that you find things that you thought were once ‘stolen’. Be it jewellery, wallet, car keys, etc.

Benefits associated with decluttering.

• Improved mood.
• Improved productivity.
• Reduce stress and anxiety.
• Regain lost items.

2. Take a walk

Taking a walk can have tremendous positive effects mentally as well as physically. Scheduling a walk at least twice a week is often recommended more so if you work from home. Here’s how walking can positively affect your mood. Walking increases the amount blood flowing into your brain and body. This has a positive influence on your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is the central nervous response system and it is responsible for your stress hormones.

To make it more exciting, you can schedule a walk with your partner or friends.

Benefits of walking.

• Improved sleep.
• Increased energy.
• Improved mood.
• Stress relief.
• Weight loss.
• Improves your heart health.

3. Go for a well deserved massage.

A massage is one the best ways to thank your body. No, seriously. According to a research by the National library of medicine, massage therapy proved to have a positive impact on pain syndromes such as arthritis, reducing stress and in some cases also reduce the chances of getting depression.

Here are the different types of massage and their benefits.

Hot stone massage.

• Improve blood flow.
• Reduce pain.
• Relieves stressed
• Ease muscle tension.
• Enhances a more relaxed feeling.

Swedish massage.

• Eases tension.
• Known for being gentle and enhancing relaxation.

Deep tissue massage.

• Eases chronic muscle pain.
• Eases muscle tightness.
• Eases muscle soreness.

Shiatsu massage.

• Relieves pain.
• Enhances a feeling of relaxation.
• Improves mood.
• Improves sleep and fatigue.
• Eases muscle tension.

Thai massage.

• Improves flexibility.
• Improves energy levels.
• Reduces pain.
• Reduces stress.

4.. Start doing yoga.

Yoga at its core, is an ancient teaching embedded in Indian Philosophy that enhances the physical, mental as well as the spiritual well-being. Despite being misunderstood in the western countries, yoga is not only about the exercise bit. The mental and spiritual aspects have to be put into consideration too. There is no specific way of doing yoga and you can incorporate certain techniques that may work for you. Yoga involves movement, meditation and breathing exercises to promote mental, physical as well as spiritual well being.

Benefits of yoga.

• Increased flexibility.
• Promotes mental well-being.
• Weight loss.
• Improves muscle strength and tone.
• Reduces inflammation.

5. Go for a drive

When you feel overwhelmed, a good drive may aid in easing stress and tension. It is better done in a more relaxed road outside the city, more so on a country road. Just roll down the windows, breath fresh air and enjoy the ride. It helps you become more composed and in turn improves your mental well-being.

6. Start listening to podcasts

Not only are podcasts a great source of entertainment, but they are also as informative as reading a book. Unlike televisions, you can listen to podcasts as you drive, wash dishes or even when organizing your room. Take your time to choose podcasts based on the things you love and most importantly passionate about. Below is a list of great and famous podcasts and their genres.

Great podcasts to listen to and what they entail.

• Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) – Educational, MMA, Motivation, comedy
• Diary of a CEO – Success stories, culture, Achieving greatness, Educational
• The Daily – News
• Normal gossip – Entertainment
• Planet money – Finance, educational
• Waveform – Tech, educational
• Lew later – News, tech

7. Take some time to read books.

Books are by far one of the best ways to learn about anything and everything there is to learn about. There are books on how to become wealthy, how to maintain good relationships, how to endure difficult moments in life and the list goes on and on. Books can save you years of struggle and needless suffering. They come in different genres and choosing multiple of them and reading them can have a positive impact on your life. Here is a list of book genres you can look into; comic, action, adventure, self help, fantasy, horror etc.

As a matter of fact, reading can help improve your vocabulary irrespective of the language because you need words to communicate effectively. If you are not sure where to start, self help books are a great way to kickstart your journey.

List of the best self help books to get you started.

• The subtle art of not giving a F#ck.
• The 7 habits of highly effective people.
• 48 laws of power.
• The subtle art of seduction
• Atomic habits.
• How to win friends and influence people.
• Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking.

8. learn a new skill.

Picking up a new skill is not only exciting but also gives you a sense of purpose in life. With the internet, there are millions of tutorial, courses and master classes where you can hone your skills. If you want to get started in the automobile industry there are dozens of car tutorials on YouTube. Do you have a passion in knitting? The tutorials around the web are unlimited.

Places online to learn new skills.

• Udemy.
• Skillshare
• YouTube
• Codecademy
• Cousera.
• MasterClass.
• Ted-Ed.
• Khan Academy.

9. Go to the gym.

Exercising is a great way of relieving stress as well promoting a healthy lifestyle. What better place to start than from a gym. The good thing about gyms is that there are a lot of equipment and instructors always ready to help. Incorporating a daily gym routine can be quite beneficial in the long run.

Benefits of going to the gym.

• Creating new friends.
• Plenty of equipment.
• Instructors to help you.
• Boosts energy.
• Promotes better sleep.
• Weight-loss.

10. Start a martial art.

Most forms of martial arts were started centuries ago and they have truly survived the test of time. Here are some of the best martial arts to start; Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, boxing, kick boxing, Taekwondo, Karate, Wrestling, Muay Thai and Krav Maga. If you are interested in learning about different types of martial arts, click here to read our detailed review on the top 10 best martial arts to start. Apart from learning self defense techniques, martial arts is a way of life. It is no wonder even with consistency, it can take up to 12 years before you are awarded a black belt in some forms of martial arts.

Benefits of martial arts.

• Muscle gain.
• You gain flexibility
• You learn self defense technique.
• You gain discipline with time.

11. Go for window shopping

Money shouldn’t be a factor stopping you from getting out of your house. You can easily go for window shopping to the nearest mall or supermarket. Not only is window shopping therapeutic, but you can get ideas on the things you need to upgrade in your household.

12. Go for a solo date.

Contrary to what people think, solo dates are actually a great way to self reflect. Some people may be scared of what others may think when they see you dining alone. It’s actually a fun activity when you normalize it. A great way to start, is going to a restaurant in an area where you have less chances of meeting with anyone you know. After this, you will realize how enjoyable a solo date is.

13. Try a solo vacation

A solo vacation is quite a step up from solo dates. Once you have normalized being comfortable with yourself and comfortable in your own skin, a solo vacation will definitely take this experience to a whole new level. The thing with solo vacations, which most people get wrong is that it doesn’t have to be a ‘lonely’ experience. But how can it not be lonely when you travel alone?

Well, you can socialize with the locals or even strangers in your hotel premise. Some people prefer sharing their life experiences or funny stories with others. It is a great way of meeting new people and the best part about this, is that you may never get to see them again. Solo vacations should be normalized more as a method of self-care.

14. Start eating healthy.

As the famous saying goes, you are what you eat. What you eat will have an effect on you, be it either positively or negatively. Eating certain kinds of foods can help in preventing some serious chronic diseases. Did you know taking, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and different kinds of cabbages are excellent in reducing the risk of developing various kinds of cancers? Did you know taking a banana smoothie gives a feeling of fullness and satiety for a longer time hence promoting weight loss in the long run? You can try different combinations of foods in order to keep your body healthy and well nourished.

15. Cook a meal you enjoy most

Cooking is one of those things that we do from time to time due to our busy schedules. Starting from prepping the veggies all the way till the food is well cooked can help alleviate you from stress as well as overthinking. The benefit of cooking your own food is that is never bad even if it is bad if you get my drift.

Final thoughts.

Self care routines should be normalized more so in this sedentary society we live in. Not only can different forms of self care relieve stress and promote a healthier lifestyle, but they also inspire confidence in ourselves. The list of self care activities go way beyond this list, but these 15 are some of the best and most beneficial to one self. If you found this article informative, kindly share it with your friends and family in order to spread the information. Cheers!