Last updated: October 2026
Self-care means small, regular things that look after your body and mind. Good self-care ideas include a morning walk in daylight, an early night, a phone-free evening, a warm bath, cooking a proper meal, calling a friend, journaling and saying no to one thing. Pick two or three you’ll actually do and build them into your week.
Below: 50 self-care ideas sorted by type, quick 5-minute ideas, self-care for busy people, a weekly plan, and what self-care isn’t.
What is self-care?
Self-care is anything you do on purpose to look after your physical and mental health. It’s less about spa days and more about the basics: sleep, food, movement, rest and people. The NHS’s 5 steps to mental wellbeing are a good framework: connect with others, be physically active, learn new skills, give to others, and pay attention to the present moment.
Planning ahead? Stress Awareness Week in early November is a good time to try a few of these.
Our pick: Reishi Cacao is a hot chocolate made with reishi mushroom extract, cacao and maca. It contains a little natural caffeine from the cacao, so it suits earlier in the evening.
Add Reishi Cacao to bag See ingredients and reviews
Vegan and made in the UK. Free UK delivery over £45, 14-day returns on unopened items.
5-minute self-care ideas
- Step outside and look at the sky
- Drink a glass of water
- Stretch your neck, shoulders and back
- Do 10 slow breaths with a longer out-breath
- Write down 3 things that went well today
- Text someone you love
- Put your phone in another room
- Make your bed or clear one surface
50 self-care ideas by type
| Type | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Body | A brisk walk; a stretch; a swim; a yoga video; dancing in the kitchen; a proper breakfast; cooking with vegetables; drinking more water; a massage; an early night |
| Mind | Journaling; reading a book; a puzzle; learning something new; a podcast walk; a museum trip; a creative hobby; listening to an album start to finish; a gratitude list; a brain dump before bed |
| Rest | A nap of 20 minutes; a phone-free evening; a warm bath; a lie-in; dimming the lights after 9pm; a cosy film; doing nothing for 10 minutes; changing your bedding; a slow Sunday morning; a cup of tea outside |
| People | Calling a friend; a walk with someone; a family meal; a thank-you note; a coffee date; joining a club; volunteering; helping a neighbour; playing a game; saying how you feel |
| Boundaries | Saying no to one thing; muting a group chat; turning off email at a set time; unfollowing accounts that make you feel worse; planning your week; taking your lunch break; a no-plans weekend; asking for help; leaving work on time; cutting back on alcohol |
Evening self-care routine
- An hour before bed, dim the lights and put screens away.
- Write tomorrow’s to-do list so your mind can let go.
- Have a warm bath or shower.
- Make a warm, caffeine-free drink. Try our healthy hot chocolate.
- Read a few pages of a paper book.
Our Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex is a cosy evening hot chocolate, the Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex is a berry bedtime drink, and the CBD Balm is lovely for a slow shoulder or foot massage. Magnesium contributes to normal psychological function. See sleep hygiene.
Self-care when you’re busy
- Stack it: stretch while the kettle boils, call a friend on your walk.
- Protect your sleep first. Everything else is harder without it.
- Schedule it like a meeting, even 15 minutes.
- Lower the bar: a 10-minute walk still counts.
If you’re running on empty, see burnout symptoms and stress symptoms.
A simple weekly self-care plan
| Day | Self-care |
|---|---|
| Monday | Morning walk in daylight |
| Tuesday | Cook a proper meal |
| Wednesday | Phone-free evening |
| Thursday | Call or see a friend |
| Friday | Alcohol-free night and an early bed |
| Saturday | Time outdoors or something creative |
| Sunday | Plan the week and have a bath. See the Sunday scaries |
Want a December version? Try our wellness advent calendar.
What self-care isn’t
Self-care isn’t about spending money, being perfect or avoiding problems. Sometimes it’s the boring stuff: booking a GP appointment, paying a bill, or asking for help. If you’re struggling to cope, speak to your GP, or adults in England can refer themselves to NHS Talking Therapies.
Related guides
- Journal prompts for anxiety.
- How to boost serotonin.
- How to share the mental load.
- How to cope with loneliness.
- Hygge: how to make winter cosy.
- Want them to stick? See how to build healthy habits.
- Mindfulness for beginners.
- How to build self-esteem.
- If putting yourself first feels hard, see people pleasing.
- 30 gratitude journal prompts.
- Sauna benefits, and who should take care.
- Many of these ideas double up as ways to support your happy hormones.
- Looking for a self-care present for someone else? Browse wellness gifts by budget.
- If you want to give someone a nudge towards more self-care, see our wellness gift ideas.
- If a warm bath is on your list, our DIY CBD bath bomb recipe is a simple weekend project.
- Looking for a present for someone who worries a lot? See our gifts for anxiety.
- Many of these ideas also make good Christmas stocking fillers for her and him.
- Making something for someone else? See our self-care hamper ideas for her, for him and on any budget.
- Want to give one of these as a present? See self-care Secret Santa gifts.
- A few minutes with a plain emollient after a lukewarm shower is simple self-care: our dry skin remedies guide explains lotion vs cream vs ointment.
FAQs
What are some self-care ideas?
A daily walk, an early night, a phone-free evening, a warm bath, cooking a proper meal, calling a friend, journaling and saying no to one thing.
What are the 5 types of self-care?
Common groupings are physical, mental, emotional, social and practical self-care, such as setting boundaries and planning.
How do I start a self-care routine?
Pick two or three small things you’ll actually do, attach them to existing habits, and build up from there.
What is a good self-care night routine?
Dim the lights, put screens away, write tomorrow’s list, have a warm bath and a caffeine-free drink, and read a book.
Is self-care selfish?
No. Looking after your sleep, health and mood makes it easier to look after the people and things that matter to you.
Sources
- NHS. 5 steps to mental wellbeing.
- NHS. How to fall asleep faster and sleep better.
- NHS. 10 stress busters.
Evopure makes the Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex, Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex and CBD Balm. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
