Anyone else out there feel totally disconnected from your body at times?
I feel it all the time during the workweek sitting at my desk for 9-12 hours a day and more sometimes. Connecting to my body doesn’t always come naturally to me, so I have to constantly remind myself to make time for physical self-care and that it can make such a difference in mental health and outlook on the present moment. I feel like this is me most workdays… 🥴
If that sounds familiar to you, then I hope the tips I have for you will help and be a good reminder to take care of yourself first before work throughout the day and week. But first, let’s go over some basics.
What is physical self-care?
Practicing physical-self care is taking the time to regularly take care of the one body that you will have for your entire life. Physical self-care is one of the eight key areas of self-care, including emotional self-care, spiritual self-care, psychological/mental health self-care, professional self-care, environmental self-care, and financial self-care.
If your back is sore from sitting all day, it’s listening to the signals your body is sending to stretch those muscles, work on your posture, and maybe get a new chair or make sure your set-up is ergonomic.
If your scalp is itchy from products you’re using, it’s being thoughtful about whether you should explore using something less harsh on your sensitive skin.
What are examples of physical self-care?
Physical self-care practices can range from activities such as moving your body and eating healthy. Physical self-care examples can look like taking micro-stretches throughout the workday, giving yourself a good foot scrub after a long hike or workday if you do manual labor, getting a massage, or as simple as drinking enough water. The important thing to remember about self-care is that it is about listening to what your mind and body need. 💆♀️
Physical Self-Care Ideas:
Do a 15-minute morning yoga before you start work
Walk or bike to work if you have to go to an office over driving your car
Eat wholesome, nutritious foods that taste delicious and put clean fuel in your body
Stretch at your desk or wherever you work throughout the day
Set a timer to remind yourself. Some companies have programs that force you to stop working for 5 minutes and do stretches.
Take a 1/2 hour walk after dinner before slumping into the couch (guilty of this one pretty much every night)
Drink plenty of water throughout the day
A good rule of thumb is about 0.5 to up to 1.0 oz for every pound you weigh. So if you weigh 130 lbs, that’s 65-130 oz or 8-16 cups.
Practice good sleep hygiene (my list of reminders I keep in my sleep log is below)
No screens one hour before bed
Reflection time in my journal before bed
Take a hot shower
Stretch
Tidy up
Wear a sleep mask
Drink warm caffeine-free tea like chamomile
Have a window open or cracked depending on the weather
Wash face, lotion, brush teeth, floss-even if you feel too tired
Use silk pillowcases (In my 40s, I’m trying it all to stave off wrinkles and thinning hair. These ones from Amazon are simple and inexpensive)
Rest when you’re tired, it’s the most efficient activity you can do
Sit in the sunlight for a few minutes, but be mindful about protecting your skin
Go for a swim
Take a hike, nature heals
If you’re overdue for any medical check-ups, get them on the calendar
Do your nails (preferably with non-toxic polish, Cirque in Luna is my fave-pricey but lasts and super fun!)
What do you do to practice physical self-care? I’m always looking for new small ways I can integrate movement throughout the day. Please let me know if you have any tips for lower back physical self-care especially. Haha, now it’s time for me to get some help from you guys!
Are you looking for some awesome podcasts to help you grow and learn how to be better at life? I’ve got you covered.
Here are 10 of my absolute favorite best self-help podcasts that I listen to on the regular. These are podcasts that I’ve gained so much from personally by listening to multiple episodes on my commute when I was commuting in The Before Times and when I’m cleaning. I love to listen to podcasts when I’m cleaning because it makes the process of cleaning more fun plus there’s the added benefit of learning something new that will help you at the same time.
So without further ado, here they are! All of the links to the podcasts I’ll share will be to Spotify so you can easily click and listen. The podcasts range from tried and true voices like Oprah all the way to some young emerging voices in the self-help arena. I love that so many young brilliant women are taking on the podcast world by storm and making it happen.
Super Soul
“Awaken, discover and connect to the deeper meaning of the world around you with Super Soul. Hear Oprah’s personal selection of her interviews with thought-leaders, best-selling authors, spiritual luminaries, as well as health and wellness experts. All designed to light you up, guide you through life’s big questions and help bring you one step closer to your best self.”
Personally, some of the very first episodes and series are some of my favorites with Brené Brown, Paulo Coehlo, and Deepak Chopra. Brené Brown’s two-part interview is all about how being more vulnerable can make our lives more meaningful (Part 1) and how to move past shame (Part 2).
The second episode is one of Oprah’s famous “aha-a moments.” Paulo Coehlo’s was power. If you’re wrestling with the meaning of life, check these two episodes out. I mean, everything Coehlo writes hits me in the soul spot. They talk about why you’re here (on earth in this life experience), what’s your personal purpose here, how to keep the faith on your journey… It’s just so sweet. Here’s Part 1 and Part 2 in Spotify.
Unlocking Us
“We are hardwired for connection, and connecting requires courage, vulnerability, and conversation. I want this to be a podcast that’s real, unpolished, honest, and reflects both the magic and the messiness of what it means to be human. Episodes will include conversations with the people who are teaching me, challenging me, confusing me, or maybe even ticking me off a little.”
And of course Brené Brown has her own podcast, Unlocking Us. I loved the episode with Dolly Parton. I’ve heard a few different interviews with Dolly Parton and they are always super interesting. She’s such a profound songwriter and her attitude towards life’s challenges always blows me away.
I love the bit especially about the power of truth-telling.
Limitless Life
“Chances are, you’ve been sold a version of success that isn’t actually yours. It often sounds like: follow the accepted path, get approval from other people, and evidently, abandon the truth of who you are. Hard pass. With a lovable blend of wisdom and humor, Limitless Life™ is here to realign you to your inner guidance, self love, and infinite possibility.”
If you’re in the blogging world, you’ve probably come across Melyssa Griffin’s work. She’s a freaking ray of positivity that everyone needs in their lives. Think of her as your life cheerleader to be the best you there is and who will cheer you on to do what you were made to.
“Author Sahara Rose @IAmSaharaRose is the fresh young voice for the modern spiritual movement, called “a leading voice in the millennial generation into the new paradigm shift” by Deepak Chopra. She shares how you can tune into your unique gifts, find your purpose, fulfill your mission, live in your Dharma and blossom into your highest self.”
Sahara Rose’s podcast has been on my radar to check out for a while and I’m just now getting into it. What’s nice is that she’s got some shorter episodes that are like 15-30 minutes and then some meatier ones that go to an hour and more. So you can get a taste of her style and see if it resonates with you. I tend to like starting from the beginning because I’m just linear like that with organizing. So a good place to start is her first episode from 2017 where she gives a nice intro into the podcast and what she’s going to talk about.
Self-Helpless
“As featured on Conan and The Tonight Show, Self-Helpless dives into all things self-improvement with Type A comedians Delanie Fischer, Kelsey Cook, and Taylor Tomlinson.”
Who doesn’t need a little self-help comedy in our lives?
There’s a tendency in the self-help arena to be very serious and I find myself doing it in my writing sometimes. There are times when the last thing you want is to continuously read about the self-help positivity tropes and just want some real shit. While these ladies are funny AF, there is real substance in these episodes.
I’m an adult child of divorce (parents split when I was 2 and there were multiple marriages and divorces after that), so I resonated so hard with this episode on adult children of divorce with Nishima Gupta. I appreciate the fact that they play off each other and don’t shy away from talking about hard topics like sexual abuse and sobriety.
Almost 30
“We dive deep into topics like modern spirituality to health and wellness, aliens to entrepreneurship, social justice, and self development. With every episode, our mission is to empower you, expand what you think is possible and, make you laugh – a lot. We are honest, open, and above all, human. We are committed to learning right alongside you in real time so we can all find growth in every moment together.”
Just having cracked my 40’s last year, it’s refreshing to listen to Almost 30 because Krista and Lindsey are so fun to listen to and they’ve achieved so much at a young age. Listening to them makes me feel like embracing my youngness at heart. They are so frank, funny, and it feels like you’re chatting with your girlfriends, the ones who you really love in your inner circle.
I just got done listening to their episode about leaving LA because I live in LA and have been lusting over the greener grass of the country and having a yard again. It’s interesting to listen to their explorations of spirituality and perspectives on life changes.
Optimal Living Daily
“I read you the best content on personal development, minimalism, productivity, and more, with author permission. Think of Optimal Living Daily as an audioblog or blogcast where the best blogs are narrated for you for free.”
ODP is great for a quick few minute listen (episodes range from 7-10 minutes) for daily lessons and reminders about things like setting healthy boundaries, creating a self-help routine, how to meditate anywhere at anytime.
Justin Malik basically just reads other people’s blogs on personal development and related topics. It’s a little bit dry at times because of that. It also doesn’t have a conversational and more engaging vibe like a lot of the others, but it’s got some great quick tips. I also like that the material comes from a host of different authors.
The Self Love Fix
“The self love fix podcast is a podcast all about helping WOC delve deeper into self love, self worth, personal development, self esteem and self care. Here on the self love fix we get relatable, we laugh, we cry, we heal, but most of all we learn about the truth of who we are and what we deserve.”
Beatrice Kamau is the host of the Self Love Fix podcast and is an inner child healing coach. It’s great to see a woman of color supporting other women of color to cultivate self-love, self-worth, and self-esteem. I really got a lot out of this episode on abandonment, re-parenting, and relationships.
The traumas we experience in our families of origin are some of the most impactful factors that influence our journey through life. I love her focus on the inner child and delving into healing and peeling back the layers to look into ourselves.
Mindful in Minutes
“Short, weekly guided meditations to help you find mindfulness in simply minutes. Join Kelly Smith, founder of Yoga For You, for simple and grounded meditations that help you with real life issues like anxiety, insomnia, self-esteem and manifestation. All meditations are 20 minutes or less bringing you what you need to find mindfulness in just minutes.”
Mindful in Minutes has some great short episodes, including some great meditations. But I really love some of the longer episodes, like this one called self-love freeform. Kelly is the host and she shares her self-love journey and gives fair warning about triggers and for me, is super relatable.
Sometimes when I was listening to her it was like hearing myself talk. I resonated with how she just laid her soul out there and shared her personal experience. It’s interesting because she talks about how alone she felt as a kid, which Nishima Gupta talks about in the Self-Helpless podcast linked above.
Emotional Badass
“Emotional Badasses are survivors, thrivers, seekers, and healers! Expand and awaken to your higher purpose, be more present and authentic, find strength in spirituality, quiet the monkey mind of modern society with meditation, and connect deeply with yourself and safe others.”
I’m writing this post a few days before Mother’s Day and it’s perfect timing with Nikki Eisenhauer’s latest episode on Mother’s Day and family trauma. It’s especially poignant for people with painful or challenging relationships with their mother or father for that matter. Her content is so thoughtful and cuts right to the real real of fucked up family dynamics. I am going to text this episode right now to all of my friends and family who need to hear it. 👨❤️👨 On a related note, if you’ve made it to the end, you may be interested in my post on 10 powerful emotional self-care practices to get stronger.
If you listen to any of the best of the best self-help podcasts for the first time and find a new resource or connection, let me know in the comments. Also, if you’re looking for some good self-help reads, check out my posts on some of my favorite self-help books here and here. 📚
Emotional self-care is to be conscious of and name your feelings, sit with them, feel them in a way that honors you and emotion and builds emotional intelligence through self-reflection.
Emotions will come out in some form 100% of the time. If you sit with them and allow yourself to feel the feels, versus running away or ignoring or suppressing, you are giving yourself the chance to work through the emotion so that you, versus it, are at the controls.
Why is emotional self-care important?
Emotional self-care is critical to enjoying life’s experiences. A healthy mind with well-developed emotional intelligence can experience the same event as a mind struggling with mental health through a more grounded perspective.
Why is that so powerful? Outside events have less power to push your emotions around. Think of the difference between a sapling and a tree when a strong wind blows. The sapling whips all over the place while the tree sways gently back and forth.
We’ve all heard that the mind, body, and spirit are connected. Modern Western tends to prioritize taking care of the body, which is 100% critical. But taking care of the mind is equally important. For someone who has had mental health struggles, I’d argue it’s even more so.
You can be super physically fit or not, you can have no physical disabilities or have a disability – and you can be emotionally fit in any of those scenarios or a complete mess. Regardless of your physical reality, your emotional perspective will dictate whether you are content, satisfied, miserable, or ambivalent.
“How is it that we spend more time taking care of our teeth than we do our minds?”
-Dr. Guy Winch
After you’re done reading, scroll back up and take 15 minutes to watch this super powerful TED Talk by Dr. Guy Winch on practicing emotional first aid. It is worth more than the time it will take to listen to!
What are examples of emotional self-care?
Below are ten simple intentions to practice emotional self-care in your everyday experience:
Create boundaries for yourself
Protecting ourselves from others’ energy is critical for balancing our emotions, especially if that energy is negative or triggering.
Other people may not even realize that their energy or needs affect you.
It can also be hard for friends or family to get used to you creating healthy boundaries for yourself, and they may even take it personally if they’re not used to it. You don’t need to explain yourself, but you certainly can let them know that your boundary doesn’t mean you care about them any less, that it’s about you taking care of your needs.
Say no to being busy
The following quote from Courtney Carver says it perfectly.
I don’t say no because I am so busy. I say no because I don’t want to be busy.
Saying no to things is a way to protect your time and space. It gives you back time and space to focus on what you want to do with your time. But it also helps you to remember that you have choices.
Just because there’s an expectation for you to do something does not mean you have to.
Work on managing your stress
My husband and I just got home from a hike, and I talked about how stressful my job is (again for the 100th time).
Sometimes, depending on our life circumstances, there will be periods that are more stressful than others. Right now, my job is the most stressful thing in my life, with lots of deadlines, huge expectations, lots of people watching, and plenty of opportunities to make mistakes.
But, I have the choice to leave whenever I want and seek out another job that requires less of my mental and emotional bandwidth.
So, every day that I choose to do the job, I know that is my decision and what I focus on is how to manage the stress better and better wherever I can. It’s not always easy, but small changes make a difference that adds up over time.
Ways that I manage my stress every day are to:
Delegate tasks where I can
Making sure I communicate clearly
Set boundaries on my time
Listen to my body when it’s sore and tight from sitting all day and moving
Eat well to fuel myself with health energy and push me forward
Go easy on myself when I start to lay on the judgy vibes
Create and lean on your support system
If you don’t have a support system in place, that should be top on the list of your self-care needs. My support system includes my therapist, a women’s process group that meets every week, my husband, mom, and some of my closest friends.
Knowing that there are people to reach out to for help when you need it, whether it’s to get together for some laughs or talk through something challenging, gives a sense of confidence that you can handle whatever life throws your way.
Ask your support system for help right when you start to feel overwhelmed.
We all need support at different points, and you’ll probably be able to return the favor sooner than you know.
Stop saying how are you; try saying it’s nice to see you instead
I recently heard Sah D’Simone talking about this, and it resonated. If you haven’t discovered Sah yet, get ready for some positivity and love and just all the goodness. I highly recommend binge-watching his IG feed.
Asking how someone is can feel like a “verbal filler.”
Next time you ask someone how they are, think about whether you want to know how they are. Most of the time, it’s just something we say to fill the space as a nicety. And most of the time, when it’s asked of us, we say okay, or good, or some vanilla answer to return the social gesture. But what if instead, we try saying it’s nice to see you.
Let it be okay to let things be and not over-explain your actions
Sometimes I still struggle with this one, especially in work settings where you’re dealing with power dynamics.
If something you said or did makes you feel like you need to go back and explain yourself, take a breath, let it rest, and take some time to think it through.
This happened to me the other night when I got done with a meeting; I thought something I said offended one of my colleagues. When we got off the video call, I immediately started to text him and ask if anything was off. Then I talked with myself to put the phone down, and it was probably fine, which it was.
Remember, you don’t need to explain anything to anyone else.
Do what you feel is right for yourself at the moment. If you would have made a different decision in retrospect or handled it differently, you will do it next time. That’s how we learn and grow. Every day we have the chance to be a better version of ourselves, for ourselves. Which, by the way, is not a reflection of our value.
Feel your emotions without judgment, shame, or uncertainty
Emotions are beautiful and what makes us human. Just look at how many emotions there are on the “feeling wheel.”
As much as you can, don’t be hard on yourself for how you feel or what you feel. Our experiences shape how we process emotion. Much of what happens around us shapes how we think of ourselves, even though it is not who we are.
We learn as we grow how to feel our emotions, especially those that may have caused us to feel uncomfortable, judge ourselves, feel shameful, guilty, or uncertain in ourselves. All that said, it’s not like there’s a switch that you can flip to be able to start being a master emotion feeler, so take it easy and give yourself the grace and space to learn how to be open to your emotions, whatever they may be.
The feeling wheel is a super useful tool to better understand more accurately what you’re feeling. For example, feelings of sadness can mean different things.
Are you feeling stupid, inadequate, or apathetic?
Once you can zero in on what you’re feeling, you can start to figure out what’s causing it, why it’s making you feel that way, and how you can make shifts to feel better.
Discover how to appreciate your own company
For some of us, this has always been easy, myself included.
I’m an introvert and homebody, so entertaining myself has never been a problem. But I have plenty of friends who find it hard to be alone with themselves.
If you don’t enjoy your own company, why would you expect anyone else to?
Plus, if you learn to be comfortable with yourself when it’s quiet and still think of the feeling of calmness and grounding, that would allow you to feel.
Express your feelings in a safe space and in appropriate ways
It is so essential to express your feelings, especially when something is bothering you, or you can’t quite figure out how you’re feeling. The more you share with others, the better you’ll know who you can share with in different situations.
I think back on when I leaned on friends and family to help me figure out challenging mental health issues. They were happy to support me and try to help, which was everything at the time. But now that I know I can call my therapist and have a weekly group call to share and get feedback, it’s given me a whole new sense of confidence in my self-resolve.
Sharing does wonders to normalize so many things we go through and feel so strongly about. Sometimes the feelings are so powerful; you forget that you’re not the only person on the planet going through life. We’re all out there doing our best!
Determine to forgive yourself
We all need a little more grace these days. Work on giving yourself the permission to make mistakes and not beat yourself up if things don’t go as planned. You are not the same person you were yesterday, never mind the year or five years before. The person who made that decision back then is not the same one in the mirror today. Today, you may make a different decision thanks to the time and experience that has taught you more each day. If you can master self-forgiveness, watch out, world!
Thanks for making it to the end. If this post resonated with you, please stay in touch and watch out for new posts as they come out! If you like this post, check out The Beginner’s Guide to Self-Care in 2021.
Living a completely stress-free life may not be realistic, but there are 100% little changes you can make to decrease the stress in your life. Here are some stellar ways that you can try out to reduce the feelings of stress in your day.
Even small tweaks to your daily routine can have a positive impact on how you are feeling on any given day, which is all we need to worry about how we are feeling in the moment that we’re in.
Care less about others’ opinions
We all look at the world through filters of our own life experiences, understandings, biases, and fears. You have no idea why someone is thinking what they’re thinking, so why bother worrying about it?
In most cases, they’re not even thinking about you, or they do not think what you fear they do in the first place. Or maybe they are having a bad day and said something mean or inconsiderate because they are the ones hurting. It has nothing to do with you.
That’s why I’ve always loved this quote,
Other people’s opinions of you are none of your business.
Robin Sharma
Get the most important stuff done first
Isn’t it true that the one thing that’s the most important to get done sits on your to-do list for too long, staring you down and weighing on your shoulders?
Just think of how freeing it would feel about tackling that thing first and save all of the strife and stress it causes by procrastinating. You have to do it regardless, so why suffer from putting it off? And if you do it first, then it doesn’t have to occupy space in your brain.
Just clear your mind, sit with the task, and get it done so you can move on.
Wear the same thing every day
This one is intended to take one thing off your plate every day and reduce your stress levels. It’s one less decision to make, one less thing to think about doing. I’m sure you’ve heard of some of the most notable people who have done this over the years, like Steve Jobs, Barack Obama, and Einstein. You don’t have to be an Einstein to benefit from this practice.
There are a few reasons why it’s so helpful. One, you’ll save money from not having to buy a bunch of clothes to fill your closet. Two, you’ll have less laundry to do and less stuff to keep organized. Three, you can start your day quicker and not fret over what to wear.
Especially now in COVID times, people who can work remotely don’t have to worry about having a new blazer for every day or wearing uncomfortable shoes to look professional in the office.
Eat the same thing every day
Again, this is to save time and brain space. As long as you’re cooking healthy, well-balanced food, it takes the thinking out of meal prep. I’m in the boat of always wanting something tasty and healthy but having a little bit of everything in the fridge but can never figure out what to eat.
With this practice, and with wearing the same thing every day, it’s a balance. There needs to be some changing it up, so you enjoy what you eat and not get too sick of it. But overall, having some basics in the kitchen that you can rely on is a great way to keep life simple.
Shift from negative to a positive perspective
It’s impossible to always have a positive outlook.
But there’s a tangible shift in your experience of circumstances when you can at least acknowledge a positive way of looking at things, even in the toughest of times. There are gifts in every experience since pain is a teacher.
Even if you hate the day or your grumpy boss, maybe think of how thankful you can be that you don’t act the way he does or even remember that you’re alive, and that’s something for which to be grateful.
Be honest with yourself and others (speak your truth)
I can’t stress this enough. Living your truth and standing by it lifts such a burden off. Even if it’s scary at first to be vulnerable by telling people your truth, shining light into the dark spots opens up your energy and creates more space around you.
It is vulnerable because there’s the fear that if you share your honest self, and someone judges you or doesn’t like what you say or do, then it will be even harder to deal with than if you just show up not being completely yourself, because they’re only getting the version of you that you’re letting them in on. But it’s worth taking that risk and showing people, and yourself, who you really are.
That’s how you start to feel confident in yourself, and build up trust with yourself, for yourself.
Adjust your attitude about possessions
As humans, we place value on particular inanimate objects for sentimental and societal reasons. I’ve gone to enough estate sales to see how the important things we hold so dear turn back into just random objects once we’re gone. People looking over someone else’s possessions cut clear through to the truth that it’s just stuff.
Now, I’m not a robot, and I love to have plenty of things and enjoy in my life. But it’s a conscious decision to keep what gives joy and appreciation versus just having crap for the sake of it.
I remember when my grama died, I couldn’t let her stuff go and I had it all shipped across the country to my house. But then pretty soon, my whole house smelled like her and I felt the burden of taking good care of all of her possessions.
It took over.
Then for the next couple of years, I worked on paring down only the most special pieces to me, and not what was worth the most or what I thought she’d want me to keep. It’s a process of letting go and remembering what’s really important, the memories and the love.
Moving your body is critical to maintaining the optimal functioning of your body and your mind. I struggle with this one, even though I consider myself healthy.
Especially now working from home during the pandemic, I used to ride my bike 40 minutes each way into work, and now I walk 40 steps to the living room. But when I do get my body moving, it’s like a mind wipe and brings me right back to the present.
Laugh and smile more
Sometimes during the workday, I have virtual tea with a work friend to take a breath and break up the day with something light and fun.
It can change the whole outlook of the day to have that time just to decompress, vent, and laugh at how ridiculous some of the stuff we have to do is.
Also, think of how different you feel after watching a drama or horror movie or show versus a comedy. It can and does influence your mood. So when you’re deciding on what to watch or read, try to remember to limit negative entertainment and try comedy and laughter instead. When you’re taking a break from work, maybe have a laugh with a friend or colleague instead of watching the news or scrolling on social.
Final Thoughts
I hope these ideas I have pulled together will be a helpful resource if you’ve been feeling stressed out. Go ahead and give one of these ideas a try and let me know if it helped!
Weekends are the best and the worse at the same time, and sometimes thinking of weekend activities can be daunting.
We finally have a chance to relax after a long work week, but we are either exhausted and need to catch up or the unscheduled time we were so looking forward to now seems daunting. If you don’t know how to fill your time or have analysis paralysis with how to enjoy your time off, just close your eyes, scroll down, and try the first thing you put your finger on.
Or just try the first things that make your eyes light up or something that makes you go, yeah, I’ve been wanting to get to that for a while. Just do it, even if you have to say to yourself that you’ll dip your toe in for five minutes or just walk around the block. Taking on new things in a small way can be more effective, than trying to do it all at once or committing to big life goals.
It is the small things, right?
Okay, now to the good stuff!
Ideas for Weekend Activities
Read in the sun.
And not on your phone. Read a book or a magazine even, find a sunny spot in your house or apartment, or somewhere out in the yard. Get lost in a story, read about how to improve yourself, learn about history, or whatever floats your boat.
Watch the sunset.
Well, sunsets can just be so dang beautiful and there’s something about an amazing sunset that connects you to the present. It can stop you in your tracks and take your breath away. Take a drive, walk, or bike to a good look out spot and stop to appreciate the moment.
Go on a picnic.
Pack your favorite treats, bring your best cutlery and napkins, and set up a spread that is fit for a special occasion.
Schedule a morning workout.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by how to fill the unscheduled hours facing you down, starting off with a work out in the morning will help to shake out the anxiety bugs, get your head into the present moment, and focus on just making it through the workout. Then you’ve accomplished something right off the bat, gotten your endorphins pumping, and the rest of the day won’t have as much pressure put on it.
Play board games.
People of any age can enjoy a good board game. You can stop to just have fun and spend some time with a friend or loved one to just be silly and relax. Some of my favorites are Monopoly, Scrabble, and Trivial Pursuit.
Eat ice cream.
Take a walk to the local ice cream shop or pick up a pint and some cones, maybe even some sprinkles if you’re feeling it. Really good quality ice cream is such a treat, especially for us sweet tooths out there.
Make a romantic dinner.
It’s so easy to forget to stop and do something nice for your partner. How cool would it be for them to come home and fine a romantic dinner waiting for them.
Have a Luddite evening.
Pretend that the power is out and bust out the candles, books, games, etc. and disconnect for a night. I bet you’ll be shocked at how it can feel like time actually slows down.
Go on a digital scavenger hunt.
You can start to notice things you haven’t before when you’re looking for specific things to photograph. Create a list of items to find in your neighborhood and take photos of. Do it with friends and have a prize at the end for whoever finds the most or takes the most creative photos.
Be a staycation tourist.
There are so many things that I bet you’ve never checked out in your own city or town. Those things on your list that you’ve always wanted to try but think, well it’s always there when I have the time. Now’s the time, be a tourist.
Go to a farmers’ market.
Farmers’ markets are the best because the quality of produce and good is always great, you can discover new things to try, it’s great for strolling and people watching, and you can usually score some great samples as you walk.
Bake.
If you want a warm hug, try baking something. If you don’t feel domestic or all warm and fuzzy, just try baking some more. Then share your bounty with a neighbor or your friends.
Volunteer.
So many organizations need volunteers all of the time. Animal shelters usually love when people show up and offer to take dogs for a walk, or shelters to help serve food, or now in COVID times, tons of facilities need volunteers at all experience levels to help get people vaccinated. Just do a google search for your area, and tons of stuff is bound to pop up.
Beach day.
If you live near a beach, just get yourself there. Bring some goodies, a book, blanket, and a hat and veg. Whether you enjoy jumping in the water and swimming or playing in the waves, or just sitting and reading a book and people watching, there’s no pressure at the beach and getting some sun, while also protecting your skin, is good for the soul.
Rearrange furniture.
Things hold energy, and shifting around your living space can create fresh energy. I’m always amazed at how refreshing it can feel to change the layout of a space. It doesn’t have to be forever either, you can try out different arrangements and if it doesn’t work, try making small changes until it feels right.
Write out a list and try something.
Write down a handful of things you’ve been wanting to do and putting off. Or maybe there’s some things that make you uncomfortable that you could write down and lean in to. It can be as small as taking the step to write the list and choosing one thing to try. Then take one step towards trying that thing.
Do a puzzle.
When in doubt, try a jigsaw puzzle. Some people may think it’s boring, like my husband, but you’d be surprised how even puzzle skeptics will get sucked in and super ecstatic when they find that one piece they’ve been looking for. Choose a puzzle that’s pretty and then you can turn it into an art piece.
Clean your closet.
This is my go-to. Cleaning out your closet is one of the best feelings, at least for folks like me who feel calm when things are organized. Even if you’re the kind of person who would rather just close the closet door because if you can’t see it, it’s not there, right? Just pick a drawer, pick a section of the closet, and do it in small chunks. Once you see some progress, it’ll be motivating.
Enjoying a park is a fabulous way to pass the time. For some, it is a great way to get exercise, like tossing the frisbee, and for others, it is super fulfilling to sit under a tree and reading a book. Especially in urban areas where open space can be limited, getting yourself to a park can be restorative. Just type “parks near me” into Google, and you may find some new parks you didn’t even know about.
Bike ride.
Hopping on the bike and exploring is so much fun. It is liberating to get around and not be in a car, feeling the wind in your face and taking in everything passing by. Plus, it’s great to get the blood flowing.
Online class.
There are so many free and cheap online classes now, with sites and apps like Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare, MasterClass, Teachable, and Kajabi. Heck, even YouTube has tons of awesome free info out there. Instead of binge-watching, which no shade at all-we all enjoy a good binge, try watching something where you can learn a new skill or just be inspired.
Brainstorm on a life plan.
Feeling lost in life? Take some time to explore and brainstorm some values and vision for your life that get you excited. Lose any limiting factors like money or societal norms, and just imagine your dreams. One way to do this is to get a bunch of magazines and create a vision board.
Set goals.
Setting goals are the first step in making things happen for yourself. Sure you can just let life happen, and that’s totally fine. But if you want to be doing something else, feeling differently, or just feel like you’re aimless, then setting goals will help to star you on a new path, one that you define for yourself.
Garage/yard/tag/estate sales.
Driving around and looking for treasures on the weekends is so much fun. I grew up doing this with my mom and it’s a part of my being. You never know what you will find and the excitement of uncovering some treasure you never knew you wanted brings joy into the day. Or maybe you’re looking for something in particular. How good would it feel to find it super cheap at a garage sale versus buying it new for full price?
Scan old photos.
Scanning photos can feel super rewarding. If you’ve got editing savvy, you can even clean them up digitally and restore photos that may have been yellowed or damaged. It can feel very zen to do this because it’s so repetitive. Your mind has something to focus on and the reward is that now you’ve protected your photos and you can easily share them with friends and family.
Garden.
Getting your hands in the soil and turning dirt into beautiful food or flowers or whatever is relaxing and rewarding. It connects us to the earth and also is a great way to get outside and get exercise. It can be low impact all the way to back-breaking, so choose your comfort level.
Start an art project.
This can feel daunting if you’re not artistically inclined. But don’t worry about how it will turn out, just enjoy doing it. It’s all about the journey they say.
Write a letter.
No one writes letters anymore, yadda yadda. Well, it’s true. It’s pretty sad that we’ve lost this past time because it is so exciting to get a real letter in the mail. Some millennials may not have ever sent or received a letter in the mail. And I’m not talking about a birthday card or holiday photo postcard. So if there’s a friend or family member you haven’t talked to in a while, take a chance and write them a letter. I bet it’ll make their day and be a point of connection that will have a special impact on your relationship.
Try a new recipe.
I have so many awesome cookbooks and recipes from my family. They just sit there. Why not try a new recipe and challenge yourself?
Play card games.
Cards are easy to bring anywhere and the cool part is you can play them alone or with someone else. Getting good at card games is like a craft and a puzzle at the same time.
Visit an animal shelter.
It’s hard to go to animal shelters and see sometimes abused animals in stark cold cages. But showing up and interacting with them brings a little bit of joy to their day. It’s a selfless way to give back and make another being’s day a little brighter.
Go to a meet-up.
This one can be a little scary. You put yourself out there in a group where you don’t know anyone. But if it’s for something that you enjoy, chances are you’ll meet some people with who you’ll connect and open new doors in your life.
Get out of the house.
It doesn’t matter what you do to get out of the house but do it. Even in pandemic times, you can go for a walk or a little drive. Even if it’s a ½ hour to smell the fresh air and change your surroundings, it can shake up your energy and feel like a fresh start when you get home.
Go for a hike.
Hands down my favorite. Getting out into nature is healing on its own, and then add in exercise. The beautiful thing about hiking is you can go at your own pace and take in the surroundings. There have been so many times that I start a hike feeling anxious from work or overwhelmed by everything on my to-do list, and at the end of the hike, I always always feel worlds better.
Walk around a museum.
If you live in an area where it’s easy to get to a museum, this is a great activity. There’s no pressure to do anything other than walk around and take in the art. You can be inspired by literally some of the best creators in the world and take that renewed energy back home with you. If you want to flex your art muscled, bring a pad or a journal to sketch or write down your thoughts as they come up.
Get lost in a library.
When was the last time you went to a library? If you don’t have young kids or aren’t in school, I bet it’s been a while. Libraries are great places to go exploring in. Pick any topic and scan the shelves. Pull out something that piques your interest, find a little nook, and just enjoy scanning through a book or a few.
Arboretum.
There are a few arboretums/gardens where we live and they are great places to walk around in. Most will have signage throughout so you can learn about the different flora and fauna.
Movie night.
Just because we can’t go to theaters in pandemic times, doesn’t mean we can’t create our own movie nights. Pop some popcorn, make an ice cream Sunday, put on your comfiest clothes, grab the fuzzy blankets, turn down the lights, and watch a movie. Sounds like heaven.
Go to a coffee shop.
There’s nothing I love more than going to my favorite coffee shop, getting a cappuccino, reading a book or do a crossword or just people-watch. I worked as a barista for years and some of my closest friends are people I met during those days. Good local coffee shops have a way of creating a community like no other.
Go to a neighborhood cleanup.
In my neighborhood, there’s an urban creek that always gets clogged up with trash. People are always out there cleaning it up on the weekends, and the same with the local beach. It feels so good to help keep a place clean and healthy. It’s a beautiful way to give back to the planet that we live on and also to get some fresh air and low-impact exercise.
Create music playlists.
Hello Spotify. I have tons of playlists in my Spotify account and I love organizing my favorite songs into playlists and knowing that I have a list for almost every kind of mood I’m in with all of my favorite songs from the different phases of my life. Music heals.
Meditate.
Take 10 minutes to close your eyes, slow your breathing, and just focus on being.
Practice yoga.
YouTube has tons of awesome free yoga, from 15-minute morning stretches to hour-long challenging flows. Basically, any style or level of yoga you’re looking for you can find for free to do in your living room. Otherwise, check out yoga in the park or a local studio, but just be aware that some classes can get pretty pricey. Some awesome YouTube channels to try at home are Boho Beautiful, Yoga with Adriene, and Alo Yoga (Caley Alyssa is awesome).
Have a spa treatment.
Get your nails done or have a massage. We all deserve a little pampering now and again.
Dancing.
Dance in your living room with the sound up or find somewhere to dance like a club, a class, or even a community center.
Go for a swim.
I had this apartment a few years ago that had a great little pool. It would melt away stress to swim even for 15 minutes and then take a nice hot shower. If you’re brave, jump into the ocean for a five-minute swim even when it’s freezing. Not sure? Check out Wim Hof and you may be a convert.
Go birding.
Birds are curious creatures. They can be cute little chickadees to majestic raptors. If you own binoculars check out bird hot spots in your area and see what you can see. Ebird has a really cool map where you can find spots near you.
Take a vacation.
It doesn’t have to be a big epic endeavor. Take a short weekend jaunt somewhere an hour or two from home and get an Airbnb, make a dinner reservation, check out some local specialty or event.
Go camping.
We love to go camping on the weekends. Especially when your job is being tied to a computer all week, it can feel so good to get out into nature without any technology and just sit by a fire and watch the stars. Plus, there’s nothing like waking up in a beautiful area to stir the soul.
Make a plan.
Make a plan to do something. Don’t know what the thing is? Part of planning is brainstorming. Get out a big piece of paper and start brainstorming on things you want to plan to do. Find some small goals, set realistic timelines, and track it. You’ll be surprised how you can achieve things when you put pen to paper and monitor your progress.
Stock up on groceries.
We all need to do it, so put on some headphones, play your favorite playlist, and get it done. It’s a small accomplishment, but it will still feel good to have your kitchen stocked with the essentials and some of your favorite snacks.
Spend time with a pet.
Pets are great distractions. They force you to go for a walk, give some rubs, and play. Make your morning or afternoon all about them, clean their space, brush their fur and teeth, buy them a new toy or treat.
Netflix and chill.
We all need it some days. Don’t feel guilty about having a good binge if you are having a day where that’s just what you’re capable of doing. We all need days off to recharge and let our brains rest. It is normal.
Treat Sunday night like Saturday.
I’m sure most of us have had the Sunday blues. Why bother doing anything Sunday night when Monday is right there and a full week of work is a the door? Well, that’s exactly why Sunday night is a good night to go out and have a nice meal, watch a movie, do whatever you would do on Saturday night (well maybe not a party if that’s what you would do), and eek every last drop of the weekend out that you can.
Meal prep.
I am awful at this. There’s something about meal prep that I cannot get into. But I am including it because it’s something that I’ve always stried to do, and the friends I know who have it down tend to eat pretty well and not stress about what to throw together on their lunch break but can relax and enjoy the time. If you have any tips, please let me know!
Sleep in.
My husband’s alarm goes off at 5:30 AM and I’m not too far behind on workdays. Weekend activities be damned – the idea of sleeping in on the weekends is like the best luxury around. Sleeping in for us is like 8 AM but it still counts! Wake up slowly, bask in the deep morning stretches in bed, enjoy the sun on the blankets, and don’t stress about jumping right up and tackling the day. Ease into it.
BBQ.
Putting food on the grill always makes it feel like a special meal. There’s that little bit of extra love that goes into cooking outside and using fire.
Go for a drive.
Take a drive and explore new areas. You will always find something unexpected and inspiring. Either in coming across areas, buildings, spaces that you want to explore more or in seeing things that help you to understand what you don’t want in your life. Either way, it’s a great way to get out and see more of where you live.
Do the laundry.
Doing the laundry is one of most people’s dreaded tasks. But I kind of like it. For me, I try to think of doing the laundry and even doing the dishes as an active meditation. If you stop to feel the warmth of the clothes and the satisfaction from taking good care of the things that keep you warm and allow you to express yourself, it can be satisfying and feel like less of a chore.
I hope one of these ideas helps you to fill your weekend days with weekend activities that bring you contentment. Please pin this post or forward it to someone who would benefit. Enjoy your weekend!
