What is self-care?

Self-care is all about doing things that take care of your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. This means taking part in activities that make you feel physically, emotionally and mentally better. It’s also about treating yourself with kindness and compassion.

What should I be doing?

The key to self-care is making sure you’re doing something just for you, not because you feel you ought to. It shouldn’t feel like another thing on your to-do list, but something that brings you a sense of calm and makes you feel comfortable and nurtured. The idea is that by doing self-care activities, you’ll feel better right away, but also in the longer term too.

Self-care activities can be small things – such as stretching, taking some slow deep breaths, writing in a journal, taking a nice bath or sitting on a bench in the sun. Or they can be more challenging activities that take a longer time or more effort – for example, getting fit enough to run 5K, sorting out a messy room, or going for a long walk.

Why can self-care be hard?

Some of us can find self-care hard. If you’re often busy or have lots of different commitments, it can be a challenge to remember to make time for yourself. Plus, if you’re not used to taking time out, it’s not easy to change a habit.

Self-care is also more of a challenge if you are feeling stressed, down or anxious. Many of us are living in a state of constantly heightened anxiety because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it can make even more of a difference at these times.

Here are some of our recommendations for you to try. Remember, the most important thing is to choose something just for you, and you don’t need to try them all! Why not choose one or two?

Look after your body

Keep hydrated - Try and drink 8 glasses of water or sugar-free drink each day.

Exercise - Regular exercise improves your health, helps you sleep better, and reduces feelings of sadness and anxiety. It can also make you feel stronger and more in touch with your body. It’s important to choose something that you enjoy – try walking, skipping, dancing to your favourite music, or gardening.

Yoga - Calming stretches and relaxing poses can be really helpful if you’re feeling overwhelmed. And don’t let the lockdown stop you - there are lots of different free online sessions available.

Shower or bath - Nothing beats a relaxing soak in the bath with a good book.

Pamper your body - Choose whatever works for you – whether it’s applying a nice moisturiser, using a face pack, painting your nails, putting on a favourite scent… Whatever makes you feel nurtured and relaxed.

Looking after your mental wellbeing

Do an activity you enjoy - It’s really important that you make time to do things that you find absorbing, relaxing or fun. It doesn’t matter what it is – it could be watching a boxset, doing a jigsaw, knitting, cooking, playing a game, scrapbooking, colouring, gardening, DIY…

Breathe - Deep breathing can be an effective way of reducing feelings of anxiety and stress.

Write it down - Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you to feel better. It can help you express your feelings, explore patterns, and reflect. You could keep a journal, either in a notebook or using an app.

Try to notice the good things - Our brains are hardwired to notice bad or negative things. This means that we focus on these more than the positive. You can try to balance this out by making an effort to notice the good things around you. Even noticing small things, like a nice cup of tea or a good song on the radio, can make a difference. Some people do this regularly in a gratitude journal.

Go offline - Try keeping your phone or laptop in another room and spend a few hours without notifications.

Look after your environment

Get some fresh air - If you can, try to get some time outside every day. You can also open a window to get fresh air into your room.

Get clean and tidy - We know that housework might not be everyone’s first choice of self-care activity! But having a pleasant and hygienic environment can help you feel much better. If it seems like too much effort, focus on one small job – wash some dirty dishes or tidy up the area around the sofa.

Smell something nice - This could be a candle, a room spray, essential oils, baking, or fresh laundry - anything that smells good to you.

Get cosy - Get snuggled on the sofa or wrapped in your favourite blanket.

Connect with others

Send a message. Reach out to a friend or family member – whether it’s to check in about how you’re both coping, or something silly like sharing a meme or joke to make you both smile.

Talk about how you feel. If you someone that you trust, it can help to talk about how you feel. If you’d rather talk about your feelings anonymously, helplines are brilliant. You could try Mind, the Samaritans or The Silver Line, and you can find plenty more by searching online.

Self-care for Volunteers