10 Self-Care Tips to Revive, Restore, and Relax You

There are so many ways we can take care of ourselves in body, mind, and spirit. It helps when we are open to something we have never tried before—sometimes just the act of trying something new can shift our energy and consciousness, providing fresh perspective and a change in attitude.

1. Treat yourself to a bath—add essential oils, light naturally scented candles, and turn the ringer off on your phone. Even a short bath can revitalize your energy, relax you physically and emotionally, cultivate mindfulness, heighten your senses, and allow for a restful night’s sleep. Because being in water can remind our bodies of being in the womb, baths can be particularly soothing and calming during times of sadness or worry.

2. Take time to star gaze—throw on a sweater, scarf, and hat—even wrap yourself in a blanket—and step out into your yard. Spend a few minutes breathing. Don’t force yourself to feel anything in particular. Just tune into your senses. Use a soft gaze. Breathe in the space above you. Contemplate what cosmologist Brian Swimme says: "The supreme insistence of the universe is that we enter the adventure of creating ourselves." Being outdoors, particularly under the stars, can instill serenity and awe even in the most resistant of us.

3. Create a mini-retreat—grab your portable music player, choose music that soothes and lifts your spirit, and find a spot in your house where you can relax. Have a sketchbook and some color pens nearby. Take 15 minutes to listen to the music and play in your sketchbook without goal or objective. Drawing, in this case, is simply a way to be in the present moment with the music. This can be calming after work, on your lunch break, or after returning home from a tiring day. You will be surprised how just 15 minutes of soothing music and doodling can create inner spaciousness and restore your energy.

4. Give yourself the gift of being in your body—Take a minute to feel what Eckhart Tolle calls the "alive and awakened energy" in your body. Stand in a comfortable and relaxed position. Scan your body from your feet to your head. Allow your body to show you how it wants to move or stretch. Keep following it until you feel satisfied.

5. Reconnect by writing a letter or card—think of a close friend with whom you haven’t had time to be in touch. With your friend in mind, take a trip to a local card shop or bookstore, choose a card or new stationary set, or create your own card for just this occasion. Make yourself a cup of tea, light a candle, put on some soothing music, and give yourself 20 to 30 minutes to reconnect with your friend via the written word.

6. Invite yourself on an outing—Treating yourself to a special day or evening can be a wonderful conscious act of self-appreciation. Go apple picking, have a picnic, attend a poetry reading, or go listen to live music. It may feel strange at first, but if you do this more often you will learn to look forward to this time and seek out adventurous and fun things to do with the most important person in your life—you! Resist the impulse to invite a friend along at the last minute. You’ll be glad you stuck to your plan.

7. Put on a solo dance show—let off steam at the end of the day by dancing in your living room. The Kundalini yogis say 20 minutes of dancing is key to your overall health because it burns off excess energy that builds up during the day or rises to the surface from your yoga practice. Go on, no one is watching—jump up and down, shake your limbs. Dance, dance, dance!

8. Make a list of your positive qualities—or make a list of compliments you wish other people would say to you. Now say them aloud to yourself in the same way a friend might say them. As you’re reading, you may think of more. Write those down, too. This is a good way to raise your energy and nudge you toward the positive if you are stuck in an unpleasant mood.

9. Enjoy a slow walk around the block—this should be a leisurely and pleasurable experience. Enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and the movement of your body. Take in your surroundings. Appreciate your mobility, how your legs support you as you walk, and the way your body and gravity work together in a miraculous balancing act.

10. Develop your intuition—choose a card from any tarot or inspirational deck and write about it in your journal. What do you see? Describe the card. Use the images as springboards to talk about how you are doing, what you’re dreaming about. What do the images conjure up, remind you of? How does the card relate to where you are right now in your life? Does it reflect where you were, where you are, or where you want to be? This is a creative way to explore your inner world and anything else you want.