Self Care

It’s more important than you think

Caring for yourself is essential to protect your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Self-care helps you stay balanced, resilient, and ready to face life’s challenges with strength and clarity. Whether you’re dealing with everyday stress or supporting a loved one with a life-limiting illness, taking time to nurture yourself can make all the difference.

Self-care can be as simple as a walk, a creative activity, or a quiet moment of reflection. It’s about recognizing your own needs and creating space to recharge. Holistic practices such as yoga, meditation, and reiki offer deeper support, addressing the Seven Pillars of Self-Care—mental, emotional, physical, environmental, spiritual, recreational, and social. From no-cost ideas to fulfilling activities worth investing in, our self-care guide provides inspiration for every lifestyle. By prioritizing your well-being, you’re building the foundation for a healthier, more balanced life, enabling you to show up as your best self every day.

Self-Care Options

What you can do for free!

Walk – around the block, in the park

Sleep – prioritize good sleep patterns

Woman Sleeping on a Bed With White Blanket — Sleep – prioritise good sleep patterns

Bathe – in a bathtub or a forest

Relaxed African American male with dyed hair lying in bath with milk water and orange slices during spa procedure — Bathe – in a bathtub or a forest, spoil yourself

Read – for pleasure ,learning

man reading a books — Read – for pleasure, interest or learning

Get creative – paint, sew, colour in

green leafed plant — Get creative – paint, sew, colour in, puzzles

Garden – fresh air and growing food

man in white t-shirt and white pants holding brown wooden stick — Garden – great from exercise, fresh air and growing food

Pets – are, unconditional love

a woman sitting on a bench with a dog — Pets – hold or pat a pet, unconditional love

Journaling – helps in many ways

person writing on paper leaning on brown table — Journal – writing down thoughts helps in so many ways

Exercise – stretch, yoga, dancing

man doing yoga in porch — Exercise – stretches, yoga, dancing, get some vitamin D

Breathe – for living as well as mindfulness

woman in white vest and black bikini with hand on chest — Breathe – Important for living as well as mindfulness

Meditation – clears and calms the mind

woman in pink dress sitting on wooden pathway — Meditation – clears and calms the mind

Play games – board, video, cards.

a black and white checkered board with buttons on it — Play games – board, video, cards, alone or with others

Make food – grow, cook, bake, eat

person holding white dough on brown wooden table — Make food – grow, cook, bake, smoothies, eat healthy

Spirituality – the importance of the soul

woman praying beside tree — Spirituality – don’t forget the importance of the soul

Gratitude – practice daily thankfulness

Embracing Young Women — Gratitude – practice daily thankfulness for what you have

Watch birds – In your garden or a park

bird, robin, ornithology — Watch the birds – In your garden or a park, they’re wonderful

Drink tea – daily, use a pot & loose leaves

woman in white long sleeve shirt holding clear drinking glass — Drink tea – make it a daily ritual, use a pot and loose leaves

Enjoy sunrise and/or sunset – look at the stars

man in white jacket standing on mountain during sunset — Watch the sunrise and/or sunset – what a gift (and look at the stars)

Listen to music – old favs, & classics

Photo of a Man Listening Music on his Phone — Listen to music – old favs, meditations, instrumental, classics

Hugs – snuggle up, hugs are awesome

Two Person Hugging Photograph — Hugs – snuggle up, hugs are awesome

Things that might cost but are worth it

Yoga Class – Join one – there are many types

Learn – Study a new language, skill, hobby

woman standing between library book shelves — Learn – Study a new thing, language, skill, hobby

Get Social – Join a local sports club

A man and woman running in a race — Get Social – Join a sports club, try something new

Go on a holiday – spend a lot or little

Woman Standing By The Side Of A Watercraft — Go on a holiday – spend a lot or little, just go & have a good time

Therapy – book a counselling session

Get a manicure, pedicure, facial – get the works

man wearing mud mask — Get a manicure, pedicure, facial – get the works

Book a massage, reiki, reflexology or similar

man lying on bed — Book a massage, reiki, reflexology or similar nice therapies!

Send yourself flowers or a hamper of lovely things.

A Man Delivering Flower — Send yourself flowers or a hamper of lovely things!

Self-care is important to protect yourself from burnout, stress and anxiety. Your mental health is critical when caring for someone with a life-limiting illness and being able to provide the support they need during difficult and challenging times. Stress has a big impact on your wellbeing so taking time out for your own care benefits everyone. Self-care includes practices like looking after yourself by recognizing your own needs, relaxing, doing enjoyable activities, taking time to slow down and be mindful. Self-care provides a balanced lifestyle to avoid burnout and makes you more effective in what you need to do.

The Seven Pillars of self-care include mental, emotional, physical, environmental, spiritual, recreational and social.

A well-balanced self-care routine involves each of these, so avoid restricting yourself to just one or two pillars.
Holistic therapies are excellent for self-care as they provide support in the seven pillars as well as enjoyment for those who practice them.

Examples of some Holistic Therapies to try:

Meditation: Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses techniques to train attention and awareness and detach from constant thought patterns to become mentally and emotionally clearer and calmer. Guided meditations are readily available online, YouTube etc.
Yoga: Yoga is a group of physical, mental and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated in ancient India and aim to control and still the mind which helps to relieve stress and support physical and emotional health and promote balance.
Reiki: Reiki originated from Japan and uses energy to heal and balance chakras in the body. Practitioners may use no touch and distance techniques to provide relief from ailments and help bring a feeling of wellbeing.
Massage: Various massage techniques provide the recipient with relief from pain and stress, promoting relaxation. Massage is useful to relieve tired muscles and can be helpful for elderly or unwell people to receive gentle hand massages when other areas of their bodies are delicate or hard to access.
Breathwork: Breathwork is meditative and helps increase lung capacity as well as decrease anxiety and improve sleep. Breathing techniques aid in focusing and slowing down busy minds.
Reflexology: Reflexology is the use of massage to the feet that correspond to various parts of the body. Practitioners can focus on specific areas with pressure points to help with the relief of pain and discomfort in muscles, bones, organs and systems.
Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is a complementary therapy that uses essential oils and other aroma compounds for the purpose of improving psychological wellbeing. This plant-based holistic approach can be used in inhalation, in baths and topically via massage oils.
Tai-Chi: Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art which has evolved into a low impact exercise in which practitioners perform a series of deliberate, flowing motions while focusing on deep, slow breaths that is beneficial for the mind and body.
Somatic Therapy: a body centered approach that utilizes strategies such as breathwork, dance and meditation to heal trauma and stress and other mental health issues.
Hypnotherapy: Hypnotherapy is being placed into a trance-like state for the purpose of support with pain and anxiety and many addictions. It is a beneficial addition to medical and therapeutic practices.