Panache

The world is asking you to take care of yourself. Exercising, meditation, hiking, joining dance classes, or pottery classes are all self-care activities.  There are a range of self-care activities that you can do without spending a single penny.

Below are 10 underrated ways of self-care. Let us know which ones you are practicing right now.

Making a playlist

When was the last time you curated a playlist for yourself? It is fun to select one song and then leave it to the app to choose what you like. However, listening to all your favorite songs and curating them according to the different moods is meditation.

Gone are the days when people used to collect records of their favorite artists. People used to sip on their favorite beverage and go through their collections. Times might have changed but you can still do that. It does not matter whether you make a playlist for driving, work, or meditation.

You can also choose your favorite podcast episodes and download them to listen to them later. The significance of doing that is you recognize a lot about yourself, like your tastes and your preferences. It would count as a perfect me time.

Color in a Coloring Book

When was the last time you picked crayons and tried coloring in a picture? It might never have happened after schedules and meetings entered your life. Did you know coloring books for adults are available at the market? You can buy one of those and put your creativity to the test.

Doctors and psychologists suggest coloring because it induces a meditative state of mind. It increases concentration and improves motor functions and other brain activities. It also helps with sleeplessness and reduces anxiety.

It is scientifically noted that 30% of PTSD patients do not respond to regular treatments. But activities like coloring and art therapy help in reducing stress. No wonder coloring will help you heal your inner child.

Scrapbooking (Journaling)

Journaling or writing your thoughts in a diary, a notebook, or a journal is considered therapeutic by many people throughout the world. However, some people are not good at expressing their emotions in words. They search different routes to express their emotions. Scrapbooking is one of those many ways.

Remember, the scrapbook from Mean Girls? It was also a type of scrapbooking. But you do not have to be mean in your scrapbook. You can paste tickets from that memorable concert. You can print pictures from your trip, stick them, and decorate the page.

You can buy stickers of different shapes, forms, characters, and lores available online to stick to your scrapbook and make a niche diary as a fan. When it comes to scrapbooking, the only limit is your imagination.

Collecting your favorite Quotes

You might have been reading a lot of quotations in books, around the internet, and from your favorite authors. But, have you ever thought of collecting them? You can make a separate notebook in which you can collect words from your favorite people so you never forget them.

This book can help you cheer up in difficult or dark times. You can refer to the book for the perfect pep talk. And pass that book as a legacy to your kids or successors. That would make an ideal Christmas present.

Botanical Journaling

This is one of the most wholesome and underrated ways to meet yourself. Gardening is considered one of the most expensive hobbies in the world. However, botanical journaling is not only cheap, but it combines two of the most beautiful aspects of a plant lover i.e. Memories and Plants.

All you need to do is dry your favorite plants, flowers, or seeds stick to a paper, and make a file. You don’t need to write the botanical facts about them. Instead, write about when and how you come across that piece. Did someone gift you that flower? Did you find that leaf in a park on your morning walk routine?

Also read: 10 types of journaling you can do this year.

Writing a letter to someone

Many people in the journaling subreddit have confessed that they often dedicate their journals to someone no longer in their lives. Psychologists say that it is one of the best ways to express your emotions and thoughts and to let go of the past.

You can do it when you miss someone or the dear ones who have passed away. There are times in our lives when we cannot get closure and lead our lives with the shadows of the past. Writing what you want to say, how much you miss them, or what their absence feels like can help you get closure. All you need is a pen and paper and just start writing.

Also read: This one journaling exercise can give you closure.

Making an art piece (craftwork)

This one is for people who collected a lot of pins for inspiration but never got the time, material, or help to make those pieces that they always wanted to make. Choose a particular piece from all the inspirational pieces and create your version.

Once you get into the flow of making the masterpiece of your lifetime, you will forget your worries. It can be a designer piece that you loved, a piece of home décor, a portrait of your favorite artist, or anything that you can be proud of.

Visit someone who might need it (visit an old age home, orphanage, or AA meeting)

There is no denying that we are a society that is dealing with the epidemic of loneliness. You would be surprised by the number of people who feel alone in this crowded world. If you are among those people, you can extend your hand and help others.

Try to visit the nearby orphanage or old age home. A weekly AA meeting at the community center can offer you a different perspective on life. Try to join a mental health group and listen to stories of people. You will help yourself by helping others.

Read through your own Journal entries (see how far you have come)

Journal writers often keep writing in journals through the years. But they seldom open their journals and look back on their past and how far they’ve come. It is a significant activity to look back and see in detail what happened and what is happening.

Some people confess to cringing at their old entries. But most of them talk about how it brings tears to their eyes. It gives them more power and motivation to see how much they have grown as a personality.

Also read: How to approach journaling as a newbie?

Change your environment

Make your bed before you change the world. You might have read this often on the internet. But why stop at cleaning the environment? Make sure that your ambiance becomes an image of your personality.

Change the curtains, the chair, or the arrangement of your work table. Little things like these make a huge difference. Let the light come in.

Which of these self-care methods are you going to follow? Please let us know.

Also Read: How to re-parent yourself to heal your inner child?

Also Read: 7 types of rests that lead to complete wellness.