Self Care - Part Two
Part One: Click Here
As a continuation of the previous blog post about prioritizing personal time, this post will elaborate and provide multiple ways that personal time can be spent. Different ideas will be categorized into sections, all relating to a certain interest based on different people's preferences. These are only a few examples that I have chosen, but there are always going to be ways to spend time with yourself based on what you like doing.
Creative Activities:
What pops into your mind when you think of a creative activity? For most people, creativity might come in the form of art making, but there are a lot of other things that can be considered creative. For now, we’ll be focusing on art. Art is often thought of as an activity that allows you to think for yourself and gives you the space to express your own ideas, feelings, and opinions, all of which are important in order to create a strong sense of self. Art forms provide so much room for exploration because there really is no way to mess up an art project, it will just turn out as a new idea. Everyone can interpret artwork in their own way due to differing views. Creating art can be therapeutic and a way to pour your emotions into the piece you are making. A lot of people bury their feelings deep or try to push them into the back of their minds by overworking in another area, doing this isn’t healthy because ignoring your feelings can lead to bigger problems, such as depression and anxiety, that is why having a stress-relieving activity is crucial. During personal time one can explore their favorite artists, art styles, mediums, and many more aspects of art.
Tips!
Art can be created from any kind of material, so pick your medium! Allow yourself to really get involved with what you're doing, whether it’s painting, ceramics, sculpting, and many more.
Here are some art ideas, hopefully, they inspire you and are the building blocks for more and more art pieces! (If you’re interested in any of these ideas and would like to work towards them, look out for opportunities such as workshops, art lessons, or even look up techniques on youtube! Don’t worry if your first attempt isn’t perfect, it’s all about embracing the process and learning from your mistakes! Have fun!)
Create miniature pots from clay.
Paint an object or scenery in front of you.
Sculpt a face
Paint nature
Doodle little creatures from your imagination.
Close your eyes, imagine something, and try to draw it.
Look online for inspiration on certain topics (Pinterest is really good!)
Draw your favorite character from a movie or a show.
If crafts stand out to you, look online for some templates or ideas.
Try and experiment with watercolors, (they are definitely a tough medium, but don’t feel discouraged!)
Tie-dye any piece of clothing.
Paint on unusual mediums, like textured surfaces.
Try creating something 3D, like adding shading and highlights to a drawing.
Do a self-portrait, (doesn’t have to be realistic, try out new styles and exaggerate your features!)
Paint a phone case.
Journaling:
Journaling is another way to release stress and focus on yourself. Similar to art, journaling is therapeutic and calming, it also offers multiple benefits. This activity helps people stay present and mindful, it does this by simply allowing the writer to journal about events going on in their everyday lives and helps people pay attention to the little details that they might not have noticed otherwise. It also allows them to have a place where they can collect their thoughts and feelings in privacy. When someone journals it helps them reflect on what has happened throughout their day, journaling also pushes the writer to develop insight into their daily habits and routines and gives them a sense of where they can improve and also figure out what they’re good at. Being able to gain insight into yourself gives you a clearer understanding of who you are and can help you become a better person… In other words, self-improvement can do wonders for someone with a busy mind.
Tips!
Journaling can be done with simple materials at home such as pens, pencils, markers, etc. Also, make sure you have empty notebooks to write in. All you need to get started is to jot down all your thoughts and feelings.
Here are some journaling prompts for those who may not know where to start:
Write about a recent challenge.
Write about something that's an inspiration to you.
Create little doodles to represent your moods and feelings throughout your day.
Write about something positive and something you can reflect on from your day.
List down your priorities and create a checklist for important tasks.
Write a creative story, using your imagination.
Write a description of an object or a person that is in front of you, (add lots of emotion, and detail, and really make it come to life.)
List down your favorite activities or books or shows etc. mainly just anything in a category that you really enjoy!
Create a small painting and write about how you felt doing it, what you were thinking, and feeling, why you chose the colors you used, etc.
Write down inspiring quotes or affirmative phrases to look back to when you feel unhappy or not motivated.
Happy Journaling!
Music:
Music is a way to connect deeply with certain memories or people you may be thinking of. Music can help those thoughts be remembered and brought back to the present. The same concept applies to the lyrics of a song that may have been a favorite among you and another person. Music can have a strong impact and has the ability to allow someone to travel back in time to a past memory. Music can also truly improve your mood, it has the capability of bringing back uplifting moments. An energetic and upbeat song can really cheer someone up, who may be feeling unhappy, and similarly mellow beats can help someone who’s frustrated, calm down. This demonstrates how transformative music can be and its ability to affect a person’s emotions.
Meditation:
Meditation has been around for centuries and is still practiced today. Meditation has been proven to effectively decrease stress and build skills to help manage it, increase self-awareness, cultivate imagination and creativity, as well as nurturing patience, and it also helps with focusing on the present, while reducing negativity. All of these benefits make meditation a perfect activity for taking time for oneself.
Tips!
Remember to practice it in a calm and quiet environment and if it’s your first time, it’s normal to feel easily distracted or restless while doing it, since your body is just starting to get used to it. Meditation doesn’t require many materials like the examples before, as long as you can sit in a comfortable position in a room and focus on your breathing and thoughts, you’re doing a great job!
If it’s hard for you to sit in a quiet room, try out some of these methods that can easily be followed.
Go to the library and read any kinds of books you enjoy.
Sit down and listen to calming and relaxing beats.
Sit under a tree or in a park and focus on your breathing.
Use an app or device that offers guided meditation, like a recording.
Spa/Massage:
Spas and massages can also be an excellent way to unwind as they are relaxing and calming activities. Many people enjoy these because they give you an opportunity to leave your home and explore a new environment. Though it can get costly, remember that it’s only an occasional treat! Massages and spas can help relieve tense muscles and allow all of your worries to slip away for the time being. That’s why they can be a really great way to spend a couple of hours relaxing!
Outdoors:
Spending time outdoors and connecting with nature is a fantastic way to relax and take your mind off the stresses that may present themselves in everyday life. There are plenty of simple and fun ways to do this, from sitting outside in your backyard to going on a hike in the woods. The wonderful benefits of spending time outdoors are numerous- it improves mood, provides a sense of calm, offers fresh air and physical exercise for the body, as well as being the perfect balance for an overworked mind. Connecting with nature is important because it’s one of those things that gives a sense of agency and freedom. Nature can be linked to freedom because when you're outside, you're in this big open space, and in which the world can become your oyster.
Exploring nature is also a great way to relax your mind because it doesn’t require much thought when compared to other activities. Natural sunlight can also improve someone’s mood and provide an excellent source of vitamin D. Something as simple as taking the time to look up at the sky and admire its beauty can bring a sensation of safety and comfort just by the way it lightens the sky. Even the way light falls on plants can be something really mesmerizing. When the luminescent rays of the sun radiate down on you, don’t you feel nurtured by it too?
Wildlife, such as animals, can bring comfort and joy, and spending time with a pet is a great way to unravel stress and give them some attention too. Plants of all kinds are lovely sights and they can also spark creativity. Here are some questions to think about when you’re connecting with nature in a creative way: In what ways have plants and other wildlife enriched your creativity? Some common examples of creativity in nature are painting, photography, and writing descriptively, etc. about what you see. Have you ever seen the outdoors portrayed through the lens of an artist? All of these reasons show why nature is a great place to unwind!
Tips: Just remember that being outdoors doesn’t mean you have to go for a hike or do some kind of physical exercise, since that may not be everyone’s thing, but leaving your house often can be relieving, and just sitting under the sun can instantly improve one’s mood!
Friendly Reminders:
Always pick up after yourself or your pet.
Respect the space of other wildlife creatures.
If you're hiking, remember to stay on the path because it might be dangerous to you or disturbing to other wildlife.
Also, remember to give other people space as well.
Conclusion:
Self-exploration can be found in a variety of environments and ways. These are only a few examples, but remember that you can spend time with yourself in whichever way you would prefer! Once again to highlight the benefits, self-exploration is the perfect way to de-stress, learn more about yourself, and improve your overall well-being. Remember that none of these examples have to be done perfectly, it’s more about the process and really getting to know yourself!