Are you a Sunday bloody Sunday kind of person? Already dreading Monday? We’d probably get on. Self-care Sunday is how you flip that mindset around (without magically changing who you are).
So what is Self-care Sunday?
Self-care Sunday is just your ordinary Sunday, but one where you plan a little bit of extra time to take care of yourself. Even if it’s just 15 minutes. There are plenty of articles out there that will give you self-care Sunday tips and you can choose from things like relaxing baths and moisturising your face or hair (why is self-care so often tied to beauty?). If that’s your idea of the perfect self-care routine, then YES, do that!
But actually, I think Self-care Sunday is about doing whatever makes you happy. Something fun. The kind of thing that you always mean to/want to, but never do. Not the thing that you feel like you SHOULD.
For me, it’s free writing. Not that I’ve ever done it. It’s just something I think I’d like to do if I’m honest about what self-care might look like for me. It’d be nothing set or serious, just brain farting words that nobody else will ever read but me. Whatever it is for you, make sure it’s a little fun and a little challenging. Chances are it will take you out of your boring routine and out of your head.
Self-care Sundays shouldn’t suck
If you’re using your Sunday to do things like declutter, or doing your meal prep and planning, or setting your goals for the week, kudos to you. That’s amazing. For some of you, that might not even suck, maybe it is something you truly enjoy and wish you had more time to do in the week. But figure out what’s really for you and you alone. The something that brings you inordinate amounts of joy? That thing that makes your soul sing? Whatever that thing is you need to find it and do it for you, even if it’s just for half an hour.
Blue-Footed Booby Success Formula: Self-care Sunday
- Spend 15 minutes (and up to an entire day if you can) on a Sunday doing something that’s just for you. This means you need to be purely selfish. Do the thing that would make you feel happy and joyful just from having done it.
- Challenge yourself a little, but don’t make it a task or a to-do. You want to be doing that thing that’s nagging at you, something you know would be good for you to do, but you can’t seem to get around to the actual doing of it.
- Check out some of the below offbeat tips for Self-care Sunday if you need some inspiration 😉
Some offbeat ideas for Self-care Sunday
- Dance around the house or yard
How often do you just dance, do your own weird, quirky thing? Kids do it all the time, but adults tend to do it under very specific circumstances. Play the music that gets your body moving and dance like no one’s watching.
- Build a sandcastle at the beach (or a sandpit in your yard?)
Playing in the dirt has a load of wellness benefits. So does smashing up a sandcastle. Your choice.
- Strap on a pair of rollerskates or blades and hit the park
You might be a laughing stock or you might be Tonya Harding, either way you’ll be soaking up some hot sun and riding those endorphins to the max. Nothing like a faceplant to make you feel alive.
- Lie on the floor and contemplate life, love, and everything else
Most of us won’t even think about sleeping on the floor, even though this has proven health benefits. So why not lie on the ground or floor for a while and just take some time to zone out? You might even feel more grounded.
- Plant something
Choose something you like the look of, and plant it in a pot or in the garden. Aim for something that will actually grow and doesn’t need much care (because let’s face it, if you’re reading this you’re probably struggling to care for yourself, let alone anything else). Like a cactus. Never a bonsai! Planting things and caring for them is reverse self-care, because it makes you feel good.
- Take a walk or run in nature, or gaze into the stars
Try playing with your nature experience a little, like skipping every now and then when you’re running, or crossing your eyes to see if you get a different perspective. Any time you bring play into it, you’re connecting with that neglected little inner child, which offers a whole host of therapeutic benefits.
- Swim/surf, doggy-paddle or just jump into icy cold water – whatever floats your boat (assuming you can actually float – if not, don’t do this one).
Water is revitalising. If none of these activities sound like you, you can just have a bath, but see if there’s a way you can make it more joyful than normal. Whether it’s playing with some cute rubber ducks (yes, you can use those other ones) or holding your breath for as long as you can underwater, try make your experience a little more unusual.
Note: just being near water is good for mental health, so just getting close to it could be enough for you. If you can’t get anywhere near a body of water, you can also focus on just drinking more water – also linked to reduced anxiety and depression.
- Write something that’s not for anyone else to read.
Whether it’s a journal entry or some form of creative writing that’s fun, dark or grimy, the important thing is that it’s for your eyes only and a way for your to express yourself honestly (for obvious benefits).
Yes, Self-care can be boring, but it can also be fun. Make your Self-care Sunday something that you look forward to, and you’ll find that you spend more time looking after yourself.
If you’ve tried something a little quirky for your Self-care Sunday, please share your experience in the comments below or shoot us an email.
