15 Ways I Practice Self Care

Allison Jadovitz
May 10, 2021
6 min read

Updated: Oct 25, 2025

The goal of this post is to give you some ideas of how to become your own best friend and rock your own world!

When we think of "treat yourself" and "self care" stuff, we often jump to spending money.

I'm going to list 15 ways I practice self care. Ways that I create a calm environment when I'm feeling stressed or in need of a break.

Ways I make an enjoyable space for myself, relaxing moments in my every day, more energy while tackling my to do list, and real kindness and love towards myself no matter what chapter in life I'm in - all on a budget.

FIRST THING'S FIRST

First, I have some things to say about this project:

All 15 can be totally free or you can "boujee" them up if it's in your fun-budget.
I try to attach all of these things to actions I already do every day - like showering.
If you're already saying in your head “This is doing too much" - then keep reading sister.

MY MANTRA

I'm the type of person who does things in the first opportunity.

Secret: this is what I tell myself throughout the day.

I LOVE WHAT IT DOES.

When I think this thought, "I'm the type of person who does things at the first opportunity" it literally pulls me into motion.

I'm amazed how many times it's felt EFFORTLESS to get moving after saying this to myself.

For Example: when I get out of the shower & dry off, I know I want to put on my Targeted Action Toning Lotion on my legs because summer is coming.

The thing that stops me from putting it on is laziness. Every day I'm lazy. It doesn’t go away. Feel the same?

WHAT IF I'M LAZY?

This new mantra isn't curing my laziness AT ALL, but it puts me on an alternate path than my laziness.

It's like a fork in the road: 1 way is motioning toward my laziness & not putting on the lotion after my shower, and the other way is reminding myself "I'm the type of person who.." & it motions me to just grab my lotion & put it on my legs [even * with a lazy attitude lol] and then it's OVER.

And “suddenly” [or not so suddenly] after a week of practicing this, it's not even a "thing" when I get out of the shower & I go to put on lotion.

I no longer have this drama around it, I just do it.

CHANGING BELIEFS

Now it's been embedded in my mind that I'm the type of person who does this sort of thing at the first opportunity.

I'm the type of person who puts on toning lotion after my shower. It’s just a thing that I do.

This new belief can be applied to each one of these 15 self care options.

All of which will benefit you, subconsciously cultivate love towards your body, and in time create a great friendship with YOURSELF.

You can't give other people what you don't have.. You can't love others if you don't love yourself first.

For all my single sisters out there: when looking for a partner, my ONE piece of advice: LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF FIRST.

When you truly love yourself, you don't settle. It's legitimately not an option.

You've been cultivating this belief that you're worth a lot more than mediocre or laziness. You've been cultivating this aroma that you're royalty and deserve kindness in every part of life - no exceptions.

You're creating your own beat - a specific pace of love & confidence that if someone wants to be your partner, they inevitably need to be in this same beat to be able to love you like you love you.

Now it's time to talk about which actions I love the most, how to make mediocre things become way more enjoyable, and give some ideas you may not have allowed yourself to take very seriously up until this point.

15 WAYS I PRACTICE SELF CARE

1. Drinking water.

Water brings energy, pretty skin, and a toned body.
Get a plain cup & put adorable waterproof stickers on it.
Get a cup that makes water easily accessible & not a hassle to open or close. [I use a straw]

My water bottle is a cute reusable venti size water cup w straw from Starbucks and because of its size, I don't have to fill it up very often. Plus, it’s cute.

2. Look good / do my makeup.

Natural makeup can be SO fast to put on!
Define your features & work em - I don’t care if you’re not leaving the house ever
When I look in the mirror, it positively affects my mood when I have makeup on and see a soft, defined, pretty face.

Plus, my husband likes when I wear perfume and my "eyelash makeup" he calls it.

3. Go outside

Sit outside on a patio
Go on a walk
Drive to a park
Tan in the sun
Drive around a new neighborhood to look at houses for fun

4. Read for fun

Go to the library!
There are books on everything - fashion, decor, mystery, romance, language, animals, faith, history, crafts, business, personal development. Everything.

5. Journaling

Write out every thought in your brain - put it on paper
Write how your day is going
Describe your dreams - where do you want to be this time next year

I've filled up more than 9 journals - and every one of them helped me have a clear, calm mind. Plus I now have hundreds of memories documented.

6. Do something creative

Doodle your heart out!
Cut out pictures from magazines
Make a collage or vision board
Make someone a gift
Bake something delicious

7. Serve someone

Take your mind OFF of yourself - it works
It grows your confidence & self love
Volunteer at an animal shelter
Volunteer to walk alongside kids horseback riding
Do a fundraiser for a nonprofit

8. Be generous

Send snail mail to 5 friends for fun
Make someone a gift
Bake something for a neighbor

9. Go walking

[a little repetitive from #3 but short walks are amazing for my mood so I honestly don't mind repeating this one]

Explore where you live!
Parks are relaxing
Find a body of water to walk near
Do a short lap in your neighborhood - this does wonders for my mood during the day
Walk to the mailbox [drop in that snail mail I worked on earlier]

10. Go hiking

Find a creek nearby
Look up a trail you’ve never done
Find a hiking buddy
Train for a super big hike in the future - you'll find this one on my bucket list here.

11. Eat healthy snacks

“I’m the type of person who loves healthy snacks”
Peanut butter & celery or apple
Hummus & carrots
Cucumber slices
Pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, bananas

12. Sleep! 7-8 hours a night, 20 min nap if needed

Go to bed on time
Make a habit of going to bed an hour before I actually want to fall asleep

13. Listen to music

Play that Mama Mia soundtrack!
Dance around
Worship is relaxing & encouraging

14. Clean up social media pages

Mute or unfollow negative people
Only follow people you look up to & admire
Limit social media time per day to 30min to 1 hour
Social media cleanse - start with 1 week no social media, then 30 days, & so forth

I have felt so free since deleting Instagram. A lot of comparing & self doubt came from me being on that app. I feel lighter & brighter without it.

15. Mindset | Self image

"When you love yourself, you don't settle. It's legitimately not an option."
Remind myself I'm royalty.
Create the belief "I'm the type of person who.."
Become my own best friend

This is a long list, but just pick and choose the things that resonate with you. I don't do all of them all the time - some only once a month, some even once a year, and others almost every day or week.

Self care can be whatever you'd like it to be, and however often you want it to be.

Also, something that's big in my mind - this isn't a "should" list. Don't do it if you don't want to.

Part of being your own best friend, means you enjoy being with yourself and doing what makes you happy, not bossing yourself around in an attempt to make you better.

The point is to love yourself more.

Your bff is gonna tell you to go for your dreams, that you look smokin' hot in those jeans, that you absolutely deserve a Godly man, that you are ALL kinds of healthy - even with some chocolate in the mix [duh], and that you already have everything you need to be exactly who you want. Your bff would tell you to go for it.