10 Actions of Self-Love You Can Take Today

Read on for some simple yet transformative acts of self-care that you can bring into your life with ease.

The best way to improve your self-care is to break it up into bite-sized pieces. You can’t perfect everything at once, so here are 10 small acts of self-care that you can take today.

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1. Clean yourself

Even if it’s a wet wipe shower and a 5-second mouthwash swilling, it’ll leave you feeling fresher. A fresh body clears the mind.

2. Hug something

This act releases oxytocin and greatly affects your headspace. When no one is around, hug a pillow or hug your pet. Or, wrap your arms around yourself and squeeze!

3. Breathe!

When your breath gets tense, it has a body-wide effect, eroding your sense of calm and worsening feelings of stress and depression. Try taking five big, deep breaths, nice and slow.

4. Write something

It’s easy to get locked inside your head, spiraling between crises. Write your thoughts down to free yourself. Try journaling or writing a mantra on a sticky note.

5. Take a screen break

Stretch your brain with some creativity away from the screen — doodle something fun, complete a crossword, or read a magazine.

6. Move your body

If you can’t get outside today, walk on the spot for 5 minutes or stretch out those tired limbs.

7. Eat something

Eat something nutritious, and then enjoy something that makes you happy to eat!

8. Speak with someone

Whether it’s by text, phone, or in person, use your voice and share a piece of your day with someone else.

9. Learn something

Activating your brain helps lift it out of the depths of darkness, so challenge it by reading a non-fiction book or watching a video essay.

10. Find your glimmers

Triggers drag us down to the depths, but glimmers are the little stars in daily life that make us feel lighter. Identify a glimmer a day to keep the darkness at bay.

The bottom line

Self-care doesn’t need to be a time consuming task. Weaving these quick and practical techniques into your day might have a meaningful effect on your mood and well-being.