Breathe Easy: 27 Transformative Self Care Ideas for Stress Relief (2024)

I think we can all agree that stress has become an inevitable part of life. Incorporating self-care ideas for stress into your daily routine may help bring more peace, health, and balance.

Living in a fast-paced world, work and personal life responsibilities can leave anyone feeling overwhelmed and depleted. This is the perfect time to reap the many benefits of self-care and live your best life.

Self Care Ideas for Stress Management

I’ve listed 27 self-care ideas to help you prevent, manage, or heal your stress. Whether you’re looking for self-care strategies to do outdoors or in the comfort of your home, you’re bound to find something to add to your self-care routine.

1. Take a mindful walk

Going for a long walk or long run in nature is a great way to alleviate your mind and body of stress. Be in the present moment as you walk. Take in the sights, fresh air, and the sounds of the great outdoors.

Aside from catering to physical needs and decreasing things like heart disease, you can also increase feelings of peace and calm.

2. Read a book

If you’re looking for a great mental escape, pick up a good book that’ll help your imagination soar. If you’re in search of direction and motivation, a non-fiction book may be the best way to go for personal development.

Re-read a favorite book or finally pick up a new one from that list of books you’ve been meaning to tackle.

3. Set boundaries with others

Setting boundaries is one of the best self-care ideas. While we may care for the approval of those at work, or being there for our friends and family, it’s not practical to always be available to everyone.

Reduce stress by not extending more than you have to give. It’ll leave more room to focus on the positive things you enjoy.

4. Create a sensory bath experience

Take bath time up a notch and create an experience that’ll bring you peace and relaxation after a full day. To create a sensory bath add Epsom salt, essential oils, or your favorite bath bombs.

You can also incorporate soothing sounds, light music, or candles to promote deeper relaxation.All of these properties, separate and combined, can help to reduce stress.

5. Take a digital break

There are many ways you can go about taking a digital break. Here are a few to consider:

Dedicate one day a week to be completely free of social media.
Do an electronic detox for a weekend.
Put your phone and tablets away an hour before bed and/or refrain from checking them an hour after waking.
Deactivate your social media pages for a selected amount of time.

6. Laugh therapy

Find different ways to add more laughter into your life with these self care ides for stress. You can watch a funny movie, listen to a funny podcast, or even grab a ticket to visit your favorite local comedian.

And since laughing is even better together, invite someone you enjoy to share it with.

7. Aromatherapy

Our senses can have a huge impact on the way we feel. Use the power of scent to help alleviate stress and promote more relaxation in your life.

Use a diffuser for calming essential oils, such as lavender, bergamot, or eucalyptus. Practice deep breathing to get the full benefits of the scents.

8. Digital decluttering

We spend so much time on our digital devices. It can become stressful when digital spaces become cluttered and disorganized.

Take some time to delete spam emails, go through unread text messages, or check those unopened notifications. This will relieve stress and give you back a sense of power over your day and life.

9. Declutter your spaces

The spaces we occupy have a great influence on our mood and stress levels. Depending on how busy or distracted we are, we can easily find ourselves in unorganized, messy, or cluttered spaces.

Take some time to declutter your car, living and work spaces. This will help you feel more confident and comfortable when relaxing and taking better care of yourself.

10. Plan a get-away

Sometimes all we need is a quick (or extended) getaway in times of stress. If you find yourself suffocated by stress that isn’t easy to escape (ie., work, roommates, family), consider removing yourself for a little.

Plan a vacation or a staycation that will allow you to relax and properly assess your emotional needs.

11. Herbal tea break

Take good care of yourself with a cup of hot, healing herbal tea. Use this time to slow down, reflect, and organize your thoughts to avoid getting consumed by stress.

Consider using herbal teas that are well known for stress reduction such as lavender, jasmine, chamomile, spearmint, or even rose hip.

12. Caffeine break

Not all caffeine is created equally. Try a drink that doesn’t trigger your mind and body or cause sudden crashes. Drinks like matcha, chai, or mushroom tea all have less caffeine than traditional coffee.

You can also enjoy them hot, iced, or with added jams and syrups.

13. Mindful eating

Do your body a favor by mindfully eating when you’re dealing with stress. Take enough time to chew your food, take in the smells and flavors, and appreciate what you like about the meal.

This is a good way to bring more joy, relaxation, and peace into your day.

Catch more reads on mindful eating:

Committing to Mindful Meals, As Told By an Expert

Must-Read Mindful Eating Books For Improving Your Meal Time

14. Express yourself creatively

Creative expression can take a good self-care routine and turn it into one of the best self-care routines. Using creative expression can help release some stress and let in good vibes.

Choose one activity you enjoy and let go. This can be painting, drawing, writing, singing dancing, or even photography.

15. Meditation

Mindful meditation is one of those self care ideas for stress that continues to gain popularity. The benefits are well researched and have proven to reduce stress and bring an overall greater sense of well-being.

You can add meditation to your morning routine or anywhere in your day. Add deep breaths for greater relaxation.

Craving more meditation based content? Read them below:

10 Best Gifts For Someone Who Loves Meditation

Best Mindfulness Meditation Podcasts to Keep You Grounded

16. Make a nutrient rich mock-tail

Consider adding mock-tails that have health benefits to your self-care checklist.

You can include magnesium drops to reduce anxiety, real fruit juice (try cherry juice to combat sleep deprivation), and adaptogens for stress relief, balance, a stronger immune system, and longer life.

17. Body tapping

Try this self-massaging method to relieve pressure. It also reduces stress, stimulates your nervous system, and combats your body’s flight response.

Tapping is a simple exercise that requires you to simultaneously tap various pressure points on the body while focusing on negative emotions or stressful situations.

This provides mental health care by helping to acknowledge your emotions and send stress-relieving signals to your brain.

18. Listen to music

Put on your favorite music and conjure up those feel-good emotions to combat your stress. You can listen to meditation music, lo-fi instrumentals, or whatever makes you feel at ease.

If community listening is your thing, consider visiting a local “listening room” to meet like-minded folks or catch good vibes.

19. Indulge in a hobby

Hobbies are self care activities that can offer a level of joy and escapism that can reduce and manage stress and negative feelings.

What matters here is that you dedicate your time and energy in healthy ways that make you proud of yourself, soothes you, and allows you to take your mind off distractions.

20. Stretch your body

Stretching exercises are a great way to take care of your body. They are considered physical self-care that can help calm your mind and soothe your body while reducing stress in the process.

Consider using a mat or blanket, stretching blocks, and wheels for deeper stretches and increased comfortability and relaxation.

Related about physical self-care ideas:

11 Recreational Self-Care Ideas You’ll Be Excited to Try

6 Mindful Physical Self-Care Ideas For Your Mind And Body

21. Sauna session

Sweat your stress away by visiting a sauna. Adding a sauna session to your to-do list can have amazing mental and physical benefits.

The heat of a sauna provides different types of self care: it decreases cortisol, boost serotonin levels, relax your muscles, improve circulation, and release endorphins.

22. Dance therapy

Moving your body through dance can be a freeing experience. It’s a fun and easy way to get in physical activity while also boosting your mood and reducing stress. Put on your favorite song and let the music guide your movements.

Good things about dancing is that it can promote a sense of joy, well-being, and mindfulness.

23. Get sunlight

Use sunlight to make self-care important in your life. If you work from home or in an office, you may find yourself indoors for the better part of your day.

Natural sunlight can help boost our happiness hormones. It also promotes melatonin production which help you get enough sleep, ultimately lowering stress.

24. Write down your thoughts

Journaling is one popular self care ideas for stress relief. Combat negativity by writing positive self-talk, positive affirmations, or a list of things you’re grateful for.

This can lower stress by helping you gain clarity and perspective on stressful situations and your own needs.

25. Connect with friends

Had a stressful day? Lean on your best friend or close relationships when you need help to alleviate stress on those bad days.

Strong connections with friends can be considered a form of self-care because spending time with those who support us protects our emotional health and physical health.

26. Get a massage

We carry stress in our bodies. Massages help to regulate blood pressure and lower stress by calming the nervous system. Whether you work a laborious job or not, you can benefit from a massage for stress relief.

Take small steps and start with a hot stone, deep tissue, or aromatherapy massage (or a combination of them all)!

27. Enjoy the company of others

It’s a common misconception that self care means spending time alone. Some causes of stress can stem from isolation.

Spending time with others is a self care idea for stress that can help bring comfort. This can look like going to a cafe or restaurant to just soak in the energy of others, making social connections, or attending a networking event.

Adding Stress Relief to Your Self Care Routine

Take stress as a sign that your mind, body, and soul need some major T.L.C. Incorporating self-care practices into your daily life is important when attempting to manage stress and maintain your overall health.

Finding a self-care plan that works for you is key. You can use one, multiple, or a combination of many of these ideas. The most important thing is that you make time for activities that nurture you holistically and allow you to show up as your most authentic self.

Check out our other self-care posts:

30 Soothing Self-Care Ideas for A Bad Day

Beauty Self-Care Ideas We Want You to Know About

Self-Care Birthday Ideas to Make Your Day Extra Special

15 Professional Self-Care Ideas to Enhance Your Time at Work

Cheap Self-Care Gifts That Make Relaxing and Self-Love More Easy

45 Self-Care Affirmations For When You Have The Sunday Scaries

Do you have a self care tips or your own self-care plan to reduce stress? Let us know in the comment section below.