101 Self-Care Hacks: A Cheat Sheet to More Self-Love.

There are days I drop words of comfort on myself like falling leaves and remember that it is enough to be taken care of by my self. – Brian Andreas.

She took time out to play, love, nurture herself.. and was a happier woman for it.

(This is a post by Sass-pert Anne-Sophie Reinhardt).

Our relationship with ourselves is the most important one we’ll ever have.

And yet, it’s most often the least loving, caring and gentle relationship of all. We put everyone in the world before us and often shy away from making ourselves a priority at least every once in a while.

We live in a society where putting yourself last, especially for women, is key and taking care of yourself, your body and your needs is often seen as selfish and plain wrong.

Yet, this frame of mind doesn’t serve anybody nor does it make sense. After all, if you’re happy, calm and relaxed, you’ll be able to give more, love more and be more than ever before. If you’re attune to who you are, you’ll be the best version of yourself, be gentler, kinder and radiate peace. And who wouldn’t want to be around a person like that?

Self-care is important and self-care is deserved.

Why? Because you’re important and YOU deserve.

There are many ways to practice self-care and every single one of them is great. You just have to find the ones that serve you best at this moment in time.

Self-care is constantly evolving and certain tools that work today may not work tomorrow. However if you keep practicing your self-care, it’ll become more and more intuitive and you’ll be more and more equipped to find the right practice at just the right time.

To kick off your self-care practice and to give you some inspiration, here are 101 self-care tips and tricks.

1. Tell yourself that you’re enough. And believe it.
You are enough just the way you are and if you choose to improve, then you’ll do it out of respect and love for the person you are right now, not out of resentment, anger or shame.

2. Rest and Play.
Be a child again. Swing on the swings, play tag with a friend, get dirty, play dress up or treat yourself to lots of candy and a funny cartoon.

3. Sleep.
Sleep is one of the most undervalued self-care practices ever. But not being well rested affects your physical and emotional health and will haunt you in the end.

4. Let your creativity flow freely without judgement or concern.
Self-expression without judgement soothes your soul, comforts your mind and empowers your self. Draw, write poems, bake a cake without a recipe, cook intuitively, sew yourself a new outfit, scrapbook or simply doodle on a piece of paper.

5. Journal.
Give yourself the time to write down your dreams, fears, longings and reflect on your life and the lessons you’ve learned.

6. Forgive yourself.
Self-forgiveness is one of the most powerful self-care tools there is, but also one of the hardest. Take one step a day toward your goal of letting go of the wrongdoings of the past.

7. FORGIVE others.
We all make mistakes, that’s what makes us human. Free yourself of old resentments by forgiving those who hurt you or played you wrong.

 8. Feel the grass underneath your bare feet.
Practicing mindfulness is oh-so-grounding. Walk consciously across a meadow and feel the tickling of the grass.

9. Embrace your imperfections.
Your imperfections are what make you interesting, human, and unique. Don’t resent them, but embrace them lovingly.

10. Take a walk.
Go outside and clear your mind with a brisk walk. You’ll feel rejuvenated and energized within minutes.

11. Breathe deeply.
Breathing deeply relaxes you and washes the stress away for good. Whenever you feel tensed up, take a moment to breathe deeply and consciously.

12. Jump on the bed or the couch.
Channel Tom Cruise for a moment and jump on the couch like a giddy, newly in-love kid. Have fun!

13. MOVE your body.
If your body is happy, you’re happy! Treat your body to some intentional movement. You don’t have to torture yourself, but choose an activity that you love and can’t get enough of.

14. Indulge in your favorite movie.
Is it a romance, a comedy, a period piece or an action movie? Treat yourself to an evening by yourself, with some popcorn and the movie of your choice.

15. Call a good friend.
Friends are what make the life go round. Call a friend and chat for a while about everything and nothing.

16. Play hooky.
Be irresponsible for a day and play hooky. Being a rebel every now and then reminds you that life is not as serious as you’re often making it out to be.

Nike: via google.

17. Say: I LOVE you. I really do.
And mean it.

18. Do Yoga.
Practicing yoga is great to connect your mind with your movements. It can be both a very spiritual experience or simply a great way to stretch your entire body.

19. Take a long bath.
Give yourself a few more minutes than usual when getting ready to go to work and soak yourself in a nice, hot bath.

20. Be KIND to yourself.
Silence your inner bully and replace it with gentleness for the gift that you are.

21. Be your own best friend.
When you have yourself and know you can trust, honor and love yourself, you’ll never be alone again.

22. Put on nice-smelling lotion.
Honor your body and awaken your senses by carefully and lovingly applying nice-smelling lotion.

23. Learn something new.
Engage your mind by learning a new language, skill or hobby.

24. Listen to yourself.
What are your body and your mind telling you? Tune in to your thoughts more often and carefully listen to what you need.

25. Unplug.
Go offline for the evening, leave the TV off and read, create or simply be with yourself.

26. Say no when you don’t want to.
It’s so, so hard, I know, but learning to say no is a necessary skill to have in life. Practice it and soon you’ll see how freeing it is to say no without having a bad conscience or worrying about what other people will think.

27. Say HELL YES! when it feels right.
When you say no more often, you’ll create an opportunity to say yes with more vigor to things that truly interest and excite you. You’ll be so much happier when you do things that fulfill you. Try it.

28. Watch the stars in the sky.
This is especially rewarding when you feel overwhelmed, stressed out and fed up with the busyness of daily life. Look at the beautiful stars and remember what is truly important in life.

29. Write a love letter to yourself.
Go all out and praise yourself like never before.

30. Stretch.
Stretching opens your mind and relaxes your body. Throughout the day, intentionally stretch and see how the stress falls off your shoulders.

31. Massage your feet.
Massaging your feet, especially with sesame oil, relaxes your entire body from your toes to your hairline.

32. Spend a day in bed READING.
Indulge in your favorite book or grab a new one and escape the world for an entire day.

33. Create your own sanctuary.
Create your own feel-good haven in your home with things that soothe your mind and make you feel safe. The more personal the better.

34. Clean.
Free your mind by cleaning your home. Put on some music to make it more fun.

35. Dance.
Turn the music on as loud as you want and dance your heart out. Be silly and have fun.

36. Sit in the quiet.
Calm your mind by being still and sitting in the quiet for a few minutes a day.

37. Steal a hug.
Feel the warmth and closeness of a loved when by stealing a big, long, loving hug.

38. Cook.
Cook a delicious dinner for yourself or someone you love.

39. Listen to MUSIC.
Listen to your favorite songs and lose yourself in the beautiful harmonies or the powerful lyrics.

40. Have a date with yourself.
Go the movies, have a cup of your favorite feel-good drink at the coffee shop of your trust, get a manicure and pedicure and take yourself out to dinner. It’s totally OK to splurge a bit here.

41. Voice your longings.
Openly and honestly voice your yearnings, your dreams and your needs to yourself and others. This’ll deepen any relationship there is.

42. LET GO of the past.
Whatever happened in the past, let it go. Move on and live your life in the present. It would be such a shame to see you waste your life by forgetting to move forward and living your life in the here and now.

43. Give in to your cravings.
Stop denying yourself everything and instead give in to what your body is craving. Have some chocolate, ice-cream or a pizza and throw your guilty conscience out the window.

44. Tie up loose ends.
Which loose ends do you have in your life that are still secretly nagging at you? Friends you’ve lost touch with but never really knew why? Family members you had a big falling out with and never resolved it? Projects that remained unfinished for a while? Tie up those loose ends and clear your mind of all the unnecessary baggage.

45. Play with your pet.
Give in to your pet’s nudging and spend some time focusing on it. It’s a great mindfulness exercise!

46. Put your phone on silent.
You don’t need to be reachable 24/7. Give yourself a break and put your phone on silent. Those calls can wait until tomorrow.

47. Look at old photographs.
Look at photographs of yourself as a child or your parents and grandparents. This is a guarantee for some belly-laughter and lots of reminders of the precious days you had as a kid.

48. Have a social media fast.
Stay offline for a week or two and see how your mind slows down, your senses sharpen and your life falls into perspective again.

49. Have an ADVENTURE.
What is something you’ve always wanted to do but have been too afraid to make a reality? Now is the time to do it. Be risky, be creative and just go for it.

50. Be goofy.
Leave your inhibitions behind and be goofy, privately or, if you feel especially brave, publicly. You’ll be giddy with excitement.

Img via google

51. Sit with your emotions.
Don’t push your emotions aside, but accept and embrace them as part of you and your current life. The more you know what you’re feeling the better you’ll be able to deal with life.

52. Believe in yourself.
If you don’t, then who will?

53. CLOSE your door.
Leave the world and your sorrows outside.

54. Take up boxing and let go of anger, frustration and resentment.
Negative emotions are best dealt with by getting physically active.

55. Do the best you can and be OK with it.
We’re all working hard and doing our best. Stop putting those efforts down and celebrate them instead. 

56. Apply a DIY honey lemon mask.
This is one of my favorite self-care tools. Use half a lemon and 2 tablespoons of raw, organic honey for a more radiant, even and smooth skin.

57. Have breakfast in bed.
Do it like in the movies with every delicacy you can think of. Add a vase of flowers to make the moments extra special.

58. Indulge in your favorite memories.
Thinking back to times you loved, had fun and made lifelong memories is a great way to brighten your mood and comfort your soul.

59. Give generously.
Whether you give love, resources, time or attention, giving is one of the best ways to feel great about yourself and the world. So, give and give and give some more.

60. Watch the sunset and reminisce about the sweetness of your day.
Enjoying the wonders of our world and reflecting on our day is a great way to relax and end the day with intention.

61. IMAGINE your dream life.
We all have dreams, even if they’re artfully covered up. Dig them up and imagine what your life would look, feel and be like if they were to become a reality.

62. Eat healthily.
A healthy diet is so important in order to have not only a clear mind and a powerful body, but also more energy, inspiration and a more balanced mood.

63. Cultivate solitude.
Don’t shy away from being alone, but instead embrace this wonderful state of being. Get to know yourself better and deepen the relationship with yourself instead of always relying on the company of others.

64. Smile at your reflection.
The simple act of smiling is empowering in and of itself, but if you direct that smile toward your beautiful self, it’s hard to feel sorrow, hurt or pain.

65. Talk sweetly to yourself.
Talk in a calm, loving and motherly voice to yourself instead of being harsh, cold and disempowering. You’ll feel safe, cared for and loved in an instant.

Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort. – Deborah Day.

66. Delegate tasks.
You don’t have to do everything on your own. Delegate some tasks at work and at home to others and thereby create more margin for yourself.

67. HELP others.
Help others in your areas of strength and delight in their light-bulb moments.

68. Help yourself.
Instead of calling for help in a difficult situation, be your own hero and thereby strengthen your self-empowerment muscle.

69. Reduce the intake of alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol clouds your mind and often leads to many unhealthy and unfortunate conversations, happenings and situations. I’m not holier than though, but reducing the consumption of alcohol is an important self-care practice.

70. Be vulnerable.
Let yourself be vulnerable and take down the shield of constant self-protection. Yes, this world offers a lot of pain, but it also offers a lot of joy. Take your guard down to experience all emotions more intensely.

71. Be proud of your accomplishments.
Being unashamedly, openly proud of what you’ve achieved in life has nothing to do with selfish pride but everything with self-care and self-empowerment. You’ve done amazing things, recognize them and praise yourself.

72. Stop comparing yourself.
Comparisons only lead to negative feelings and the never-ending spiral of destructive “not-enough” thoughts. Focus your attention inward instead.

73. Let go of negative influences.
Holding on to friends that put you down, family members that hurt your feelings or work that makes you unhappy doesn’t serve you and your health. Let go of these influences and replace them with more gentle, loving and caring ones.

74. Plan your next VACATION.
I’m addicted to traveling the world and there’s nothing more thrilling, exciting and engaging then planning new trips. Have you planned your next vacation yet? If not, it’s time to do so.

75. Create and update your “Top 10 Things I love about myself” List.
Do you like your hair, your wit, your skills in the kitchen or your beautiful curves? Think for a few moments, write down your top 10 list and pin it on your fridge for you to always have your sparkling awesomeness in sight.

76. Book a stay at a spa.
Give yourself the luxury of a day spent in a spa. Take a girlfriend or go on your own and let others pamper you.

77. Have a girl’s night out.
Call your girlfriends and go clubbing, bar hopping or simply have dinner and watch a romantic comedy.

78. Watch the world go by.
Secure yourself a seat in a nice cafe and observe the people walking by. Don’t judge, just loose yourself in the stream of others going about their lives.

79. Treat yourself to a new outfit.
Buy yourself an expressive outfit that accentuates your gorgeous curves and makes you feel like the goddess you are.

80. Feel the SUN on your face, the wind in your hair or the rain on your skin.
Get present inside your body and notice how natural influences make you feel.

81. Give yourself a loving term of endearment.
We have beautiful and kind names for all our loved ones, why not call ourselves by just as beautiful a name? Go for it.

82. Go complaint free.
Complaining doesn’t serve your mind, your attitude or your soul. Stop the complaint game and replace it with happy and positive thoughts and words.

83. Speak kindly of others.
Don’t get caught in the gossip trap, but always speak kindly of your friends, family and colleagues.

84. Speak kindly of yourself.
Don’t put yourself down in front of others either and instead be confident and proud.

85. Accept your glorious bodily shape.
Stop nagging at your supposed flaws and instead accept the way you look. This simply act will free many hours for your so much more important self-love and self-care practice.

86. HONOR your glorious bodily shape.
Go a step further and honor your glorious bodily shape by speaking to it with love and care when looking in the mirror or treating it to massages and other wellness tools more often than you’re doing now.

Img via google

87. Walk across a beautiful meadow and pick yourself a bouquet of flowers.
Choose the most gorgeous flowers for the biggest treasure in your life: you.

88. Rearrange your furniture.
Do you feel uncomfortable in your home? Does it just not feel right or are you ready for a slight change? Rearrange your furniture and shake up your life a bit.

89. Light candles and incense sticks.
Create a romantic and cozy atmosphere by lighting candles and incense sticks. This’ll relax your mind and treat your senses to something different and beautiful.

90. Get rid of STUFF you don’t need.
Clutter can weigh you down just like negativity does. Get rid of the stuff that you don’t need and you’ll see how much easier you’ll be able to breathe.

91. Seek joy in simple things.
Instead of going after the big, lofty goals, seek joy in simply things like coming home, cuddling your dog, seeing the smile on a baby’s face, laughing until the tears stream down your cheeks or going to bed in freshly washed sheets.

92. Be compassionate toward yourself.
Don’t hold yourself to higher standards than the people around you and instead show lots of compassion toward yourself and your actions. We’re all human, remember?

93. STOP judging yourself.
Stop the constant inner judging that often takes over all our positive thoughts. Free yourself of these destructive methods by using positive affirmations and mantras.

94. Stop judging others.
Know that others are doing their best as well. Judging them clutters your mind with negativity and spite and that is something we absolutely don’t need.

95. Be your own inspiration.
Be your own muse and create art that reflects your values, beliefs and shape. It’s exciting to look at your work and know that you were the sole gorgeous inspiration for it.

96. Laugh about your mistakes.
Having a sense of humor about our own shortcomings and little mistakes makes everything in life easier and less painful.

97. Dry brush your skin.
Before you hop into the shower, dry rub your skin and show your biggest organ some love.

98. Be brutally HONEST with yourself.
A relationship, especially if it’s as important as the one with yourself, can only work with honesty. So, don’t pretend to be happy when you’re not. Don’t pretend to want something that you simply despise. Don’t pretend to be fulfilled when your insides are screaming for love. You know the truth and negating it only hurts your soul.

99. Don’t compromise your values and beliefs.
No matter what you do in life, don’t ever compromise your beliefs. An action that goes against your core is toxic for your well-being. Don’t risk it.

100. Be foolish. 
Take a leap of faith, chase your dreams and do some things that others warn you about. Life’s too short to not take a risk every now and then.

101. Be AUTHENTIC.
In the end, self-love is all about being who you are, nothing more and nothing less. Show the world your true, authentic self!

What are your favorite self-care / self-love practices? Let me know in the comments & please share this post, thanks!

Anne-Sophie Reinhardt is an anorexia survivor, body image expert and the owner of aMINDmedia.

She empowers you to achieve a healthier and more successful life by returning to your true purpose and values.
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** Want MORE BLISS and less stress in your life? Inner Sparkle: The 21 Day eCourse is made for you. Click here to get inspired. Happy. Sparkly. **

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ps: If any images haven’t been credited properly please email tia at coachtia dot com and I’ll take care of it, thanks! Tia.

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  1. Anna says

    Nice list you’ve shared with us, Anne-Sophie!

    A few images are now with me forever (mucho gracias) – Happy Happy Happy Dog, Gloriously Pregnant, Vast Space (perfect compliment to the recording of silence) and the Happy Happy Happy Dog (mention it twice because that’s how it makes me feel).

    Thank you!

  2. Sneha says

    Wow Anne-Sophie!! Simply superb…You mentioned so many simple yet beautiful points on self love which we tend to forget because we are caught up in our lives so much..i am going to take a print out and follow all these…Thanks

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