Stress can have all kinds of negative effects on your mind, body, and soul. Naturally speaking, it really doesn’t take much to drive your stress levels through the roof. Mix a little bit of staying up late with working too hard, you will have a super tasty stress recipe! Thankfully, here are 50 self-care ideas to help reduce stress levels naturally at home.

Stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure. Being under pressure, facing big changes in your life, worrying about something, having overwhelming responsibilities, not having enough work, activities, or change in your life are all things that can make your stress levels rise.

50 Self Care Ideas To Help Reduce Stress Naturally

When you feel threatened, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, which rouse the body for emergency action. Your heart pounds faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath quickens, and your senses become sharper.

Reducing your stress levels quickly can prevent unwanted side effects caused by stress. Remember, these are just ideas. The way it becomes Self Care is when you ask yourself what you need and pick something that fulfills that need (even when it’s doing absolutely nothing).

• Cook a special or new meal
• Watch your favorite movie as a kid
• Create a Pinterest vision board
• Do a guided meditation
• Watch an entire series on Netflix
• Call a loved one or friend
• Write a letter to your future self
• Play a video or computer game
• Do a word puzzle or Sudoku
• Play with a pet
• Do a DIY face mask
• Learn a new skill on YouTube
• Lay in bed all morning
• Write down your own affirmations
• Make a fancy drink or cocktail
• Do an at-home workout
• Try a breathing exercise
• Watch a webinar or virtual workshop
• Practice a walking meditation
• Draw or color something
• Watch silly videos on YouTube
• Connect in a Facebook group
• Spend 10 minutes giving compliments on Insta
• Give yourself a foot massage
• Call an older relative and get curious about their lives
• Read a book
• Practice your creative writing: poetry, short stories, etc.
• Explore exotic massage on yourself?
• Clean out your wardrobe
• Write in your journal
• Take a long nap
• Unfollow accounts you don’t vibe with
• Sing and dance to your favorite songs (bonus: grab a hairbrush)
• Write and send a thank you card
• Make lists: what makes you happy? Favorite things to do? Etc.
• Play games with friends on Zoom (like HeadsUp)
• Listen to a new podcast
• Clear out your email inbox
• Get dressed up for no reason
• Watch the sunrise or sunset
• Spend a few minutes in mindfulness
• Make a dessert and enjoy it
• Make a list of things you’re grateful for
• Order in food and do nothing all evening
• Sit in the sun (yay, vitamin D)
• Write yourself a nice message on the mirror
• Try a new craft
• Explore who you are
• Do a gentle/slow yoga class
• Say “no” to something
• Practice forgiveness
• Pull together a compliment stash
• Re-arrange something in your home
• Take some fun selfies
• Write a love letter to yourself
• Pull tarot or oracle cards
• Do something you enjoyed as a kid
• Do an online museum tour
• Add scent: candles, incense, essential oils
• Create a texting support group
• Do whatever the hell you want

Remember, nothing on this list is right or wrong. Bubble baths might be one of my favorite things, but my partner can’t stand them. Likewise, getting in a heavy workout might feel really good today, but tomorrow your body could be begging you to sleep in and do nothing. Remember, the self-care practice is actually just asking yourself want you’re needing and giving that to yourself, guilt-free.

Practice kindness towards yourself by not judging whatever your needs are. As long as you’re listening to your needs, you have permission to do whatever the hell you want. Honor that.