Unique Self-Care Activities for the Mind, Body, Soul & Surroundings

Self-care is a term we've all heard of at some point. Influencers and news articles push us to do self-care, such as taking baths or doing yoga. Although these activities are great, they may not be as useful for everyone. There are hundreds of thousands of ways one can practice self-care with purpose.

We are all looking for opportunities to grow, but we may have to think outside the box to achieve such things with a fresh mindset. Practicing self-care is only going to work when there is the intention behind doing it.

"The Little Book of Self-Care: 200 Ways to Refresh, Restore, and Rejuvenate" -- created by Adams Media, an imprint at Simon and Schuster -- shares hundreds of simple and unique ways to reconnect with yourself and feel refreshed. There are some common practices throughout this book; however, there are a lot of other practices that cater to the body, mind, spirit and surroundings.

Here are 16 unique acts of self-care mentioned in this book to practice with intention.

Self-Care For the Body

Hot Stone Massage

This massage is typically done by applying hot stones on muscle tissue to soothe and massage sore or tense muscles. Some massage therapists even place stones on their patient’s spine or chakra placements.

Eat Superfoods

You are what you eat, so why not feel super? Breakfast, lunch and dinner plates should be full of colorful nutrients that are packed with vitamins. A few foods that fall under the superfood category are blueberries, broccoli, spinach, oats, salmon, almonds and yogurt.

Wear Sunscreen

We should be wearing sunscreen every day, all year round. Even in the wintertime or on days with a ton of overcast, you still should wear sunscreen. The benefits of wearing sunscreen daily include obvious skin protection from harmful sun rays and reduce the appearance of dark spots.

Get Teeth Cleaned

Getting your teeth cleaned every six months is the normal protocol. Outside of brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing, getting your teeth professionally cleaned will help prevent cavities and catch any problems before they become painful.

Focus on Your Core

Strength comes from your core. The core is essential for all other body movements. The more time you spend strengthening your core, the better the outcome of your workouts will be.

Eat Probiotics

Probiotics are ingested to add live, active cultures to the intestines. They are used to help digestion and add healthy bacteria to the body. Common food that has probiotics is yogurt. Probiotics can also be ingested by taking a probiotic pill.

DIY Sugar Scrub

Self-care can be expensive. To feel luxurious without paying the price, make your own sugar scrub. According to “The Little Book of Self-Care,” here are the ingredients you will need:

• Brown sugar
• White sugar
• Almond oil or vegetable oil
• Sweet essential oils (vanilla, lavender, rose)

Mix sugars and oil in a bowl until it makes a thick paste. Then, add a few drops of essential oils for fragrance. In your shower or bath, apply body scrub to the skin.

Practice Balance

Did you know that as we get older we begin to lose balance? With age the nervous system slows down, causing you to lose balance easier. Practicing balancing can increase the activity in the nervous system and help with your mind-body connection.

Self-Care For the Mind

Make a Vision Board

Adding your goals to a poster board to see them every day is proven to help people meet their goals. Draw, design or create a collage that is eye-catching and motivating.

Identify Stressors

Knowing how one can manage their stress can be beneficial to all. How can one solve an issue without knowing the cause? Although it may not be pleasant to go down a dark road, identifying the problem is the next best step to solving it.

Write a Memoir

No one knows a person's story better than the person. Individuals get to decide how their story goes. Think about your life story, the ups and the downs, and write out what your tale has been thus far.

Celebrate Your Unbirthday

If you remember this celebration from Lewis Caroll’s “Alice in Wonderland,” then this activity is for you. Any day that is not your birthday can be an unbirthday. If you need a pick-me-up or have an accomplishment to celebrate, unpack your party supplies and get to it!

Self Care for Your Spirit

Write a Letter to a Friend or Family Member

Sending a thoughtful note in the mail is a great way to spread love and show your gratitude for others. When the person receives the letter on an ordinary day, they will be surprised and feel special.

Track Your Dreams

Taking notes on the events and symbolism behind your dreams can help one discover and learn their unconsciousness. What could it possibly want to tell you? There are plenty of resources and studies to help decipher dreams.

Self Care for Your Surroundings

Feng Shui Your Home

This Chinese practice ensures that the spaces in your home are in harmony with spiritual forces. It is believed that specific placements of items and incorporating certain colors in the decor can have an effect on the energy throughout the home.

Go on a Sacred Labyrinth Walk

This type of walk will only focus on one thing at a time. Throughout time this walk was used to help people find their spiritual center. www.sacredwalk.com is a great resource for learning more about how to do a labyrinth walk.

Self-care is more than just drinking water and doing 30 minutes of exercise a day. Whether it is to improve your mind, body, soul or your surroundings, practice acts of self-love with intention. For more variety of self-care tips, read “The Little Book of Self-Care.”