Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

It's crucial to spend some time looking at the things that find you joy, calm you down, make you feel energized and allow you to feel whole and centred. It's critical to know yourself and what you need in moments of stress, overwhelm or turmoil. 

These things are different for each of us; there is no one perfect self-care formula (sorry, bubble baths); the perfect recipe is the one that is unique to you. We have learnt that the best way to care for ourselves to create our own well-being list. 

This list is most beneficial for when you are having a rough day, feeling overwhelmed with the world, sucked dry of your energy or in the throughs of a traumatic event. You can pull up your well-being list and know that any of the items on there will give you some comfort. Having a plan takes away the thinking because we all know that we feel our worst; we aren't at our best mentally/creatively.

Before you have a rough day, take a few moments create your own well-being list/recipe:

• Think of the things that make you feel relaxed, centred or energized. The moments in your days that give you that 'back to yourself' feeling.
• Create a new page in your journal (or our fave: create a new note in your phone's notepad, so you have it with you always) and write out your running list.
• Update as you needed.

Here are 30 ideas to get your list started:

1. Go for a walk
2. Take a nap
3. Reread a helpful book/chapter
4. Find somewhere quiet and alone
5. Go outside
6. Read a book
7. Take a bath
8. Eat something delicious
9. Do a puzzle
10. Laugh
11. Go window shopping
12. Have sex
13. Take a mental health day
14. Spend time or talk to a good friend
15. Light some candles
16. Drink something yummy
17. Workout
18. Put on your fave outfit
19. Do a long self-care routine (face mask, self manicure)
20. Meditate
21. Listen to calming music
22. Cook/bake
23. Watch a show
24. Order yourself food
25. Write a letter
26. Take a long shower
27. Do a craft
28. Cry
29. Spend time on a hobby
30. Take a break

What are some of your go-to self-care rituals that bring you back to yourself?