100 Ways to Nurture Yourself

100 Ways to Nurture Yourself
1. Put a post-it on your mirror that says, “You look beautiful!” – and then accept the compliment every time you look at yourself.
2. Buy fresh flowers every now and then. – Brighten up the place.
3. Use colored pens for no particular reason. – Blue and black are fine, but how about orange?
4. Take a walk without a destination. – It’s a great way to get some exercise and clear your mind. Be mindful of what you see, hear and feel.
5. Take a hot bath. – With bubbles.
6. Write in a journal. – Write anything that calls you. Ideas, experiences, dreams, frustrations – get them out of your head and down on paper.
7. List the things that you’re grateful for. – You can’t help but feel better when you literally count your blessings.
8. List the things that you like about yourself. – We can all list the things that we don’t like about ourselves. Turn that around and think about your many positive qualities.
9. Create something. – Many of us have gotten away from actually making things. Create some artwork. Write something. Build something. Make something that didn’t exist before. It can be functional or frivolous – as long as you enjoy the process.
10. Treat yourself. – We struggle to be disciplined, especially with money and food. You deserve a reward, right?
11. Smile. – It’s very difficult to feel bad when your face is happy.
12. Squash negative thoughts. – Listen to what’s going on in your head and actively quiet the voices of pessimists and critics. Assume the best, not the worst.
13. Try something new. – Go out on a limb. Learn something new. Do that thing you’ve always wanted to try. The more experiences you have, the richer your life will be.
14. Get enough sleep. – Everything is hard when you’re tired.
15. Meditate. – It takes a little practice at first, but if you find a meditation that works for you, you will be calmer and more peaceful.
16. Drink plenty of water. – It’s basic, but it’s so good for you.
17. Stretch. – Before you start your day, take a few minutes for a good muscle stretch. It just plain feels good. And, it’s fast, easy and free.
18. Put some “me time” on your calendar. – When life gets busy, doing things for yourself is the first thing to be sacrificed. So, actually block out time on your calendar. Call it a ‘staff meeting’ or something so that no one intrudes on your time.
19. Call a friend. – Think of someone who you enjoy and ring them up!
20. Ask for help. – This can be hard. But it’s so important to recognize when you need a sounding board, or some advice, or an extra pair of hands.
21. Say no. – Your time is valuable. Set boundaries to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
22. Ask for a hug. – We all need one. So just go get one. The person you ask probably needs one too.
23. Delegate. – Hire someone to mow the lawn or scrub the floors. Teach the kids to do laundry. Give that project to a co-worker. You do not have to do it all.
24. Take a deep breath. – And another. Now another. It’s like a mini-break to reset yourself during the day.
25. Light a candle or use a reed diffuser. – Your sense of smell creates the strongest memories. Find scents you love and enjoy them.
26. Claim some space for yourself. – A place where you can go to have a quiet moment to read a book, or meditate, or cry – somewhere that you can get some peace and privacy.