The gist: Use these boring self-care habits for spoonies and neurodivergent people to boost your physical, mental, creative, emotional, sensory, and social energy
Like we talked about earlier this month, it can be a lot easier to come up with luxurious or exciting self-care ideas than it is to think about the boring stuff that will really make a difference.
One reason for this is that the more exciting kind of self-care more prominent in most of the media and content we consume. That’s a problem I’m trying to fix by writing about boring self-care more.
But another reason has to do with something less fixable:
Exciting, unique, interesting things are just more memorable than “normal” or “usual” ones. It’s how memory works. Things that stand out are easier to notice and remember.
But just because exciting ideas are easier to recall when you’re feeling in dire need of self-care, doesn’t mean they’re going to be what you need.
The type of self-care you need depends on what type of energy you feel most depleted of.
So today I’m sharing some of my favorite boring self-care activities for some of those energy types.
You can save it as a reference, so that the next time you’re feeling drained or overwhelmed, you can come back here and see if any of these feel like what you need.
Obviously, not all of these will be applicable to you, but as with everything in the Brighterverse, take what you need and leave what you don’t. 😀
The big reference list of boring self-care activities
Physical self-care ideas
- Go to bed at a similar time each night
- Get the right amount of movement for your body
- Drink as much water as you need
- Take any medications you need consistently
- Keep up with medical appointments and other maintenance
- Build a stretching routine for any body parts that experience chronic soreness
- Optimize anywhere you sit a lot for comfort and ergonomics
- Try to eat before you’re hungry or experience an energy crash
- Take screen breaks to rest your eyes throughout the day
Mental self-care ideas
- Maintain a meditation practice
- Braindump when you feel overwhelmed
- Journal morning pages
- Use technology/the internet/social media mindfully
- Set a small, manageable goal for the day or week
- Create boundaries around how you follow the news and/or politics
- Break down an overwhelming task into more approachable steps
- Write a “done list” of what you’ve accomplished recently, regardless of how small the tasks are
Creative self-care ideas
- Dance to whatever music fits your mood
- Deeply engage with a TV show or movie
- Play a fully immersive video game
- Try a new baking or cooking recipe
- Do a craft or DIY project
- Create a new playlist in your music player
- Rearrange a small area of your home
- Make a mood board or collage
- Engage in any other creative hobby
Reduce burnout with a self-care action plan
Creating a plan for your daily and weekly self-care will help you get proactive about rest and burn out less often. For help creating your own plan, download our free worksheet.
Emotional self-care ideas
- Practice self-compassion by asking yourself, “what would I say to a friend feeling like this?”
- Write a gratitude or pride list
- Learn what healthy coping mechanisms work for you (and that you enjoy)
- Cultivate self-awareness
- Let yourself cry
- Listen to, read, or watch something that always makes you smile
- Complete a grounding exercise
- Be mindful of your self-talk
Sensory self-care Ideas
- Cuddle a soft fabric (or a pet’s fur)
- Adjust lighting throughout the day
- Wear noise cancelling headphones
- Keep background sounds on
- Eat a favorite food and try to savor the taste
- Get some fresh air
- Open blinds/curtains when you can get natural light
- Do a “pampering” activity that makes you feel good
Social self-care ideas
- Set boundaries in important relationships
- Check in with someone who makes you smile
- Unfollow social media accounts that stress you out
- Try to schedule recurring/ritual “dates” with the people important to you, like a Sunday brunch or Facetime call
- Tell someone you’re thinking of them
- Look at photos of good memories with other people
- Make sure you have prep or recovery time after social events that require it
Wrapping up
The next time you’re feeling drained—whether it’s physically, mentally, emotionally, or otherwise—come back to this list.
Pick just one thing that resonates with you.
Even the smallest action can make a big difference when you’re running on empty, and I’m confident that there’s at least one idea on this list that will make you feel better.
Reduce burnout with a self-care action plan
Creating a plan for your daily and weekly self-care will help you get proactive about rest and burn out less often. For help creating your own plan, download our free worksheet.