7 DIY daily self-care ideas you would have never thought of!

7 DIY daily self-care ideas you would have never thought of!

Self-care is all the rage these days, and for good reason – it works! I find that with some of these DIY daily self-care ideas, I have helped both my mental and physical health, and it has made me much more productive!

BUT… it’s really hard to turn that into a habit!

So I’ve put together some fun and easy DIY ideas, so you can make self-care into a habit!

Plus, if you’re looking for some extra help with your self-care, I have some free self-care worksheets that you use that will help you stay on track and incorporate self-care into your daily life!

Idea #1: Self-care popsicle sticks 

When you feel like you need a bit of extra self-care in your day and don’t know what to do (this can actually be the hardest part), just pull from a jar filled with popsicle sticks that have self-care ideas written on them!

You can choose from the 100 self-care ideas!

My favourite self-care activities to include are:

  1. Going on a walk
  2. Cooking a healthy comfort food meal, like mac and cheese with broccoli, peas, and onions!
  3. Calling a friend for a quick chat!
  4. Having a shower and putting on a luxurious smelling moisturizer!
  5. Putting on an essential oil diffuser and reading a book!

 You can also just use pieces of paper if you don’t have popsicle sticks, not a big deal!

 

Showing the self-care popsicle sticks that can be used daily and are easy to DIY

Idea #2: Coloured paper clip habit tracker

One of my favourite self-care ideas that you can do daily is to simply track your habits with paper clips!

It seems simple, but humans LOVE visual cues, and will give you a little hint of dopamine every time it sees more paper clips in the jar!

Soon enough, you’ll make caring for yourself a habit – which will improve your mental health and energy, as well as offering tons of other benefits to your life!

Paper clips to use as a daily self-care habit tracker

Idea #3: Money jar self-care habit tracker

Just like the one above, this self-care activity will give you an even bigger reward – money!

Which you can then use to get yourself a more luxurious self-care treat!

Idea #4: Journaling ideas for daily for self-care

I love to journal, I think that it’s a great way to unlock deeper emotions and get all your feelings out!

I have so many free journaling exercises and I also have some articles that link to them!

100 mental health journal prompts

30 days of self-care journaling exercise

3 Must-Have Journal Exercises For Anxiety

Idea #5: DIY your own fun self-care habit tracker!

Use your creative skills to make an online or paper habit tracker!

Things you can track:

  1. Cups of water
  2. Daily exercise
  3. Meditation
  4. Mood (to see how all of these things affect your mood)
  5. Outside time
  6. Time with friends
  7. Making your bed

You can get my super cute self-care tracker here for free!

Idea #6: Sticky Note Daily Self-Care/Daily Self-Love Affirmations

Keep a stack of sticky notes on your desk and write different self-care ideas or positive affirmations!

Pull one off each morning as a fun way to start your day! Bonus if you stick it somewhere you can see on the daily, it will make it more fun!

Idea #7: Create a Self-Care Space for Yourself

It can be as simple as creating a safe little cove for yourself in a corner of your room, but having a space where you can read and be safe and happy can make a world of difference!

Try adding fairy light, a salt lamp, a nice cushion, and a soft blanket! You’ll feel happy and cared for every day!

I love finding ways to incorporate more self-care into my life and to make it a daily habit!

Do you have any self-care activities that you love? I’d love to hear them!

20 self-care ideas for stress-relief

20 self-care ideas for stress-relief

As someone who has had lots of anxiety and stress, I have found that one of the BEST ways to keep anxiety at bay is to do a heck of a lot of self-care. There are so many ways to do the whole self-care thing, but there are some ideas that are just better suited for daily stress and anxiety!

These self-care ideas will leave you feeling more mentally free and physically energized, which definitely goes a long way when dealing with stress and anxiety!

And honestly, some of these are nothing new, but they are THE most important things you can do for yourself!

This post may contain some affiliate links (which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you), but only to products that I believe in and that will improve your life! 

  Just want to let ya know: The information and tips on this website are from my personal experience with stress and anxiety and are not a substitute for any type of medical, psychological or health advice. You can view my full disclaimer policy here.

There is always help out there, and you can find a mental health professional locally, through your doctor, or through an online directory like this one. This is a link to a great article that discusses affordable therapy options and this is an affiliate link to a great online therapy option. If you are in a crisis, I have a list of help hotlines here. You are not alone!!

So here are my top 20 self-care Ideas to reduce stress

Habit-Based Self-Care Ideas

It can be REALLY hard to do anything when you feel anxious and stressed, and doing any of the following things might be VERY difficult. But it can be a bit easier than you think and over time, these things can become second nature to you.

Incorporating self-care habits into your life will make your day-to-day life feel a lot more enjoyable and these healthy habits will help you feel good physically and mentally, which can help you reduce stress and improve your mental resilience so that you can deal with stress better! 

1. Declutter for 5 mins

Having less clutter in your physical space will lead to less clutter in your mental space. I know decluttering is the last thing you want to do when you feel anxious, but it helps so much! Just take baby steps, and do a couple minutes of decluttering in the spaces you use the most!

2. Do a quick, daily clean of your kitchen

Healthy eating is a big must for self-care, but you won’t want to cook if your kitchen is a mess!

Try cleaning the kitchen as you cook, or you can even trick yourself into doing it by just setting a 5-min timer and see how much you can get done! (You’ll usually want to do more later anyway).

3. Do your Laundry

Laundry tends to be something that literally piles up on you. It can act as this big weight on your mental health.

A great thing to get in the habit of doing is having one or two days a week where you just quickly throw in a load of laundry. Set a timer and just do it!

If you have to go to a laundromat, invite a friend with you and it will be much more enjoyable!

4. Cut back on spending (on frivolous things)

Financial troubles can be a huge cause of stress, so cutting some of that burden can make a world of difference.

Making small changes can make a huge difference, like thrift shopping, making coffee at home and having more nights in with your friends (or virtual hang outs).

If you’ve been eyeing some new furniture, jewelry, or whatever it may be – you could try to go DIY!

Maybe it’s even time to talk to a financial planner or your bank to see how you can lessen your financial stress!

5. Try using a planner

Keeping track of these new healthy habits and planning out your self-care activities is an absolute must!

If you sign up for my self-care guide, you’ll get access to all my free worksheets and free courses that surround self-care! I have checklists, habit trackers, calendars, and mini-courses that are designed to help you implement self-care strategies into your life.

6. Daily gratitude

You can either do some journaling or just take the time at the beginning and end of each day to think about what you’re grateful for!

(Set a reminder for yourself to do this!)

7. Listening to music

Another easy thing to do that we forget so often! It just makes every part of your day better and can give you some motivation to do the tasks that you don’t feel like doing.

Maybe invest in a spotify account! Mine has worked wonders for me because now I always have access to good music!

Health self-care Ideas to reduce stress

8. Prioritizing healthy eating

Eating balanced meals with proper proportions of protein, fat, and carbs can wonders for your mood and focus. Food is fuel after all, so make sure it’s premium! There’s also evidence of supplements that can also help regulate your mood and focus. This is something that you should discuss with your physician.

 9. Going on a daily walk 

Exercise has so many amazing health and mental health benefits.

You can do the shortest walk imaginable. Just tell yourself to go out for 5 mins (and then you’ll probably want to go for longer). 

Getting into the fresh air and releasing some endorphins will boost your mood significantly!

10. Learning how to cook! (Or at least adding more veggies and protein to your meals)

Eating healthy is so important for maintaining your mental health. A really easy way to start feeling better is to add more veggies and protein to each meal. Just this small thing can have a lot benefits!

If cooking really isn’t your thing, consider a health meal delivery service, like fresh meals! You can get healthy meals delivered straight to your door, and you won’t have to deal with ingredients going bad!

11. 8 cups of water (get a big-ass water bottle!)

It’s so simple and has so many benefits. Just do it! Set reminders if you must.

“Inner-work” self-care ideas for anxiety

12. Challenging and changing negative self-talk

Negative self-talk can turn a small stress into a big stress. Remind yourself to challenge that negative voice in your head! For every negative thing you catch yourself thinking, replace it with something more positive (or at least neutral).

13. Give yourself some real, good, self-love!

Practicing self-love and self-compassion will help every aspect of your wellbeing, especially when you’re feeling down about how anxious you feel (the anxiety-shame spiral is real folks!) Try these self-love journal prompts that will help you along your self-love journey.

14. Journaling

Journaling is good for everything emotional! It’s the perfect self-care go-to because you can journal for stress-relief, gratitude, self-love, and so much more!

15. Doing a deep (and uncomfortable ) self-assessment

Sometimes it’s very important to take a deep look at your own behaviours that might be affecting your situation. 

Are you self-sabotaging in your life and relationships? Are there areas in your life where you should be taking more responsibility?

What do you need to work on that will improve your life?

16. THEN FORGIVE YOURSELF. 

People make mistakes. EVERYONE makes mistakes. 

When you are feeling stressed, it can be hard to do all the things that you know are good for yourself. And this can lead to an unfortunate shame spiral. 

Mistakes or self-sabotaging behaviour are a part of human nature. The important thing is that you learn and grow from these experiences. 

In my mind, there really is no such thing as mistakes, just learning experiences.

17. Consider therapy!

Therapy is something that is great for anyone and everyone! You don’t need to have a diagnosis to get therapy. And right now, online therapy is more accessible than ever! You can get all the help you need for half the price of traditional therapy. 

18. Meditation

Learning to meditate and getting into the habit of meditation can be really hard because we’re always so used to having our minds constantly stimulated. However, just spending 5 mins in the morning or night (or both!) to do a quick meditation can work wonders! There are tons of great free meditations on youtube that you can find!

19. Mindfulness

Mindfulness is similar to meditation, it can take some time to get used to. However, mindfulness is probably the MOST useful tool when it comes to beating stress.

Whenever I feel stressed about life in general and I find myself slipping into bad habits (like avoiding the world and not taking care of myself), I just think about what will make me happiest in the present moment. Is it worrying? (NO!) Is it doing something enjoyable like making a nice meal or hanging out with my friends? (YES!)

That’s how I try to make all of my life decisions now, and I have to say that it’s working out pretty well! 

20. Do a huge negativity purge!

I urge you to go through every aspect of your life and think about the things that are bringing you stress and negativity. If it doesn’t have space in your life, let it go!

Here are some quick tips to get started: go through your entire house and get rid of anything you don’t need, do the same with your workspace, your email, and your social media!

Get rid of anything that doesn’t serve you!

So there you have it, the most important self-care ideas for stress reduction!

If you want any extra help, you should sign up for my self-care guide and worksheets! (Coming soon!)

It includes

  • full self-care book! 
  • goal planner
  • meal planner
  • habit tracker
  • much more!
Summer bucket list ideas for the best summer ever (even with self-isolation!)

Summer bucket list ideas for the best summer ever (even with self-isolation!)

Summer is short. Maybe not everywhere, but in Canada and some more northern places, summer can feel as short as a week.

I always joke that I hope the summer lands on a weekend because it really does feel that short.

Sooo the most important thing to do is make the time count!

I always have so many things that I want to do throughout the summer and I never seem to get them done. Not this time!!

This summer, I have gathered my best ideas for an awesome summer bucket list! And not only that, I created a summer bucket list planner so you can custom create your perfect summer!

Which you can grab below! And you’ll also get all of my other printables and courses that promote wellness and happiness and that will overall make your life easier and more enjoyable 🙂

It’s all free btw 🙂

 

So let’s check out some fun ideas that you can add to your summer bucket list!

(Btw, they’re all social isolation friendly!)

The idea of this post is to inspire you to do things that are fun and that get you out and adventuring! I’ve also included some ideas to help you reach some wellness goals too! This can be a nice time to incorporate some journaling or daily wellness rituals into your day!

So let’s starts off with some health and wellness bucket list ideas (before we work our way to the fun stuff!)

Healthy and fun bucket list ideas

Summer can feel like a time for rejuvenation and vitality – which is why I felt like this is a great place to start off with the bucket list.

If you make it a priority to feel good, then you’ll have more energy to do the other fun things on your bucket list!

Here are some easy healthy habits that you can start that will have you feeling great! You don’t have to do all of them – I’d say even just choose 1 and you’ll notice yourself feeling much better!

  • eating 5 servings of vegetables a day
  • having a smoothie everyday
  • yoga every day
  • wake up at 7 everyday
  • work on the couch to 5k running challenge (it’s very slow and incremental, so it’s not as daunting as it sounds!)
  • if you live near water or have a pool, try to go for a quick swim every day (I absolutely love swimming, so this is a great one for me!)
  • write in your journal every day
  • do a mindfulness drawing or adult colouring activity once a day
  • take a mindfulness walk every morning and just appreciate your surroundings
  • write 3 things you’re grateful for every day

Intention based bucket list ideas

Now this might sound a bit strange, but just creating an intention can help you to live the summer vibes mindset!

For example, picture your ideal summer. What do you consider to be the ultimate “summer vibe”?

For me, I see twinkly patio lights, the fresh smell of leaves and flowers, water, freshness, friends, and freedom!

So for me – I want to be able to be outside as much as possible, with my friends (at an appropriate distance to keep safe during covid time), going to a patio or having a backyard hangout, and eating healthy foods (for that freshness vibe).

So an intention that would get me there is: to prioritize friendship, fun, health, and the outdoors – and to embrace some spontaneity!

Some other examples of intentions that you can incorporate into your bucket list are:

  • Embrace the outdoors
  • Embrace spontaneity
  • Focus on the fun
  • Focus on health
  • “I want to feel free”
  • “I will be mindful of  my surroundings”
  • “I will be grateful for the beauty around me”

Just simple things like that can help you to start living a great summer! I have actually included a spot for your summer intention in my summer bucket list!

Adventurous Summer Bucket List Ideas

Summer is a time for adventuring! But adventuring takes a lot of commitment sometimes (if you want to get crazy and do a giant backpacking trip), but there are other easy and fun adventures that you can go on, which will make your summer so much more fun!

  • Picnic somewhere new
  • camping (parks should be open)
  • Take a road trip – you can make a list of places you’ve never been and try to hit all of them!
  • Go on a backpacking trip at a state or national park – they should be open!
  • Literally go chasing waterfalls (or any other cool nature thing). Make a list of ones near you (or draw them on a map!) It will give you some purpose for a road trip.
  • Find the best lookout in your town
  • Go to a drive-in movie
  • Make a list of cool historical sites to go to and do a road trip
  • Make a list of the most beautiful nature sites you have been meaning to visit
  • Kayaking somewhere (this can be inexpensive because you can just ask around amongst your friends or in a local facebook group to see if you can borrow or rent a kayak or canoe!)
  • Organize a scavenger hunt (or a photo scavenger hunt!) for you and your friends or just for yourself!

The scavenger hunt thing can be really fun because you can do this over the span of a day or the entire summer! You can write down whatever you want! You can even do a photo “scavenger hunt” of your bucket list, so that you have photo evidence of all the cool things you’ve done.

Some slightly more adventurous ideas:

These things are easy enough to do in a social distancing way – so I would assume they will open at some point soon!

  • bungee jumping
  • skydiving
  • ziplining

It can be hard to fit all of these in, but definitely try my summer bucket list planner (which comes with all of my other fun freebies, like a free goal planner) which can help you make the absolute best summer plan and give you tools (such as great productivity tricks) so that you can fit it all in!

Things you can do in your backyard!

  • Picnic in your backyard with fairy lights and a cute blanket
  • Backyard bonfires
  • Backyard bbq
  • Backyard concert – you can space out the seats as much as possible
  • Backyard picnic
  • Set up a slip n’ slide
  • Build a garden!
  • Build an obstacle course in your backyard. (This is something I’ve always wanted to do, so I’m going to try and do it this summer!)
Some things you can consider for the obstacle course:
-a rope ladder on the ground to run on
-a tire to flip
-put trx style bands in a tree

Summer bucket list ideas for the foodie

I always associate summer with fun foods! Like watermelon, ice cream, and bbq foods!

These bucket list ideas incorporate those and also add to your adventurous ideas, by making it a little adventure to try new foods!

  • try ice cream from a bunch of different shops around your town or city
  • make your own ice cream or fro-yo
  • make a list of the most summery food or drink ideas you can find (think anything watermelon) and make them throughout the summer
  • try different cocktails (or cocktails you’ve wanted try) – then you can bust them out at a backyard bbq

Final Tips for Your Best Summer Bucket List Ever

So my final tips for having the best summer ever, are to:

1. Write down all the fun things you want to do

2. Find out how many days/weekends you have free for the fun stuff!

3. Set you summer intention

4, Follow through with your summer intention and just have fun!

5. Use my summer bucket list planner and other free resources 🙂 They are down below!

Sagesse ("Say Jess")

Sagesse ("Say Jess")

Owner of Mindaya

Hey guys, it’s Sagesse – the face behind website! I’m dedicated to helping you find freedom your anxiety and overcome the mental obstacles that are standing in the way of your best life!
100 fun and productive things to do when you’re bored at home

100 fun and productive things to do when you’re bored at home

Right now is a bit of a trying time for a lot of us.

Many of our cherished activities have been taken away from us and we feel like we are in jail in our own homes!

We’re so not used to having to occupy ourselves and there’s only so much Netflix one can handle!

So to help you all (and to remind myself), I have compiled a big list of things you can do when you’re bored at home!

So without further ado, here are 100 things to do when you’re bored at home!

Disclaimer: Products on this page may contain affiliate links. We only promote products that we think are super awesome and will provide value to you! You can read more about our terms here.

If you’re bored and *sigh* alone, trying being more social, virtually! 

One of the most difficult things for me right now is not having my usual outlets.

I’m a fairly social person, so I’m going a bit crazy!

Even if you are less social or a bit more on the introverted side, human connection is still an important thing to maintain. And at least in this case, you can be in complete control of who you talk to!

 Try to overcome your boredom and add some social aspects into your life through:

 1. Zoom Call – just do it! Block out some time in your calendar!

 2. Happy hour with friends (over video chat)

 3. Write your friends a letter about how much you appreciate them

4. Challenge your friends to an online competition in some kind of video game

5. Reach out to people you haven’t talked to in a while

6. Schedule a distance walk with a friend if you’re in an area with enough space (you can get a stick that 6ft long so that you can make sure you stay apart)

 

Using activity to beat your boredom!

You might be used to being active with group classes, the gym, or even your job! 

When you’re stuck at home, it can be a bit harder to find the motivation to be active. But there are actually so many fun things to do at home!

Try some of these:

7. Virtual Dance class

8. Virtual yoga class – having a set class is really great because it will give you the motivation and accountability to actually do it

9. Try some fun instagram workouts (here are my favourite workout accounts)

10. Go for a walk and listen to a podcast (funny or educational)

11. Work towards a goal – (mine is to do a headstand and run for 30 mins without a break). *fun fact, setting yourself a goal, tracking your progress will give you the motivation to start (when you don’t feel like getting off your butt) and it will fuel you to keep going – here’s a free goal planner that also comes with a habit tracker!

12. Plan an outdoor adventure! If you have some green space around you (that’s fairly unpopulated – remember social distancing), you can plan to have a little day where you can go around and do things!

Super Fun Things To do When You’re Bored

(be warned, most of my ideas involve dancing)

let’s be real, all of the options are super fun, but these didn’t really fit into a category)

13. Dance party (to great music – see next idea)

14. Make some awesome playlists for all your different moods

15. Learn a fun dance (think Napolean Dynamite dance, or the evolution of dance, dance). Here are a couple online dance classes you can try! There’s one for belly dance and ballroom dancing!

16. If you have family in your house with you – try a board game. These are my favourites!

17. Do a photo scavenger hunt! This gives you a purpose to go outside and have some fun!

18. Throw pillows in the air and try to karate kick them! Okay, I know this sounds kinda crazy, but it can be so much fun to just let loose and be super silly!

19. Make a video – you can make it to be funny, creative, whatever! That’s what I’ve been doing and I think I’ve made some gems!

20. Have a picnic in your backyard or on your porch! Even if it’s just you or maybe someone you live with!

21. Build a blanket fort! Who says they’re just for kids?

22. Play cards

23. Play a board game

24. Set up a murder mystery game with your friends (online!)

25. Play facebook messenger games with your friends

26. Try streaming on twitch – they give money to people who have a certain number of streams!

27. Start a tiktok account! It’s a great way to just have some fun, and who knows, maybe you’ll get some followers?

28. Get your home garden going and get yourself a plant! (you can even look into finding a plant outside and re-potting it to a plant in your home!) Anything can be a flowerpot with some imagination!

29. Make a cool DIY flower pot for your new plants! It can be as simple as painting an old yogurt container (but you can get fancier if you want!)

Goal-Oriented Boredom-Busters

Having well-defined goals that you are passionate about is a great way to beat boredom!

My goals are what keep me motivated and moving every day!

(If you want some extra help with goals, you can sign up for my free goal planner and course below!)

Here are some great ways to beat boredom with your goals!

30. Plan your dream career

31. Make a vision board – you can either make one with some craft supplies or make a virtual one on Pinterest!

32. Plan your craziest dream

33. Create a bucket list for the summer!

34. Create a habit or self-discipline goal (you can use this habit tracker and goal planner!)

35. Read a book on your related goal

36. Start a youtube channel on something you’re knowledgable about

37. Start a blog on something you’re knowledgable (or something you want to learn about)

Inspirational Ideas to Beat Boredom

Similar to the goal-oriented activities, this one can also help get rid of some boredom and create a spark in your life!

38. Plan your next trip! Even the act of planning something fun can boost your endorphins and make you feel great!

39. Read an inspirational book, here’s a great list.

40. Find and download some inspirational podcasts!

50. Reach out to someone you find inspirational for a chat.

60. Look into personal development courses!

Traditionally Productive Things You Can Do From Home

I already consider a lot of the things on this list to be productive, but here are some more really good ones!

61. Start a financial spreadsheet (boring I know, but this will help you in the long run)

62. Create a cleaning schedule. If you don’t have one, you are seriously missing out, this will improve your life so much! (You can get a simple one when you sign up with my goal planner – I give you a bit of everything to start living your best life!)

63. Blast some music and actually clean up! I always feel super satisfied after doing a good clean!

64. Start one thing that you have been putting off!

65. Meal prep – I made a super helpful meal prep workbook you can get here!

66. Clean your house! (See the organization section below!)

67. Make an inventory of things that would make your life easier, like cleaning supplies or organizational tools!

68. Make a list of ways you can simplify your life. This will make you feel better and more free. It will also free up some space for more fun things!

69. Do a survey, like swagbucks or others, to get a little extra money! Great if you’re totally bored!

70. Do you like making jewelry or highly lucrative face masks? Start an etsy account! You can even check out this course that can teach you how to make some fun self-care stuff!

71. Start or plan a side hustle! Figure out what interests you, what you’re good at, and what you could make some money at and take a stab at it! You can make your first sales over instagram, etsy, or facebook marketplace! (And if you want some tips, contact me on this page and I can give you some tips! 

72. Do that thing that you’ve been meaning to for forever that you just haven’t gotten to yet! The time is now! (not singling you out btw, we all have that one thing!)

73. Make a plan for that one project that you need to get done. 

Organizational

I know pretty much everyone has tried to do some organizing, but you should try it!

If you hate doing stuff like that (like I do), set a timer for 5 mins and just start! And play some music – I guarantee it will help!

Here are some things you can organize!

74. Your jewelry

75. Your makeup Bag

76. Your bathroom

77. Your kitchen (and that one cupboard that is always overflowing!)

78. Your closet

Creative things to do when you’re bored

Our minds are so vast and such an incredible source of creativity! Try harnessing some of that, you might be surprised and find that you’re actually a lot more creative than you thought you were!

79. Re-decorate your space!

80. Find some diy projects that would improve your home – or that you just find fun!

81. Try writing some poetry!

82. Have old clothes lying around? Try upcycling it! Just go to pinterest and there are TONS of cool ideas!

83. Musically inclined? Try writing a song!

84. Do some origami! It’s very fun, and always a cool party trick!

85. Are you good at drawing? Try making a fun little comic!

86. Have you ever wanted to make a video? I find making them very fun and you don’t even have to post it anywhere

87. Plan out gifts for your friends’ and family members’ birthdays this year

Self-Care Related Activities

This is an amazing time to practice your self-care, or if you’re a newbie – start a self-care ritual or routine!

88. Try some journaling – here’s an article on how to do some simple stream-of-consciousness journaling

89. Focus on self-improvement. Shameless plug here: try my free mini-anxiety course!

90. Write 5 things you are grateful for!

91. Practice self love – you can use my self-love journaling exercises

92. Make your room more cozy and calm – consider getting some twinkly lights and a salt lamp!

93. Tape an inspirational note to your mirror

Bring back your nostalgia

I’m a very sentimental person and I have a lot of fond memories of my childhood. If you’re the same, it could be fun to go on a nice little trip down memory lane!

Here are some easy and fun things you can do!

94. Ask your parents if you have any old photos or home videos to look at

95. Make a cootie-catcher or one of these awesome 3-D puzzles!

96. Get a jump rope

97. Get some chalk and play hopscotch

98. Go get some old candies that you loved when you were a kid – order them online or see if your local grocery store has them!

99. Remake a favourite childhood recipe!

100. Make a photo album of old pictures

And that’s it folks!

There are SO many things you can do when you’re bored at home!

 You just have to be slightly creative – or read my blog! 😉

If you’re interested in being a bit more productive during this time (not that you need to, that’s totally fine!). But if you do, you should check out my free little productivity and time management course! As someone who has been working from home for a long time, I know that it can be a big annoying adjustment.

It’s hard to know what to do with your time or even find the energy to do anything! So I wanted to make something to help!

 You can sign up below!

10 easy ways to get yourself out of a bad mood

10 easy ways to get yourself out of a bad mood

Being in a bad mood SUCKS!

I am no stranger to bad moods. Sometimes it’s because of hanger or some other “easily solvable” reason, but sometimes you just feel low.

There was a point in my life that I could fall into a bad mood several times a day or, even worse, get into a bad mood and not be able to get out of that headspace for days or even weeks!

This is especially a problem right now thanks to a certain stupid virus (I won’t mention any names though lol), so we don’t have our usual routines to keep us busy or to keep us in our usual headspace.

I’ve found, through tons of personal experience, that getting back into a good mood doesn’t have to be that hard (with exceptions, of course, like mental illness or going through an emotional trauma). Sometimes, all you need is to do something different and engaging to snap you out of your bad mood! 

Now one of the best ways to avoid these darker moods is to prevent them – which I will save for another post – but if you have already felt yourself slipping into a bad headspace (or you’re already there), I’ve got you!

And also remember that it’s ok to feel your feelings and it’s ok to be in a bad mood – but sometimes it’s nice to have easy little ways of breaking free from that headspace!

So I have some great, easy ways to get yourself OUT of your bad mood – but don’t plan to do them all or else you’ll get overwhelmed and you might not end up doing any of them! (I’ve been down that road too many times to count!)

Start with one and as you start to feel better, then move on to some others.

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So without further adieu, 

Here are my 10 ways to get yourself out of a bad mood!

So my first step to stop being a sad blob is to:

1. Get up and get moving!

The best way to quickly change your mood or what your mind is doing is to change what your body is doing. 

There is endless research on why exercise is good for you. Endorphins, health, uh… more endorphins! Yeah, basically it’s all about the endorphins, which are super important and will physiologically put you in a good mood!

 Also, by getting up and moving, you are distracting yourself and breaking the negative thought spiral that you might have been in.

And you don’t need to do a super intense workout, you can do anything from going for a walk, getting up to do some laundry or house work, or doing a full blown muscle (and endorphin) pumping workout!

Bonus points if you can get out in the sun and get some vitamin D which is crucial in promoting happiness!

Bonus bonus points if you also drink some water! You might not realize how much you need to drink (and how little you actually drink!). Being dehydrated can lead to you feeling dizzy or even confused – and can definitely contribute to a bad mood!

2. Go do something you love

Even if you don’t really feel like it, changing what you are focusing on can snap you out of your downward spiral.

Doing one of your hobbies – even if it’s for a few minutes – will change what your mind is focusing on and will distract you from this bad mood.

Plus, it’s something that you love, so that should just naturally put you in a good mood.

Note that distraction isn’t always a good idea if there are deeper problems you need to fix, but if you are just experiencing your run-of-the-mill case of the downers, distraction can work wonders!

3.Talk to your friends/parents/siblings or go do a “social activity”

First of all, talking to someone about your problems is always a great way to get things off your chest and sort your thoughts out. Also, just knowing that someone cares about you and what you are going through is worth so much. 

If you don’t really want to talk about what is bumming you out, just socializing, talking, and laughing with people can snap you out of your funk and put you in a great mood (right now you’ll have to do this by phone or video chat). 

Oftentimes, socializing is the last thing that we want to do when we aren’t feeling great, because we don’t feel like our usual likeable selves. But going out and being around people (even virtually) sort of forces us to be our usual likeable selves and not the grump who’s locking themselves in their room. 

Sometimes you just have to pretend to be in a better mood and then your body and mind will just start to believe you. Remember: fake it ’til you make it! (Not always good advice, but in this case, it can be!)

4. Clean your space

It’s surprising how much our surroundings can affect our moods. If your place is a bit messy (or getting out of hand – I’m no stranger to that!), it can take a toll on your mood. It’ll get even worse if you keep putting off that task, because then you are prolonging the mess and making yourself feel worse.

Fun fact (well it’s more of a not-so-fun fact): when we put off a task that we think will be uncomfortable is some way, actually experience more discomfort putting it off then if we were to actually do it.

So basically, you’ll feel better if you just do the task.

Now this is much easier said than done, so my tip is to just put on a timer for 5 minutes (super easy to do) and start cleaning and see how far you get! I bet you’ll get wayyy more done than you anticipated.

Related Article: 100 Self Care Ideas

5. Put on a great playlist

This might seem like such a small and obvious thing to do, but my mood can seriously go from slump-to-pumped in no time if I have the right song on.

Music is one of the greatest ways to transport yourself into a completely different state of mind.

If you put on a sweet playlist that either pumps you up or is just some happy music, you will automatically feel better. 
I think this is another thing that people underestimate. It takes only a few minutes to pick out a good playlist (especially if you have spotify) and you can listen to it even if you are super busy!

The easiest way to add more music to your life is to use a wireless, bluetooth speaker! The one below is the one I use and I love it!

6. Listen to an inspiring podcast

There is no shortage of incredible podcasts out there. And there are so many that have such amazing people talking about the incredible things they have done and the obstacles they have overcome to get there. 

I find that if I am ever doubting myself or being pessimistic about the future, I just find something inspiring to listen to. I’m actually almost never pessimistic about the future because of all the awesome podcasts I have listened to. 

This also goes for Youtube videos and Ted Talks.

You can find podcasts on spotify, cast box, apple podcasts, and tons of other places! 

7. Light a candle or diffuse some essential oils

Essential oils have been known to have many positive effects on the body and smelling calming smells, such as lavender, can soothe your body.

Essential oils and oil diffusers are fairly inexpensive and last so long! And if you buy a pack of oils, you can try out different combinations, which is also fun!

Essential oils are known to have therapeutic effects as well, but I just love them because I just feel calm and nice when I put my diffuser on! 

 8. Breathe deeply

Breathing deeply is also known to work wonders for the body.

It is often overlooked because of its simplicity, but we often breathe shallowly when we are stressed or anxious and forget to completely fill our lungs with air. Breathing deeply is simply a great way to calm yourself down and bring some peace to your life! Here’s a great article with a few techniques!

You can also try a little meditation as well. I’ve been using the app Oak, which has a nice design and so far I really like the meditations.

9. EFT Tapping

EFT tapping is one of the most amazing things that has come into my life! It was my saving grace during an intense period of anxiety and panic attacks.

I’ll be writing a full article on EFT tapping soon, but in short, you do a series of tapping on different pressure points on your body, while repeating a positive phrase that acknowledges your worries and accepts them.

I find that it’s also an excellent way to ground yourself.

Grounding is where you bring your attention to what is happening to you physically, either in your body or your surroundings. 

If you feel anxious or unsettled, this will shift your focus from your thoughts to physical sensations, which can feel very calming and helps you to get out of your head. 

The phrase will go something like this: “Even though I have this worry/problem, I deeply and completely accept myself”

You say that phrase in your head over and over while tapping the different parts of your body. You can get full instructions here.

10. Meditate/repeat a mantra

Doing a guided meditation or meditating while repeating a mantra can put you into an entirely different headspace. 

The benefits of meditation are well known, but it can sometimes be difficult to get that kind of mental stillness easily, especially when you’re not in the best headspace. 

BUT if you listen to a guided meditation, you don’t have to do as much of the work and you have someone who knows what they are doing to direct you to a happier place. It’s great!

Also, much like the EFT tapping, it can be good just to repeat a positive phrase or mantra. It can be very simple too, such as “I am in a bad mood right now, but I have a great life because of xyz reasons and I am a happy, positive person”.

You can read my article on some simple stress-relieving mantras.

And there you have it! 10 things to do to pull yourself out of a bad mood. I really hope this helps if you are feeling down!

How to use stream of consciousness journaling: 7 tips to start clearing your mind

How to use stream of consciousness journaling: 7 tips to start clearing your mind

Picture this:

It’s Saturday morning.You wake up with a beam of sunlight pouring into your room and birds singing outside your window. It seems like the perfect morning. But something’s not quite right. Despite the sun, the birds, and the weekend vibes, something’s just…off.

You don’t feel relaxed. You feel overwhelmed. There are a gazillion things rushing through your mind – I have to buy groceries. When’s that assignment due? I really should clean the bathroom. The job application deadline is tomorrow. I need to get started on that. Will I have time practice guitar? I haven’t practiced in ages. Maybe I’m no good at guitar. Maybe I should quit. I can’t quit! When do I get paid? The more you think, the more anxious you get. No wonder you’re not feeling the Saturday morning vibes – your mind is going crazy!

When your thoughts are running a hundred miles an hour, it’s easy to feel confused. And when you feel confused, you lose sight of what really matters, and how you really feel. That’s where stream of consciousness journaling comes in.

What is “Stream of Consciousness Journaling”?

Stream of consciousness journaling is a method of journaling that involves writing down your thoughts as they come to you. No proofreading. No overthinking. Just transcribing every thought that pops into your head down on paper.

In stream of consciousness journaling, the magic happens in the messiness. When you stop censoring your thoughts and instead let them come to the page organically, what you’re really doing is allowing yourself to communicate with your inner voice, your intuition, your soul. The part of you that has all the answers. The part of you that’s unclouded by stress, anxiety, and ego.

It will Help You Understand Your Mind

Stream of consciousness journaling has a tendency to bring to the surface problematic thinking patterns, to uncover fears you didn’t know you had, and insights you didn’t know you needed. Thoughts that come from the depths tend to be the most profound, and the most necessary.

So if you’re ready to push past the distractions and delve deep to discover what’s really important to you, here are my 7 most helpful tips on stream of consciousness journaling:

1. Journal in the morning – Our thoughts tend to be the most chaotic and muddled when we first wake up. By writing in the morning, you’re sifting through all that chaos straight away, leaving you with a clear, focused mind for the rest of the day.

2. Don’t force anything – Be true to your thoughts. Stream of consciousness journaling should never feel contrived. It may not be enlightening, it may not be earth-shattering, it very well may be “I’m so tired, I don’t know what to write”. If that’s what you’re thinking, write it down.

3. Be patient – Don’t give up if you don’t get an ‘aha’ moment straight away. If you continue with it every day, your intuition will take you where you need to go. You know just as well as I know that all good things take time.

4. Forget the rules – Throw any concerns you have about spelling and grammar out the window. The point isn’t to create publish-worthy prose, the point is to let your soul take control (your soul doesn’t care about ‘you’re’ vs ‘your’).

5. Be specific – Your journal is no place for cautious generalities. Pin-point as much as you can – specific names, feelings, emotions, events. This is for your eyes only, so don’t shy away from writing precisely and explicitly.

6. Write by hand – Writing by hand in a physical journal rather than on your computer slows you down and keeps the intuitive part of your brain engaged. Your keyboard is far too linear for this type of writing.

7. Allow for jumps – Our thoughts can sometimes be quite sporadic, and that’s okay. If at one point you’re writing about your dog, which then reminds you about that movie you saw last night, which then reminds you about a dream you had one time – let yourself go there. No need for tidy transitions.

You have the tips, you have your journal, and you have your pencil. All that’s left for you to do?

Let it flow!

Natalie Burns-Holland

Natalie Burns-Holland

Content Creator at Mindaya

Natalie is a freelance writer living in Edinburgh, Scotland.