Low Effort Self Care Tips

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We can all probably agree that taking care of your physical and mental health is super important. All sorts of outside factors can start affecting your happiness, including work stress, world events, personal issues, and more. When it comes to self-care, there are plenty of books advising you how to live your life, and the internet is absolutely stuffed with ideas for self-care activities, from yoga to meditation to healing crystals. However, sometimes it can feel like all these fixes require a fair amount of effort – whether that’s signing up for a yoga class and making time to get there, or buying a whole lot of fancy incense. What do you do if you’re feeling low and you need some instant, low effort self-care to help you through?

Take a Bath

You don’t need a hundred candles, bubbles, and incense for a bath to chill you out. The steam and the hot water relaxing your body are a simple way to take some time out, from as little as 15 minutes to as long as hours. This is something you can do at home at any time, with zero preparation or costs, only waiting ten minutes to run the water. 

Read a Childhood Book

Sometimes, health and wellness doesn’t have to be about your body; it can be about your mind. One of the best ways to feel comforted and safe is to dive back into something from your childhood.  You don’t always have to be reading the latest bestseller, or an intellectual masterpiece – sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to find a fun and easy book you can relax with, like an old friend. Banish any expectations for yourself, find a corner to curl up in, maybe make a hot chocolate if you’re feeling fancy, and let an adventure spirit you away from your problems for a while.

Watch an Old Show

Similarly, an old favourite show can have the same effect as a childhood book. It might be low effort, but there is no shame in spending an evening (or a full day) rewatching Friends. Different people have different TV shows as ‘comfort blankets’, those stories they can watch over and over again without ever getting bored – this is the kind of lazy self-care that is sometimes the only way you can get yourself feeling better.

Have a Nice Meal

Treating yourself to a nice meal is a brilliant way to stave off stress, reminding yourself that you deserve to feel good. This doesn’t have to mean a high-effort affair though; you don’t have to go out to a restaurant, or spend hours cooking a fancy meal. The most comforting, delicious meal could be something simple, like roast potatoes or noodles. Or, you could simply order yourself your favourite takeout – as long as you’re applying moderation to this, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a low-effort high-reward takeaway to boost your mood!

Deep Breathing

If you’re out and about, and none of the options above are available to you, give yourself the gift of a few moments. Don’t underestimate the power of deep, regular breathing to help your body and your mind relax. The ultimate low-effort act of self care, this doesn’t require anything more than your own body, and a few seconds away from the world.