Many of us know first-hand the importance of prioritizing our mental health. Having a mental health self-care checklist can help us make sure there are daily self-care activities we are doing to maintain our physical and mental health.
A recent national survey showed that after practicing daily self-care, participants experienced enhanced self-confidence (64%), increased productivity (67%), and happiness (71%).
No matter where you are in your self-care journey, there are ways we can all take better care of ourselves to improve our overall wellness. Some of these self-care ideas and strategies are simple things, like practicing deep breathing or getting adequate sleep at night. But having a daily self-care checklist and routine for one’s mental health can help solidify healthy habits and meet specific needs.Mental Health Self-Care Checklist for Overall Wellness
- Eat a healthy snack
- Practice deep breathing or breathwork
- Buy yourself fresh flowers
- Go to bed an hour early
- Write and mail a letter to an old friend
- Set a new intention for yourself
- Drink one gallon of water in 24 hours
- Light a candle, diffuse essential oils, or burn incense
- Go to the gym or studio
- Try an adult coloring book
- Stretch your body
- Listen to your favorite music
- Try a guided meditation
- Cook a new recipe
- Go to an art gallery
- Write through a journal prompt
- Treat yourself to a special dessert
- Make a cup of hot tea
- Do a crossword puzzle
- Start a new bullet journey spread
- Go on a hike
- Declutter one area of your home
- Watch a movie
- Play with your pet, child, or just make up a game for yourself
- Write down your specific needs
- Write down ways to show compassion to yourself
- Come up with one new healthy habit to start
- Attend a religious service
- Sit on a park bench
- Get a manicure or pedicure
- Do at-home skincare or spa care
- Pay homage by visiting a local memorial
- Look back at old photos
- Exercise outside
- Plan your next vacation
- Buy a new house plant
- Take a nap
- Make cookies or bake something
- Strike up a conversation with someone
- Start a new book
- Recite positive affirmations
- Practice learning new skills or craft
- Try a new physical activity
- Talk about what’s bothering you in therapy
- Practice self-acceptance meditation
- Take a break from social media
- Plan a day to sleep in without an alarm
- Take a hot shower
- Get a haircut or new hairstyle
- Download a productivity app to try
- Write a letter to your future self
- Take a bath
- Join a book club
- Volunteer somewhere locally
- Go thrift shopping
- Sit in the sunshine for Vitamin D
- Try to eliminate negative self-talk
- Try gratitude journaling
- Meal prep for the week
- Connect with your loved ones
- Set a reminder to breath, pray, recite an affirmation
- Add mindfulness to your morning routine
- Think of one way to test your limits
- Take a break from alcohol and caffeine
- Wear an outfit that’s outside your comfort zone
- Climb a tree (be careful!) :)
- Go to a library
- Practice asking for help or delegating
- Watch the sunrise or sunset
- Do something that makes you laugh
- Have a solo dance party - move your body!
- Listen to the birds
- Create a collage or vision board of things you love
- Take yourself out to lunch
- Brainstorm some new goals
How to Use a Mental Health Self-Care Checklist
On any given day, we may need different emotional support or physical care to support our mental health. And that’s okay! Just like eating a balanced diet, our bodies and minds need different foods for different health benefits.
Our 75-item self-care checklist isn’t meant to be tackled on a daily basis. Obviously! Take time to analyze yourself and what you need each day.
Here's what we suggest you do daily: Carve out 10 minutes at the start or end of your day to decide what areas you want to focus on. And create a list of 5 self-care items that are going to be important for your mental health TODAY. Fill out those five into our blank printable self-care checklist. And strive to prioritize your short but solid self-are checklist for that day.
Download our printable self-care checklist template!
For more tips and self-care resources, check out the Silk+Sonder blog!