{"id":78643,"date":"2026-03-12T13:21:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T13:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spunout.ie\/navigator\/informations\/how-to-practise-self-care\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T13:21:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T13:21:41","slug":"how-to-practise-self-care","status":"publish","type":"informations","link":"https:\/\/spunout.ie\/navigator\/informations\/how-to-practise-self-care\/","title":{"rendered":"How to practise self-care"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Research on how young people practise self-care when in distress is still growing. However, it is clear that many people find relief and enjoyment in self-care activities. Everyone finds different things fulfilling so finding self-care practices that work best for you might require a little experimentation. Self-care is about finding what recharges you and brings you joy, so feel free to experiment with different activities until you find what feels right. Read more about <a href='https:\/\/spunout.ie\/mental-health\/self-care\/what-is-self-care\/'>self-care and its benefits<\/a>.If you are feeling stressed or low from juggling multiple responsibilities, engaging in self-care activities can feel like yet another burden. When you are caring for others, you might feel like you don&#8217;t have the time or energy for self-care. However, taking care of yourself can help you take better care of others too. Consider beginning to find self-care activities gradually and in a way that feels right for you.<\/p>\n<h2>How do I introduce self-care practices into my life?<\/h2>\n<p> Below is a list of self-care activities you can try. Given your own unique circumstances, you may find that certain activities feel more manageable than others.<\/p>\n<h3>Take care of your mental and emotional health by:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Setting realistic, achievable goals to give yourself direction<\/li>\n<li>Organising or planning your day to feel more in control<\/li>\n<li><a href='https:\/\/spunout.ie\/mental-health\/self-care\/thought-patterns\/'>Challenging negative thoughts<\/a> or self-talk<\/li>\n<li>Noticing triggers that affect your mood or stress levels<\/li>\n<li>Practising <a href='https:\/\/spunout.ie\/mental-health\/self-care\/try-mindfulness-exercises\/'>relaxation techniques or mindfulness<\/a> to manage stress<\/li>\n<li><a href='https:\/\/spunout.ie\/mental-health\/depression\/sh-dealing-with-difficult-emotions\/'>Accepting your feelings<\/a> without judgement<\/li>\n<li>Confronting your fears in small, manageable steps<\/li>\n<li>Solving problems by breaking them into smaller tasks<\/li>\n<li>Writing or journalling to process your thoughts and emotions<\/li>\n<li>Reading and <a href='https:\/\/spunout.ie\/mental-health\/getting-help\/self-diagnosing-mental-health\/'>learning more about mental health from reliable sources<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Using apps designed to help with self-care strategies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Connect with others by:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Spending time socialising or going out with friends<\/li>\n<li>Seeking peer support, either in person or online<\/li>\n<li><a href='https:\/\/spunout.ie\/mental-health\/getting-help\/sh-conversation-mental-health\/'>Talking to someone you know and trust <\/a>about what you&#8217;re going through<\/li>\n<li>Allowing yourself to be loved and cared for by others<\/li>\n<li>Taking care of others as a way to strengthen social connections<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Nurture your spiritual or reflective side by:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Reading religious texts (if religion is a source of guidance or comfort for you)<\/li>\n<li>Attending a church, mosque, temple, or other place of worship (if religion is a source of guidance or comfort for you)<\/li>\n<li>Writing creatively as a way to reflect on your experiences<\/li>\n<li>Practising acceptance of things you cannot control<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Connect with your body by:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Staying active with <a href='https:\/\/spunout.ie\/health\/exercise\/affordable-exercise\/'>physical exercise<\/a> to boost your mood<\/li>\n<li>Going for a walk to clear your mind and move your body<\/li>\n<li>Using <a href='https:\/\/spunout.ie\/mental-health\/anxiety-stress\/using-breathing-exercises-to-help-anxiety\/'>breathing techniques<\/a> to calm yourself in stressful moments<\/li>\n<li>Engaging in muscle relaxation exercises to release tension<\/li>\n<li>Taking a warm bath to unwind<\/li>\n<li><a href='https:\/\/spunout.ie\/health\/drugs\/harm-reduction-advice-drugs\/'>Reducing your intake<\/a> of stimulants and other substances<\/li>\n<li>Dancing as a fun and active way to release energy<\/li>\n<li>Cooking and eating well to take care of your body<\/li>\n<li>Practising good personal hygiene<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Enjoy leisure activities and play by:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Switching off screens to give your mind a break<\/li>\n<li>Daydreaming to let your mind wander and relax<\/li>\n<li>Watching movies at home or going to the cinema for entertainment<\/li>\n<li>Reading books or magazines to escape into another world<\/li>\n<li>Spending time outdoors in nature to reconnect with the environment<\/li>\n<li>Playing games or engage in hobbies that make you happy<\/li>\n<li>Laughing and finding humour in everyday life<\/li>\n<li>Singing, making music, or engaging in other creative activities to express yourself<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What are some of the self-care barriers I might be facing?<\/h2>\n<p> Depending on your individual circumstances and state of health, practising self-care regularly can be more or less challenging. Stressful or traumatic life events, physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, or even the environment you live in can make certain self-care practices difficult. Cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds can also influence how people practise self-care, meaning that self-care may look different for everyone. Despite these challenges, taking care of yourself is always possible, even if this requires changing traditional self-care activities to better suit your situation. Here are some common barriers to self-care:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Not knowing where to start<\/strong>: Beginning to practise self-care can feel unfamiliar and even overwhelming at first, especially when you&#8217;ve little guidance on where to begin<\/li>\n<li><strong>Unhelpful habits<\/strong>: Habits like overeating, smoking, or excessive screen time can be difficult to change<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lack of motivation<\/strong>: Mental health challenges, like depression or low mood, can sap your energy and make it hard to start or maintain new self-care routines<\/li>\n<li><strong>Difficulty maintaining habits<\/strong>: Even with good intentions, sticking to self-care routines can be challenging, especially when life gets busy<\/li>\n<li><strong>Influence of peers or family<\/strong>: The people around you may not support your self-care efforts or may create an environment where practising self-care feels difficult or even impossible<\/li>\n<li><strong>Physical or mental health difficulties<\/strong>: Physical and\/or <a href='https:\/\/spunout.ie\/mental-health\/conditions\/mental-health-conditions\/'>mental health conditions<\/a> that limit your mobility or affect how you think and communicate can make traditional self-care practices less accessible to you<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cultural or religious expectations<\/strong>: Different backgrounds may offer specific ideas of what self-care should look like, which might not align with your personal goals, values, or needs. On the other hand, mainstream culture might impose a view of self-care that does not fit with your own cultural values or beliefs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How do I reduce barriers to self-care?<\/h2>\n<p> Even when facing barriers, there are ways to make it easier to practise self-care regularly. Here are some strategies you might consider:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Reach out for support and encouragement<\/strong>: Having an accountability partner can motivate you to turn self-care activities into habits. For example, you could pair up with a friend to exercise together or engage in a shared hobby<\/li>\n<li><strong>Personalise your self-care<\/strong>: Instead of trying to follow socially expected or popular self-care routines, find activities that fit with your values and culture. This can make self-care more meaningful and sustainable in the long run<\/li>\n<li><strong>Leverage technology<\/strong>: If physical or mental health challenges make self-care difficult, try using technology to make it easier. For example, you could use meditation apps, online fitness classes, or virtual support groups to practise self-care from the comfort of your own space<\/li>\n<li><strong>Habit-stacking<\/strong>: If you&#8217;re very busy, try tying a self-care habit to something you already do every day. For example, you might listen to your favourite podcast or audiobook while commuting, or practise deep breathing while waiting in a queue to get lunchBy adapting your self-care practices to fit your lifestyle and personal values, it is possible to find ways of overcoming obstacles to self-care and prioritising your long-term well-being.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-78643","informations","type-informations","status-publish","hentry","inform_topic-burnout","inform_topic-depression","inform_topic-depression-low-mood","inform_topic-eating-disorders","inform_topic-feeling-stressed-or-low","inform_topic-finding-support","inform_topic-general-wellbeing","inform_topic-get-information","inform_topic-grounding-mindfulness","inform_topic-self-esteem-body-image","inform_topic-specific-mental-health-difficulties","inform_topic-stress-anxiety","inform_topic-understanding-mental-health","inform_topic-wellbeing-skills"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to practise self-care - spunout navigator<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to practise self-care - spunout navigator\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Research on how young people practise self-care when in distress is still growing. 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