For me, self-care begins and ends with Jesus. Without Jesus at the center, we will always end up empty and no amount of expensive, time-consuming self-care will make up for that! Are you doing all the cliche self-care activities like taking bubble baths, participating in fun hobbies, or getting your monthly manicure? Do you still feel like something is missing?
I challenge you to consider what the missing element may be: taking care of your soul. It is essential to first and foremost take care of your soul, the very essence of who you are, before anything else will fill the void.
Make sure your soul is full of Jesus, your mindset is right with Christ, and your mind is full of truths from God’s Word. Only then are you truly taking care of yourself.
All the other activities are merely bonuses. Getting a pedicure, it’s relaxing and the end result is great. Treating yourself to a yummy Starbucks drink, that’s fantastic too.
BUT…Cultivating a spirit of peace and joy by engaging in some of the faith-based self-care ideas below, could possibly change the course of your life.
20 Amazing Faith-based Self-care Ideas to Try out Today!
1. Deep breathing.
Deep breathing can lead to a relaxation response and help with stress and anxiety. I sure have struggled with feelings of stress, sometimes even on a daily basis. Combining Scripture with deep breathing can have many benefits in caring for your spiritual and mental well-being.
There are a couple ways you can do this! You can breathe in the positive (a truth from God) and breathe out the negative thought. Or you can try “breath prayers,” where you inhale while meditating on the first part of the verse and exhaling the second part.
Here are a couple examples:
Inhale: I cast my cares on the Lord. Exhale: And he will sustain me. (Psalm 55:22)
Inhale: I trust in the Lord Exhale: With all my heart (Proverbs 3:5)
If you’re curious how deep breathing can help you sleep better, I highlighted that aspect in this blog post: SLEEP BETTER TONIGHT: 20 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP.
2. Worship music.
Listen to it, sing along to it, and even make it the background of your day. While cooking, going for a walk, getting ready in the morning, or really anytime of the day, add worship music to your daily routine.
Worship music allows you to remain in God’s presence throughout your day. Listening to encouraging and uplifting words will help keep your outlook and attitude more optimistic.
Want to start your day on a positive note? I used to play Mandisa’s song “Good Morning,” as my kids woke up in the morning. It’s upbeat and the lyrics are definitely inspiring.
Wave away my yesterday
‘Cause I’m leaving it behind me
Hello sunshine, come what may
I feel something new inside me.
3. Spend time in nature.
Nature is the art of God.
Dante Alighieri
Appreciate God’s creation. Breathe in the fresh air. Listen to the birds chirping. Feel the sunshine on your face. There’s just something amazing about being out in nature!
Psalm 19:1 says “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Enjoy being outside in the world God created, as there’s no better way to feel close to Him than to be outdoors. Not to mention it’s proven to reduce stress and help improve your mood.
I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.
Anne Frank.
I had to include both those quotes, because I think they both speak volumes to the beauty and importance of nature. Don’t underestimate the power of nature and how it can be a simple yet mighty form of self-care.
4. Journaling.
Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal, whether it’s for prayer, gratitude, or any other purpose, can be enlightening. It can help you understand yourself better and how to better care for yourself. You can write down your prayers and look back to see how God has answered them. Write down what God is teaching you about or challenging you on. Or simply write about your day.
Don’t like to write? Try a video journal, by recording your thoughts and creating a folder on your phone to look back on down the road.
5. Meditate on God’s Word.
The Bible says to meditate on God’s Word day and night (Joshua 1:8). To me, this involves memorizing Scripture or having verses available to reflect on throughout your day or week.
If you’re feeling worried, meditate on a bible verse on the topic of worry. If you’re feeling anxious, meditate on a verse that refers to giving your anxieties to God.
No matter how you’re feeling or what you’re going through, God has a truth for you to hold on. A truth from His Word to help you through the valleys of your life.
Use a notecard or pretty stationary paper to write down verses that could be beneficial to you on a daily basis. I go into more detail about how I spend time daily with God in this blog post: A SIMPLE QUIET TIME ROUTINE WITH GOD.
6. Speak truth while looking in the mirror.
Look at yourself in the mirror, smile, and speak God’s truth. This is similar to daily affirmations, but they are based on truths from the bible. Smiling is a great way to elevate your mood right away and start your day on a positive note!
Here are a few truths you could speak aloud:
“Today is the day the Lord has made.”
“I am a child of God.”
“I can do great things today with God’s strength.”
You can even have the same ones you speak aloud every single morning. This is so simple and can literally take only seconds, but it can definitely set your day off on the right track!
7. Share with someone what God is doing in your life.
If your conversation with a friend or co-worker allows, share your testimony and what God is actively doing in your life. Not only may this be a great encouragement to them, but also to YOU!
I believe that conversing about God’s goodness and work in your life can help reiterate God’s faithfulness in your own life. This all goes back to the soul care I previously mentioned. It will feel nice to bring encouraging words to someone, while also reminding you of how extraordinary our God is! If, in turn, they want to share their story, that is merely a bonus.
8. Listen to a biblical podcast.
Listening to a podcast is an activity you can do while simultaneously doing the mundane tasks of life. On your commute to work. While you’re getting ready in the morning. While cooking dinner or doing the dishes. As you’re folding laundry. There are multiple times a day where I personally can fit in time to listen to a podcast.
Just make sure it’s a podcast that brings life to your soul, NOT the opposite! Find a good podcast that you can enjoy or learn from, but if it’s from a biblical perspective, that’s a plus too!
A personal recommendation is the SHE podcast by Jordan Lee Dooley. You can access her website HERE to learn more. All the topics are from a Christian standpoint yet are relatable and helpful in your everyday life. Let me know of any other podcasts you’d recommend!
9. Attend church or a bible study.
Make it a priority to spend time around other Christians. There is so much we can learn from other people, as we fellowship on Sundays or any day of the week. If your church has a women’s bible study or any small groups, there are so many advantages to getting involved.
I have personally experienced the benefits of regularly attending church. Spending time worshiping God and learning from His Word with other believers can definitely cultivate positive things in your life. It starts your week off on the right foot, keeping Christ at the center.
10. Say good-bye to negative self-talk.
Negative thoughts will creep in from time to time, but you must squelch them right away. Say good-bye and don’t let them remain in your mind. Simply refuse to dwell on the negative.
Always have a positive affirmation available to combat the negative comments people may say to you or the negative thoughts that sneak their way into your mind.
2 Corinthians 10: 5 says: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Imagine “taking captive” your thoughts and giving them to Christ. Negative self-talk is not welcome in your life!
11. Take care of your physical health.
Take care of the body God has given you, because you are only given one body on this earth. Make choices that you know are healthy for you. This is a great form of self-care because if your physical body is not strong and healthy, it will be really hard to do the work God has called you to.
The two main ways I take care of my physical health are probably obvious: exercise and healthy eating. Exercise is scientifically proven to decrease cortisol levels and reduce your stress. I could go on and on with the numerous health benefits to exercise, but I’m sure you’re already familiar with them.
Eating healthy food will help you feel better and give you more energy to do the tasks your day requires. As women and moms, we tend to neglect our physical health at times, especially in the trenches of motherhood. I encourage you to take some time today (even 15 minutes) to invest in your physical health!
12. Invest in friendships that build you up.
Your friendships should first of all, build you up emotionally and mentally, and more importantly, build you up in Christ. Not to say that all your friends will be Christians and have to be Christians, but your best friends probably should be.
You definitely want to cut out any toxic friendships, that lead you in the opposite direction that you want to be headed.
As the verse says, “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Don’t let the people you spend the most time with affect your godly character. It’s not worth it, no matter how long you might have been friends with that individual. Invest your time and energy into friends that encourage your relationship with Jesus.
13. Consume content that encourages and lifts you up.
Social media, movies, music, and other forms of media should be positive influences in your life. Any of these that lead to anxiety, fear, or other negative emotions, should be evaluated carefully. And then removed, if necessary, especially if you can find no good in them.
I challenge you to unfollow anyone that doesn’t encourage you or provide something positive for your life. Also, I challenge you to notice how different movies and music make you feel after watching and listening to them. Watching a movie can be a self-care activity, but ONLY if it builds you up in some way and ideally honors God.
14. Find joy in all things.
In the small, everyday moments of life, find joy. A cup of coffee. A vase of beautiful flowers. Hugging your dog. An outfit that makes you feel good. Your child’s laugh. A note from a friend. Literally anything, no matter how small, can bring you joy.
Figure out the things that make you happy, that make you smile and do them more often. Make the effort to bring joy to your life every day. It doesn’t have to be costly or take tons of time. In fact, keep it simple. Simple is easy to stick with.
15. Celebrate the small things.
Going along with finding joy in everything is to celebrate often. Celebrate the small things in your life. You stayed calm with your kids all week, celebrate it. You walked your 10,000 steps every day this week, celebrate it.
This just means to get excited about your small wins and to share your successes with others. You can reward or treat yourself as a way to celebrate, but just the feeling of joy it brings you and having that memory to look back on, is often all the “celebration” you need.
16. Gratitude.
Choosing to have a thankful heart and spirit for the things you do have, instead of being ungrateful for the things you don’t! Shifting your mindset to one of gratitude and focusing on the good, will make such a big difference. It can help you cultivate an overall heart attitude of contentment.
Keep a gratitude journal, where you can write down things every day that you are grateful for. These can be the simplest of things. Just recognizing them will do wonders for you. You can go one step further and express your gratitude to God in prayer.
17. Prayer.
I have to include prayer on my self-care list, because it is so simple yet can be so powerful. Simply talking to God, your Creator. About anything, about everything.
Philippians 4:6 is a powerful verse! “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” We are commanded in this verse to present our requests to God. Take time today to talk to God, whether it’s 1 minute or 1 hour, He yearns to hear from you.
18. Practice kindness and giving.
Random acts of kindness bless the other person, but they also bless the giver (you!) Brainstorm a list of kind things you can do for others and start today! Pick one that is feasible for you to do in your current season of life. Give to someone in need or find a positive cause that you can give of your time, resources, or finances.
You can involve your kids in practicing kindness, as you cultivate a home of love and kindness. Encourage them to find ways to be kind to others around them and their own family members.
19. Walk barefoot in the grass.
I LOVE the feeling of grass underneath my feet. There’s the whole topic of grounding and the possible benefits that can result from spending time touching the earth. Whether sitting, laying, or walking, there’s something about feeling the earth on your skin (or maybe it’s just me!)
20. Read a motivational book.
There are thousands (probably even millions) of books that you could choose to read. Find a topic that interests you or that would positively impact your life at this time. For my non-fiction reads, I prefer something grounded in God’s Word, a book on motherhood, marriage, or Christian living. Most of the time I will read fiction; I love a good story! These reads aren’t exactly motivational, but more for entertainment purposes. So, figure out what you enjoy most and start reading.
You could even choose to read and be outside in nature at the same time, as that happens to be one of my favorite things to do! Feeling the sunshine on my face, while consuming great literature, is the ultimate self-care activity of my choice.
Take Time for Self-care Today!
Most self-care blog posts out there focus more on activities like, getting a pedicure, getting a massage, or getting your hair done. I decided to take a different approach, but I hope my ideas are helpful for you and easy to implement in your daily rhythms and routines of life.
In no way am I saying those typical self-care activities are bad or not to participate in them. By all means, do them! These definitely can be forms of self-care that help us feel better. BUT if we don’t start with a mindset focused on God, these things won’t give us what we stand in need of most. Soul care=taking care of your soul before you can take care of any other aspect of your life.
Make time today to do what fills you up, what brings you joy and makes you feel your best. This will look different for everyone, but I hope I’ve motivated you to choose a few activities that will help you best care for yourself today.
Don’t put off self-care until your children are older or you have more free time. Now is the best time to invest in your mental health, spiritual health, physical health, and all the other aspects of your complex self.
