26 Life-Changing Self-care Ideas for Women! (The Self-Care Alphabet!)

In this article, 26 life-changing self-care ideas for women (the self-care alphabet), I’ve curated 26 self-care ideas-one for each letter of the alphabet! Fun, right?

Self-care is so Incredibly Important!

Taking the time to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health can make a big difference in both your day-to-day life and your long-term well-being.

No matter what stage you’re at in life or how busy things seem, it is essential that you set aside some quality time for yourself.

Here are 26 self-care ideas from A to Z to get you started.

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26 Self-Care Ideas for Women of all ages!

What is self-care?

Self-care is taking action to preserve or improve one’s health and protect one’s well-being and happiness. Don’t you love that?

No one will do it for you -you’ve got to take matters into your own hands and care for YOURSELF—end of the story.

Self-care is more than just having a spa day here and there. Self-care is a way of life—an ongoing commitment to well-being.

The Self-Care Alphabet: 26 Self-care Ideas for Women

A – Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy and using essential oils can improve the health of the body, mind, and spirit. It enhances both physical and emotional health.

I know that without a doubt-I can light a lavender candle or put lavender in my bath, and I immediately feel a sense of calm.

B – Bath

A nice long bath is proven to de-stress your mind and body.

Go all out! Create a self-care bathing ritual for yourself.

Light candles. Add some Epsom Salts or oil to your bath. I love a bubble bath myself.

Grab your favorite book and stay for as long as you can. Then, follow up with your favorite lotion. ENJOY!

Related: The Art of Bathing: Self-care Bath Ideas

C – Create

I believe we were each created to create.

Creating something with your bare hands is life-giving! It can be a simple craft or a complicated painting—It doesn’t matter. Big, small-Just, get busy making something.

If you need inspiration-hop on Pinterest and browse awhile.

One thing that is super fun and very relaxing is coloring. There are some beautiful adult coloring books on the market these days.

So get yourself a new coloring book, high-quality colored pencils, and crayons.

Coloring is good clean, and fun, and it’s cheaper than therapy!

The possibilities are endless!  

D – Dry Brushing

Dry brushing is the bomb y’all!

I do it every day in the shower, which has dramatically improved my skin! Using a body brush with firm, natural bristles, gently massage your body in an upward motion.

Dry brushing has a ton of benefits. To name a few- dry brushing brightens the skin, improves circulation, and helps cellulite! That’s a win, win, win in my book!

Related: The Many Benefits of Dry Brushing!

E – Exercise

Move your body.

Take a walk, practice yoga, or jump on that new Peloton bike parked in your bedroom corner. Maybe take the family for a hike and a picnic. Be creative.  

Mopping the floor or mowing the grass counts as movement.

I got a lot of points on my Halo yesterday for organizing the garage, and it feels so good to get things done around the house!

F – Friendship

People come in and out of our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

Reach out to an old friend or family member and have that long-overdue chat. It will do you both some good.

Maybe you can set a date and make a habit of it. 

When someone comes to your heart and mind – it’s no accident. So take the prompting and send a text or, better- call.

Life is short. And we’re not getting any younger. Seize the day. 

G – Garden

Getting your hands dirty is just good for the soul! The earth is grounding, and planting & nurturing for living things is good clean fun.

The bonus is a beautiful garden-but it’s the process that heals.

H – Home

 Home is where the heart is! (It’s a clique because it’s true!)

There is no place like home!

Home is a shelter from the storms of life (work, traffic, noise, chaos.)

So make your home your safe place. Fill it with the things that bring you joy, and then find rest there.

I – Imagine

-Imagine what the life of your dreams would look like.
-Create some space and meditate on it.
-Maybe put on some non-lyrical music and breathe deeply.

Use your imagination to see it in your mind’s eye.

Now-grab your journal and write out the details. 

J – Journal

Writing in a journal is cheaper than therapy and oh-so rewarding!

I highly recommend Gratitude journaling and Morning pages.

Practicing gratitude creates a positive mindset, and morning pages help unload the clutter in our minds to have more space for creativity.

Related article: How to start morning pages

K – Kegel exercises.

You read that right.

I have recently learned that doing those good old Kegels is not only great exercise for your pelvic floor-they also helps to calm your nervous system. Cool, right?!

Sometimes I get anxious while driving on the freeway-and the Kegels have helped tremendously.

Give them a try. Your pelvic floor will thank you!

L – Laugh.

Laughter is just plain good for the soul!

The Bible says it’s good medicine, and I believe that to be true!

Pick some comedy from your Netflix watch list.

Or buy some tickets for a local comedy show. A deep-down belly laugh-and cry until you think you may pee is just what the Dr. ordered. 

M – Music.

Music is a gift-it’s like a salve for our wounds and scars. If I were a doctor, I would prescribe it to everyone daily.

When we are tired and weary from our busy and sometimes chaotic existence- Music can soothe and uplift and transport us- it can speak to us when we can’t or won’t hear anything else.

When lost, we can find our way home through the melodies and harmonies- and the lyrics.

Let music minister to your heart.

N – Nature

Go outside.

Take a walk. Sit on a lounge chair and stare at a sunset or sunrise. Watch the birds at the bird feeder. Notice the leaves dancing in the wind. Look up at that big beautiful sky.

Breathe in the air—deep, long-cleansing breaths.

Let the sun soak into your bones and your soul.

O – Oprah

OK! Yes. I am a huge Oprah fan. I value her and what she brings to the world.

I first learned about the transformative power of gratitude while watching her show in 1996. She has also written a few beautiful books filled with wisdom and love. LOVE HER!

Related article: The Benefits of Daily Meditation for Women

P – Pray!

Having a heart-to-heart with the Man upstairs is always a good idea.

The Bible says to pray without ceasing. So I take that as a clear go-ahead to pray anytime and anyplace.

I do my best praying in the car and while in the garden.

When we pray, we don’t have to filter our thoughts or what we say. God knows me inside and out, so it’s nice that I can be REAL.

I figured out that prayer isn’t just about talking to God and listening to God. The more listening, the better.

Praying is a two-way conversation!  

Related: 100 Things to Pray for this year!

Q – Quit Something. 

Quitting something is a big one! Self-care isn’t just about things that you can add. It’s about things that you need to subtract.

Quit smoking. Quit comparing yourself to other people. Quit eating all that sugar. Quit working too much.

Quit staying up too late and not getting enough sleep.

Quit that thing you know in your heart of hearts is not serving you. We all have things we can quit.

One thing on my QUIT LIST is the news and media in general. Too much is just toxic. So for me, I have to cut way back on the news.

I still watch the news-but only about 1/4 of what I used to. I think it was sucking the joy right out of me. And nobody has time for that.  

Related: Need a new hobby? Creative Hobbies for Women

R – Read

Oh, man. How fun is it to get lost in a good book?

You know- when you can’t turn the pages fast enough? When you can’t wait to finish your day-to-day so you can find that comfy spot on the couch and get lost.

Reading is a healthy way to take a break and escape -depending on the storyline, you can go anywhere you want.  

Related: My Top Picks: Best Books for Overthinkers

S – Sleep

Sleep is of the utmost importance for well-being and essential in any solid self-care routine.

You’ve got to get your beauty rest!

When we sleep, our bodies regenerate and heal. Our brains process information and store memories in the right places.

Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the best gifts you can give yourself (and the ones you love).

Do everything you can to get as much good quality sleep as possible. It’s simply a game-changer.

And when I say game changer-I mean to say it’s life-changing.

T – Take the trip 

GO! Get out of dodge.

Get that much-needed change in perspective!-Maybe its’ a day trip or a trip around the world!?

Please do what you need to make it happen, and then GO! Squeeze as much juice out of this life as you can.

U – Unplug (digital detox)

Unplug from all the noise and the junk light—Do a digital detox!

Unplugging yourself from your devices or making an effort to use them less can help improve your quality of life!

Just say no to the phone, computers, TV, and video games.

Read a book, do a craft, take a walk, or take a nap?! Do anything that doesn’t require a screen or power.

Have you ever looked at your phone’s screen time thingy? How much time do you spend on your phone? On social media? Tick-tock? Playing games?  

Take a peek at your screen time if your like me-it’s frightening! FRIGHTENING, I tell you!

Related: The benefits of a digital detox

V – Vegetables + Vitamins

Eat yo greens!

I have been trying to sneak more veggies into our diets lately. I used to make just one veggie with each dinner- now I make a veggie AND a salad!

My husband is like, “what’s up with all this salad” LOL.

I also started having veggies clean, cut & ready to go in the fridge- And guess what!? We eat the veggies! HA! What a concept! Mind Blown.

In addition to eating your veggies, ensure that you get the essential vitamins you need every day by taking a good quality multi-vitamin like tone.

Related: The best supplements for women 50+

W – Water. Drink the darn water.

Making sure you are drinking enough water is more of the best (and easiest) things you can do for yourself.

Have a headache? Water. Feel grumpy and just blah? Water. Overweight and need to drop a few lbs? Water. Is your skin dry? Water.  

Water is excellent for weight loss, physical health, and mental health!

Water is the first line of defense for every ailment you may have. So drink twice your body weight in ounces daily and see how much better you feel.

I promise.

Related: How to Increase Your Water Intake

X –Xtra Everything you love

Do what you love with the ones you love as much as possible. Life is short, so go and do all things. Need some ideas?

Check out my Bucket Lists:

100 Bucket List Ideas for this Summer!
100 Fun Things to do this Fall
100 Bucket List Ideas for Couples

Y – YOGA! (One of my favorite self-care habits!)

Yoga! I love, love, love me some yoga.

It does my body, heart, mind, and soul a world of good. There are so many different kinds of yoga -there is something for everyone!

You can do it at home (I love this YouTube Channel for yoga at home! Adriene is the best there is !), or you can go to your local gym and yoga studio and try it.

Give it a few sessions before deciding whether Yoga is for you.

Z – Zen your space

Your space should serve you.

If a room doesn’t feel welcoming to you or doesn’t serve its purpose well-then, you should change it.

Maybe you need a complete over or rearrange and add some comfort items.

For me, candles, lots of living plants, cozy blankets, and photographs of my family always make a room feel cozy.

My Self-care Alphabet: 26 Practical Self-Care Ideas

There you have it! My self-care alphabet: 26 Self-care ideas to help you simplify self-care!

What do you think? Pretty fun, right?!

A self-care routine doesn’t have to be complicated.

How do you practice self-care? Which of the 26 was your favorite? Please share in the comments below.

Until next time,

XO, Christine

If you enjoyed this article, you might want to head out to another post I recently wrote about how to start a morning self-care practice here.