One of the best ways you can make 2023 better is to put more emphasis on self-care.

Self-care, by definition, is anything you do to take care of yourself. It is essential not just for our mental state but also for one’s emotional and physical well-being. 

Here are 23 self-care ideas for 2023:

Take time to pause, breathe, and meditate

Put time on your day where you can simply take a pause, breathe, and meditate. 

Make sure that you spend time to clear your mind from all the to do lists, all the worries, and all the overthinking. Even a five-minute pause is valuable.

Start journaling 

One of the best self-care ideas for mental health you can do is journaling. Try to spend 15-30 minutes a day just writing down your thoughts. You can do this digitally using free journaling apps like Notion or Day One. A much more therapeutic way, on the other hand, is journal using pen and paper. Get a simple notebook and journal your way to 2023. 

Go for a walk

Taking daily walks is such a great way to improve your physical health. You simply go out, walk, and get some fresh air. If you have a dog, this can also be a good excuse to spend time with your pet. 

Read a book

Reading enables us to gain information, entertain us, and help us get away from our daily worries. I personally enjoy reading books and have blogged a ton about them in the past. Last September, I got a Kindle and it made me fall in love with reading even more. Here are some of my book recommendations.

Listen to podcast

Podcasts let you take a pause from the hectic pace of everyday life. Just like reading, you can consume new information and immerse yourself from engaging conversations by simply listening. You can explore different topics from news, comedy, finance, celebrities, and so much more.

I have a list of my favorite true crime podcasts of all time you can check. 

Stay hydrated

Another way you can promote a healthier body is to drink more water. Remember that staying hydrated on the inside is just as important as the outside. Incorporate more water in your day this 2023.

Find time to be active every day

Exercising regularly doesn’t only promote a healthier body, it is also proven to make you feel happier and more accomplished throughout the day. Make a plan to work out 3x a week or more. Other things you can do aside from exercise is to simply go for a long walk or achieve 5000 steps daily.

Pamper yourself

Treat yourself from time to time as this can also help to improve your overall wellbeing. If you have the budget try getting a massage, facial, manicure and pedicure, or haircut and allow yourself to destress. 

AM and PM Skincare Routine 

Maintaining a so-called skincare routine may seem like a daunting task. There’s so many steps involved, not to mention money. But it’s still an ideal way to glow up during self-isolation. 

I have a number of posts about skincare routine you can check out:

Pinays Guide for a Perfect Skincare Routine

My 5 Step Pamper Night Skincare Routine

Korean Skincare Routine for Pinays

The Daily, Weekly and Monthly Beauty Routine I Try to Follow

Try to take a look at your current vanity and see your tried and tested beauty products and build your own glow up skincare routine. Commit to doing it for a week and see if you’ll notice any difference from before. Continue on the routine until your face glows from every side. 

Other effective additions on your skincare routine are as follows:

• Face Mask

• Face Serum

• Exfoliator

• Face Oil

Practice mindfulness

I am personally guilty of worrying too much of what the future will bring. This will often than not give me anxiety and cause me my inner peace. Practicing mindfulness is something I need to be preaching to myself too.  Mindfulness is all about being in the present. It’s becoming more aware of your innermost thoughts and feelings and can be an effective tool for self-care.

Spend time with friends and family

With times like this when we realize how precious life is, we have to be more appreciative of the people around us. 

Weekends are a great way to reconnect with friends and family members. The work week can easily get pretty hectic that we don’t have that much time spent with family and friends. 

Get quality sleep

I think this is the area I struggle the most lately. Coming from a typical 8am to 5pm job to a graveyard shift schedule is a lot of adjustment. But sleep is important. It helps in keeping your stress level balanced, your mood great and immune system strong.

Set goals

Last but not definitely not the last is to set some goals. Goal setting is such a vital part when it comes to personal growth. Having goals helps you in so many ways. 

First, it makes you motivated for more. Now that you have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish you get to plan your next actions toward that goal. Next, goals make you accountable. Because you are doing it mainly for yourself, it’s easy to take responsibility for your actions. 

Goals are meant to be specific, measurable, attainable, relative and time-bound. Make sure you are keeping your goals that way. Having goals to work towards in life helps you stay on track to improving and growing as a person. 

Learn how you can stick to your goals.

Set intentions for tomorrow

Lastly, set your intentions for the next day. How do you want to feel tomorrow? Any personal goals you want to accomplish or make some progress on? 

Here are examples of intentions you can set:

• Be productive 

• Be active 

• Be forgiving

• Be organized

• Be creative

Make 2023 your best year by integrating these self care habits for health and happiness into your daily routines. Remember to only do the things that you enjoy doing. At the end of the day self-care is all about keeping yourself happy and fulfilled.

What self-care ideas are you doing in 2023?