self care weekend

How to Have A Self Care Weekend: 31 Ideas to unwind and relax

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Are you someone who can’t wait for the weekend to begin?

It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life, leaving little time to prioritize your own well-being. 

However, the weekend is the perfect opportunity to hit the pause button, take a deep breath, and indulge in some much-needed self-care. 

If you’ve ever wondered what activities are good for self care, or want to know some of the best weekend self care tips, I’ve got you!

In this guide, you’ll discover:

  • A wide variety of self-care weekend ideas designed to help you recharge, rejuvenate, and reconnect with your inner self
  • What to do on a self love weekend, including some perfect long weekend self care rituals to leave you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the week ahead
  • How to design your own happy weekend self care retreat to forget about work, family, chores, and other things that may not bring you joy

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The Best Self Care Weekend Ideas

How do you spend a self care weekend? Here are 31 ideas to inspire your rejuvenation. 

Have a spa day at home

Transform your home into a spa by lighting scented candles, playing soft music, and indulging in a relaxing bath with essential oils. This is one of the best ways that I’ve found for instant relaxation, and it’s super easy to do. 

Do a digital detox

Unplug from all devices for the weekend to recharge mentally. If you spend a lot of time on social media, your phone, or the internet, this is a great way to reconnect with yourself. 

Nature retreat

Are you searching for a self care weekend getaway? Then, why not spend the weekend camping, hiking, or simply enjoying the outdoors? 

I like to do this to get more steps into my exercise routine, and I find the fresh air clears my mind. If you’re looking to boost your mood, this could be the perfect thing to do. 

Express your creativity

Dedicate time to painting, drawing, writing, or any form of art. These relaxing activities are a great way to unwind and ‘get out of your own head’ for a while. 

When I’m struggling with an overactive mind, I like to do some creative tasks so I’m only focusing on that one thing, rather than letting my mind wander into overdrive. 

DIY beauty treatments

Who doesn’t love a bit of pampering from time to time? Try homemade face masks, scrubs, or hair treatments using natural ingredients. 

Your hair and skin will thank you for it, and it’ll make you feel better from the inside out. 

Meditation retreat

Meditation retreats are excellent for mindfulness and loving-kindness. If you’re on a budget, you can easily practice at home with video or audio. Just ensure that you have a quiet room to do this in so that you don’t get disturbed. 

Yoga weekend

If meditation isn’t your thing, you could try yoga instead. Attend a yoga workshop or practice at home with online classes. You’ll have increased flexibility, strength, and an improved mindset once the weekend is over.

Reading marathon

Spend the weekend reading books that inspire or educate you.  If self-help books aren’t your thing, then you could simply read fictional books that you enjoy. 

Letting yourself get carried away with a good read is something that can help to take your mind away from daily life! So, if reading is for you, a weekend curled up with your favorite books can do the trick.

Cooking classes

If you love cooking, or your dream self care weekend involves learning a new skill, then you could take a cooking class or try new recipes at home. 

You’ll improve your culinary skills, and may even get better eating habits depending on what you whip up. 

Volunteering

Spend the weekend volunteering for a cause you’re passionate about. This could involve helping a local charity, cleaning up litter in your local area, or giving your time to an animal shelter. 

Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose and increases your social connections.

Gardening

Are you green-fingered, or interested in exploring all things gardening?

Why not create a small garden or build a little house plant collection? Plants are good for adding a little color to your home and boosting the relaxing tone of your environment. 

Learn a new skill

Dedicate your self care weekend to learning something new, like a language, instrument, or craft. A few examples could be learning how to play the guitar, trying to speak Spanish, or giving knitting a go. 

Aromatherapy

Experiment with essential oils and diffusers to create a soothing, relaxing atmosphere. Some of the best oils to try include lavender, chamomile, lemon, and rosemary. 

Journaling

Journaling involves reflecting on your thoughts and feelings through writing. You can also set goals, set micro goals, and analyze different areas of your life. 

Fitness challenge

Although it can be hard to get into the mindset of working out, trying a new challenge, joining a group class, or setting personal fitness goals can give you a quick boost of confidence.

I’ve tried a few different workouts over the years and I always come back to Grow With Jo – her workouts are great for beginners and more advanced fitness people alike. Jo always has a smile on her face and encourages her audience to get up and move. You also won’t ache a lot afterwards which is a winner (don’t be fooled though, her workouts do get your body moving!). 

Vision board

A vision board helps you to create a visual representation of your goals and dreams. In some ways, it’s similar to making a mood board – you simply find photos or words that relate to how you want your life to look like and then put them together on a board (either digitally or physically). 

DIY home improvement

Tackling a small home improvement project, like painting or organizing is a good stress booster if you enjoy DIY projects. You could try upcycling a piece of furniture, creating some of your own artwork, or organizing your closet. 

Visit a local attraction

No matter where you live, there are likely to be free attractions that you can explore. Explore a museum, park, or historic site in your local area – you never know what you might find. You may even surprise yourself with how much you enjoy it. 

Photography walk

Use your phone camera to capture the beauty of your surroundings through photography. This creative self care activity can be done while you go a long walk or visit a local attraction. You can even create a photo memory book. 

Have a massage

Schedule a professional massage or exchange massages with a partner. This is a good way to relieve deep tension in your body, and if you do it with a partner it’ll help you to get closer to each other. 

Indulge in a movie marathon

What’s your favorite feel good movie? I’ll let you into a secret, I love While You Were Sleeping! It’s my ultimate rom-com alongside The Proposal (yes, I’m a Sandra Bullock fan!)

Watching your favorite movies is a great way to improve your mood and relax. Have a duvet weekend on the sofa and indulge in an amazing movie marathon. 

Dance party

Want to have a self care weekend with friends? Host a dance party at home or attend a dance class. This fun activity can be done with free videos on YouTube – either learn choreography or make up your own. 

Board game night

Invite friends or family for a night of board games. You’ll have some fun, get some mental stimulation, and stress relief!

Gratitude practice

Spend the weekend reflecting on and expressing gratitude. You can fill in a gratitude journal with gratitude prompts, or simply start writing down things that you’re grateful for. Try to come up with at least 5 things to start with. 

Tea tasting

Are you an avid tea drinker? If so, sample various teas and learn about their origins and health benefits. There are hundreds of teas to choose from, such as matcha, fruit teas, and even blue tea. 

Sleep-in weekend

Are you feeling tired? Prioritize rest and allow yourself to sleep in without setting an alarm. There’s nothing wrong with having a lazy day and sometimes it’s the best thing to do if you’re exhausted. 

Adult coloring

Engage in adult coloring books or pages to stimulate creativity and relaxation. You can color intricate pages mindfulness, or opt for easy coloring pages to unwind. 

Pet therapy

Spend quality time with your pets or volunteer at a local animal shelter. Animals bring an insane amount of joy into your life so cuddling with your pup, cat, or other pet, can be just the thing to warm your soul. 

Sound bath

Attend a sound bath session or create one at home using singing bowls, gongs, or chimes. These are becoming more popular since they can help you to unwind and promote your spiritual well-being. 

Stargazing

Spend an evening stargazing, either with a telescope or just the naked eye. There are even apps for tracking stars where you reside so see which ones you can identify. 

Decluttering

Dedicate your self care weekend to decluttering your space and donating or recycling unwanted items. This is one of my favorite things to do to feel refreshed. If you’re looking to make money, you can sell your unwanted items on eBay or a selling app. 

What Are The Benefits of A Self Care Long Weekend?

Having a self-care long weekend boasts an incredible number of benefits for your mind and body. 

By dedicating time to focus on yourself, you may experience:

  • Stress reduction. Taking a break from daily responsibilities and engaging in self-care activities can help lower stress levels and promote relaxation.
  • Improved mental health. A self-care weekend allows you to prioritize your emotional well-being, potentially reducing anxiety and depression symptoms and increasing overall happiness.
  • Better sleep. Unwinding and disconnecting from the daily stress of life can improve sleep quality and help you establish a healthier sleep routine.
  • Enhanced focus and productivity. By taking a break to recharge, you may return to your daily tasks with increased focus, motivation, and productivity.
  • Emotional regulation. Self-care activities like journaling, meditation, and creative expression can help you process emotions and improve self-awareness.
  • Personal growth. A self-care weekend can provide the opportunity to explore new hobbies, skills, or experiences, promoting personal growth and self-discovery.
  • Increased self-compassion. By dedicating time to self-care, you reinforce the importance of self-compassion and self-love, which can boost self-esteem and self-worth.

Self care weekend quotes

Here are five self-care weekend quotes to inspire and motivate you. 

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamott

“Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean ‘me first,’ it means ‘me too.'” – L.R. Knost

 “The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” – Sydney J. Harris

“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.” – Katie Reed

“Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” – Ralph Marston

Use The Ideas to Inspire Your Self Care Weekend

Prioritizing your self-care during weekends is essential for maintaining a healthy work life balance. 

A self care weekend filled with a variety of self-care activities can cultivate a deeper connection with yourself, improve your mental, emotional, and physical health, and promote a sense of fulfillment and contentment.

As you explore and experiment with the self-care weekend ideas shared here, remember that self-care is a necessity for living a balanced and thriving life. So, give yourself permission to unwind, and embrace the rejuvenating power of self-care. After all, you deserve it!

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