Pleasurable activities and ways to be kind to yourself

[UpOnDown]

Hi all,

I'm trying to make a list of pleasurable activities,and ways to be kind to myself.

So far I have:

hot squash/hot choc, dvd, audiobooks, music, early bed to read, hot water bottle, chat with friends/family, jelly/mini-cravings, go into town to look around, computer games, knitting...

What would you add to this list?

[purpletamsin]

Are you near any water? I find sitting by a river or the sea very relaxing and helps to clear my mind of stresses, if only for a short time.

Listening to music and singing along - even if you don't know the words/don't have a great singing voice.

[Hopelass]

I have a nice long bath to relax. Good if you're a bath person!

[ItMustBeBedtimeSurely]

Meditation is great. I use the buddhify app, which has loads of guided meditations, some only 5 minutes or so. It's very soothing.

On a similar note, yoga. If you've got access to YouTube, check out yoga with Adrienne - it's very laid back and suitable for beginners.

[patterkiller]

I can't remember where I took this from

[FurryBallLover]

I like to look at birds. I've always liked to look at birds. DF says when I was a toddler, any time I got upset he'd carry me outside and point into the trees and sky, and tell me to look at the birds, and I'd calm down.

[ButEmilylovedhim]

I'd add watching favourite comedies: friends, IT crowd, Friday night dinner for me. Comfortable, familiar and amusing.

I've also got into colouring. I only do it for a bit, but it's relaxing and you've made something colourful and nice to look at, it's permanent and you can add to it.

I like puzzles too. A sense of achievement when you finish one!

[MountainDweller]

Was going to say a walk in the fresh air but it's on the photo above.

Some light gardening, when it gets nicer? I will be pruning my roses soon - actually looking forward to it, I think because for me it's the first big gardening job of the season and reminds me that spring is coming!

Grow some things in pots if no garden! Or just sit outside if sunny.

Manicure/pedicure - at home or professional. Facial or face mask at home?

I find card games on the computer quite a good distraction.

[SnowCurl]

Oh yes, definitely a nice hot bath with a Lush bath bomb! Maybe with a glass of wine and a few squares of chocolate
I've also recently rediscovered Yoga. I used to take the odd class before I had kids but found the relaxation used to make me feel restless. Tried a few classes recently as need something to help me unwind and I can honestly say I've felt really good about myself afterwards xxx

[Wineandchease]

Mindfulness - I really want to get back into it . It helps prevent depression but Iv had a bad do and am struggling a bit . It's catch 22 it's hard to commit to it but when I do I feel better - at the mo I'm just concentrating on relaxing . Watching tv wrapped up in a cosy blanket

[madmomma]

Our local pub serves herb tea and I sometimes meet a friend there on a 'school night' and put the world to rights over teas. It still feels like you're properly 'out in the evening' but there's no hangover or guilt. I love that. A hot bath with a trashy magazine takes some beating as self-care goes. It sounds weird but also I like to just lie completely flat on my front room floor and close my eyes for a few minutes in silence. I feel absurdly rejuvenated by it. I also like to sit in waterstones with a pile of books, skim-read them, then put them back. New lipstick is a brief pick me up, If you're into makeup. Even if it's from the pound range in superdrug it's still a new colour. If you've got a bit of energy, it's nice to take one room, maybe your bedroom or somewhere you can relax, and pimp it for your own pleasure. So tidy and clean, make it smell nice, arrange your favourite books, get some daffs in a vase, light a candle - that sort of thing. Make it really welcoming for yourself.

[Snog]

Madmomma those are great

[Wineandcheases]

I think trying positive self talk is important as well x

[ProudAS]

First and foremost look after yourself. Take note of what lifts your mood.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I occasionally treat myself to a special shower gel, and whenever I use it, I get a bit of a lift.

[mugginsalert]

Good quality scented candles
Beautiful Lego sets
Puzzles and an audiobook together
Baking a cake and eating some when it's warm
Agree with yoga and mindfulness but hard to stay on that wagon!
Reading aloud to my son for longer than we're supposed to on a school night. The rhythm of my own voice and his attention to the story is very soothing.
Folding my clothes and putting them away. It makes me feel all competent and grownup. But only recently possible since I've sorted out my cupboard.

[HPFA]

I enjoy a good jigsaw puzzle! Seems very old fashioned now but I find them very mindful - you can just forget everything in searching out the next piece. Trick is to find the piece size that's right for you - enough to be a bit of a challenge- not so hard that you're reluctant to pick it up. Buying a lovely bunch of flowers, long soak in the bath. Puzzle books also good, but try different ones to find those that suit you.
I guess its just finding things to suit your different moods, sometimes a challenging activity will really help take your mind off things, other times you want pure relaxation.