Find out why self-care isn’t just important for individuals, but for families too as we look at Self-Care: Family Style.
Though society may say that self-care is self-indulgent and is more about pampering, we’re not talking about doing family pedicures here. True self-care is essentially caring for the mind, body, and soul with intentionality. This may sound like a lofty goal that can only be done when there is time, when we’re not in a crisis, or just during a different season. And yet, self-care can be practiced by anyone, at any time, despite their current season and is essential for managing difficult times and difficult emotions. Self-care will look different for the new mom than the mom of teenagers. The child with lots of physical energy and the one with physical limitations. The social butterfly and the introvert. Simply put, it may take some modification, but more importantly, the commitment to self-care is what will make it effective for you.
As we dish up ideas Self Care: Family Style, many of the activities listed below may be things you already do. But what if, instead, you did them with the intent of caring for the wellness of your family, as a family. Adding intentionality to these activities opens up opportunities for conversation, self-awareness and personal development, connection, and modeling of self-care practices to manage stressors and challenges to emotional health.
Try doing the following during your family self-care activities:
1. Don’t spend any money
The benefits of self-care to individuals and families do not need to come at a cost. A literal cost. All of the ideas listed below can be done for free. It may challenge you to be a little creative, but what’s bad about that? Nothing. Make it part of the fun.
2. Be present
It’ll hard to ask your teenager in 5 years to put their cell phone away and join the family activity if that’s what they’re seeing you do. Model for your family what you want to see when you spend time together practicing self-care. Put the screens away. Silence the notifications. Write down your to do’s for after the activity so you’re not thinking about them. Notice the sounds on the walk. The smell of the ingredients. Notice the smiles and laughter, and even the grumpy expressions. Speak to what’s going on in the moment. Just focus on being in the here and now.
3. Be Curious
Even Einstein said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Be curious about what your family members are experiencing. Be curious about what’s distracting you from being present (without judgment). Be curious about what’s going on in your child’s brain as they learning something new. This doesn’t mean interrogating everyone incessantly about their experience, but asking open-ended questions that open the doors for sharing.
Below is a list of ideas for families that follow the 6 categories of self-care: physical, emotional, mental/intellectual, spiritual, social, and practical. Check out the free printable of ideas at the bottom of the page.
PHYSICAL SELF-CARE
Go for a walk
Take a nap
Go swimming
Have a dance party
Go for a bike ride
Eat fruits and vegetables
Put the screens away, get outside & move your bodies
Play outdoor games in the backyard or at a park
Do Yoga
Exercise together
Build an obstacle course
EMOTIONAL SELF-CARE
Watch “Inside Out”
Acknowledge and talk about emotions
Practice taking a break or taking some breaths
Journal
Write letters or create a time capsule
Practice patience
Make of poster of positive affirmation
Do imaginative play
Make visions boards (individual or family)
Draw, paint, or do a craft
INTELLECTUAL
Draw/write stories or play “Story Cubes”
Read a book together
Learn about entrepreneurship and money management
Find characters in the clouds
Play a card or board game
Be curious together and learn something new
Do a puzzle
Learn basic phrases in another language
Build something together
SPIRITUAL
Read/act out scriptures
Go on a hike or nature walk
Do a kid-friendly meditation
Talk about who needs our prayers & pray together
Watch scripture story videos
Have quiet time to journal
Create a gratitude jar/wall
SOCIAL/RELATIONAL
Facetime family or friends
Cheer each other on
Plan a donation drive
Host a neighborhood BBQ
Use conversation starter cards at dinnertime
Make cookies & thank you cards for neighbors/friends
Have a bake-off or cooking competition
Write letters to future selves
Do random acts of kindness
Go on a photo scavenger hunt
Create a family motto or a family crest
Have one-on-one or special time
Tell stories about when kids were younger
Look through scrapbooks
Ask “Would you rather” questions
Write letters to each other
PRACTICAL
Keep to a morning and evening routing
De-clutter and donate items
Plant and care or a garden
Plan & eat healthy meals
Simplify
Get FREE printable for family self-care ideas here
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