On days that I feel blue things can seem pretty dark even with the bright Arizona sun shining in my windows. Depression usually gives me no warning, but I am getting much better with how I deal with it. Something I use often from my self care tool box is what I call my Top 100 List.
A dear friend and Life Coach Reggie Adams recommended this years ago and I’ve been building on it ever since. It’s a list of things I can do to love and pamper myself. I think she meant for me to look at this list before depression hits, but it doesn’t always work that way.
“The greatest gift that you can give yourself is a little bit of your own attention.”
Anthony J. D’Angelo
Here is my list, which is still a work in progress. Make your own list to remind you of how lovable you are and start pampering yourself. I’d love to hear what’s on your list. I need a few more to reach 100.
- Buy Yourself Flowers
- Do Yoga (even if you only have time for 10 minutes of sun salutations)
- Eat a Healthy Snack (make it pretty and sit down to enjoy it)
- Read a Book (curled up on the couch in your fuzzy red socks)
- Scrapbook (enjoy your photos)
- Write a Letter (maybe even to yourself) then mail it
- Sing Loud and Proud in the Shower or Car
- Take a Long Hot Bath
- Get a manicure/pedicure
- Go for a walk
- Meditate
- Eat dinner/lunch/breakfast with your good china
- Go swimming and get your hair wet
- Go for coffee with a friend
- Call a friend
- Take yourself out to lunch
- Go to lunch with a friend
- Go shopping
- Watch a favorite TV show by yourself
- Listen to Your favorite Playlist
- Write in your favorite journal
- Watch a Movie or go to a movie by yourself
- Find a dog or cat to pet
- Go to a beach
- Get a facial or give yourself one
- Write a poem
- Read Poetry
- Hula-hoop
- Dance like nobody’s watching
- Attend a Retreat
- Get outside and get some fresh air
- Cut pictures from magazine and make a collage
- Paint/draw a picture – get crayons out and have fun
- Go to a gallery and enjoy art
- Buy some bubbles and blow to your heart’s content
- Take a nap
- Make a list of all you are grateful for
- Explore a museum virtually at artsy.net
- Look at your wedding/baby/school album
- Update your screen saver with current photos so you can see them more often
- Cook a comfort meal like pot roast in the crock pot
- Bake some chocolate chip cookies
- Attend a church service
- Buy a new plant for your favorite space in your home
- Add lemon to your water and drink it from a crystal glass
- Play your favorite childhood card game (Go Fish anyone)?
- Read a favorite blog or find one you like
- Make a cup of tea and enjoy it in your favorite cup
- People Watch from your porch or on Main Street USA
- Watch a TED Talk
- Watch old home videos
- Volunteer at a local shelter or Hospice
- Go to the Library
- Put together a puzzle
- Rearrange your furniture
- Diffuse your favorite essential oil
- Put your favorite essential oil on your wrists or the back of your neck or just breathe it in
- Doodle
- Listen to the birds
- Walk a labyrinth
- Make SoulCollage cards
- Read SoulCollage cards
- Write yourself a permission slip to do something you want or be something you desire or to not do something you don’t want to do
- Put on your favorite lipstick
Find out more about Reggie Adams, Life Coach Extraordinaire at Reggie Adams Coaching Academy
Find more ideas for self care at Fuzzy Red Socks