Ever followed all the self-care trends perfectly…only to feel just as drained as before? Self-care isn’t always candlelit baths and green smoothies. Sometimes, it’s eating cold pizza for breakfast in your pajamas, ugly-crying to a 2010s throwback playlist, or ghosting your own to-do list. (No regrets.)
In a world where ‘self-care’ has been hijacked by luxury spas and LED-lit #ThatGirl routines, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing if your version doesn’t involve jade rollers or a 5 AM Pilates habit.
But here’s the 2025 reality check: Real self-care practices aren’t pretty. They’re the guilt-free, unphotogenic, ‘wait, that counts?!’ moments that actually keep us alive in this chaos.
So if your idea of ‘how to practice self-care’ is more ‘nap on the couch’ than ‘namaste in Bali,’ you’re doing it right. Let’s dive into 10 real-life ways to care for yourself — no performative wellness required.
10 Best Self-Care Practices That Nobody Talks About
When it comes to self-care practices, most advice feels more like another chore than an actual solution. True self-care isn’t about optimization or aesthetics. It’s about honoring your humanity — especially when you’re running on empty.
If you’re tired of “wellness” that just stresses you out more, these alternatives offer the best practices for self-care that truly restore your mind, body, and spirit.
Here are 10 ways to practice self-care that nobody talks about — but everyone desperately needs.
1. 🛌 Taking a “Nothing Day” Once a Month
First and foremost, block out an entire day where you plan absolutely nothing.
No appointments. No chores. No errands. Most importantly — no guilt.
In a world that glorifies constant productivity, allowing yourself a day of total rest helps your nervous system reset.
Let your body and brain recalibrate without the pressure to achieve anything. You are allowed to simply exist — and that, too, is enough.
2. 🪟 Choosing Boredom Over Mindless Scrolling
Instead of immediately reaching for TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube during every spare moment, make the conscious choice to be bored.
Stare out the window. Lay on the carpet. Listen to the world hum around you.
Interestingly, a 2024 study found that intentional boredom reduced anxiety levels even more than forced meditation.
Pro tip: Next time you’re waiting in line, resist the urge to grab your phone. Let your mind wander instead — it’s brain food.
3. 🎨 Letting Yourself Be Mediocre at Hobbies You Love
Too often, we turn hobbies into “hustles” or “content opportunities.” However, not everything needs to be mastered or monetized.
Sing off-key. Paint outside the lines. Dance like nobody’s watching (because they aren’t).
When you stop pressuring yourself to be “good” at something, you rediscover the simple joy of creation.
One of the best practices for self-care is reclaiming activities that bring you joy without expectation.
4. 🌧️ Not Forcing Gratitude When You’re Actually Grieving
Of course, gratitude is powerful — but it shouldn’t be weaponized against your pain.
If gratitude lists feel hollow while you’re grieving, honor that.
Grief and gratitude can coexist without canceling each other out.
Real self-care means giving yourself permission to feel deep sadness without forcing “positive vibes only.”
5. 🚶♀️ Taking Action Before You Feel 100% Ready
It’s tempting to wait for perfect motivation or unshakable confidence. However, waiting often keeps us stuck.
Instead, start moving — even while feeling scared, messy, or unsure.
Taking tiny, imperfect steps toward healing or growth honors your future self far more than waiting does.
Learning how to practice self-care includes embracing imperfect, courageous action.
6. 🛝 Letting Yourself Do Something Childlike
Play isn’t just for kids — it’s medicine for the soul.
Draw with sidewalk chalk. Swing at the park. Blow bubbles in the backyard.
These simple, playful acts reconnect you to joy and curiosity — parts of yourself that adulthood often tries to harden.
7. 🕰️ Doing a 5-Minute Room Reset (Not a Full Deep Clean)
Perfectionism whispers, “If you can’t do it perfectly, don’t do it at all.” Real self-care offers a different path.
Set a timer for just 5 minutes. Pick up clothes. Wipe your desk. Light a candle.
Small resets clear your mental fog without adding more to your to-do list.
If you’re wondering how to practice self-care without feeling overwhelmed, this is your answer.
8. 📱 Letting Some Texts Stay Unanswered a Little Longer
Here’s the truth: You are not obligated to be instantly available to everyone.
Allow yourself to respond to messages when you genuinely have the mental and emotional space — not just out of guilt or obligation.
Protecting your time and energy is not rude; it’s an essential form of self-respect.
Setting boundaries is one of the most important best practices for self-care.
9. 🧡 Practicing the “Low-Stakes Secret”
In a world obsessed with sharing everything, start something purely for yourself — and keep it private.
Learn a song on guitar. Write a silly poem. Bake a new recipe just because.
No posting. No tracking. No explaining.
This practice strengthens your inner sense of worth — reminding you that your value isn’t dependent on applause. It might feel strange at first, but try it!
10. 🚫 Setting the “I’m Not Your Therapist” Boundary
Finally, one of the kindest things you can do for yourself is to stop being everyone else’s emotional sponge.
When a friend dumps heavy emotions on you, it’s okay to lovingly say: “That sounds really hard. Have you considered talking to someone professionally?”
You are not heartless for needing to protect your emotional capacity. In fact, it’s a survival skill — and a critical piece of practicing self-care long-term.
Final Thoughts: Your Self-Care Is Sacred
Real self-care is not about being perfect — it’s about being present with yourself, moment by moment.
These self-care practices aren’t glamorous, but they are life-giving. When you begin to redefine how to practice self-care through compassion, boundaries, rest, and play, you honor the deepest parts of who you are.
If you’re searching for the best practices for self-care that actually fill you up (instead of draining you further), start small. Choose just one or two ideas from this list of 10 ways to practice self-care and gently weave them into your week. Your future self will thank you — and so will your soul.
Try this today: Pick one unconventional practice and do it imperfectly. Not to ‘fix’ yourself, but to remember: you are worth caring for, even when it’s messy.
Want to go deeper? Here’s what I genuinely recommend:
- 📚 [Book: “The Art of Enough” by Becky Hall] (for ditching perfectionism)
- 🎧 [Free Kindle Unlimited: “The Art of Going SLOW: How to Simplify Your Life, Calm Your Mind, and Focus on What Truly Matters to You!”](listen while staring at the wall—it counts!)
- 🛋️ Wrap yourself in comfort: This Oversized Sherpa Hoodie is my actual go-to for ‘Nothing Days’—like being hugged by a cloud without the pressure of human interaction.
Tag me @grittograce with your messy, real self-care moments—I’ll reshare my favorites! Because the world needs less #ThatGirl and more ‘This Human’ energy.“
If you want even more read about How to Heal from Trauma without Therapy Here.
Risa
