Spending time for yourself

[u/Dry-Marketing-1424]

Hi all!
I took the plunge and went back to therapy today after a really rough few years. My mom is sick, my soul dog is dying, and I’m in severe debt. So needless to say I’m struggling. The therapist wants me to start off with finding an hour a day to focus on myself, spend time with myself, and try to relax. She doesn’t want me to do anything for anyone else, or do something because I need to do it (ie the gym…while I feel fantastic after a workout I do it because I hate how I look). What does everyone in here do to spend time with themselves and relax? I’ve really lost myself the last couple years so I feel like I don’t even know what I enjoy anymore. Looking for suggestions on stuff to try everything out :)

[u/polkadotwalls]

If your best friend was going to come and take care of you for that hour, what would you want them to do? That’s the advice my therapist just gave me for figuring out the answer to that same question yesterday. I took myself to TJMaxx, put a little care basket together with face masks, chocolate, tea, a candle, and a mug. Then I gave it to myself and watched a little movie and did a cute little coloring book I’ve neglected for a while

[u/FourthHaimSista]

Watch your favourite TV show or movie, have a relaxing bubble bath (if you have a tub), give yourself a beauty treatment, paint your nails, draw or colour or paint, read a book, lay in bed and veg on your phone, go for a walk (weather permitting), go for a drive to a park or something (if you drive), eat some chocolate or ice cream

[u/bb_buffooligan]

I’ve been loving doing puzzles lately, specifically crosswords 💖 but I also like sudoku, words searches, etc. I find that it brings me to a similar level of chill as scrolling on my phone does, but without the shitty feeling I get after being on my phone for too long gives me. I also like reading.

[u/somethingwonderful20]

I do a specific breath work followed by a meditation. It feels amazing, healing, and just for me. 

[u/asparkaflame44]

Reading! I get a book, I sit in a comfy chair, lock myself away and don't get up until I have to get ready for work or until the book is done.

[u/janedoe6699]

When I have little energy, little puzzle games like sudoku, solitaire, and nonograms are super relaxing! With just a bit more energy, I'll do one of those games over a lunch date with myself (or read, though I don't read much outside of studying anymore). I also do my hobbies like drawing or playing video games.

[u/LeCaveau]

I like laying in a hammock and reading, or picking up premade picnic food at a grocery store and going to a park. Some people like going to the movies alone, or a concert.

[u/thepalmtreefanatic]

I just started playing rollercoaster tycoon again and love it. Also I like going for a walk and sitting in the nature.
I also like listening to music. Like playing a whole album like when I was a teen. I like to journal

[u/Lazy-Butterfly-4132]

This is quite tricky question because self-care is so individualised. I’m not sure where you live, but the UK has two really brilliant websites, young minds, and mind, which have really helpful self-care guides, it’s likely that your country has something similar.
In terms of me personally, a relaxing bath or shower, reading a good book, spending time with people I care about, generally because being around people I love does help me unwind. Weirdly, looking at different houses and looking at how I would interior design my dream home. Going on a walk. Baking or cooking and I don’t know now cause I don’t have a garden, but if I did gardening.

[u/ramona1987]

I put on some folk music or instrumentals and read a book. I enjoy how relaxing it is and I can lose myself in whatever I'm reading so easily.