Self-Soothe Tips
This morning I woke up and was not feeling great. My mood was low and my body was aching. After eating breakfast, I decided to get back in bed. Going back to bed is normally my last resort in terms of lifting my mood but today I just didn’t have it in me to do anything else. After my nap, I didn’t feel much better but felt slightly more energized. That’s when I turned to my self-soothe list.
To self-soothe has many different meanings for different people. For me, it tends to be about lifting my mood when I’m feeling gloomy, but sometimes it’s about reducing anxiety. Whatever self-soothe means to you, it’s a valuable skill to always have available in your toolbox. Here are some self-soothing activities for you to try:
Stretch
The key here is to keep it simple. If I’m having a gloomy day, most of the time telling myself to pull out my yoga mat and do an hour long yoga session will feel too overwhelming and I end up doing nothing at all. Instead, I’m talking stretches that you can do sitting down, laying down, or wherever you are, like these. Don’t worry about reps or for how long, just do what feels good and tell yourself you did a good job afterwards.
Listen to Music
When you’re having a hard time getting out of bed, super irritable, or your stomach is in knots with anxiety, plug in your headphones. I have a self-soothe playlist of songs that are calming and comforting. I also have a playlist with upbeat songs that make me want to get up and move. Whatever you’re in the mood and need for, music is always there to provide assistance.
Draw, Color, Doodle
Get the creative juices flowing and do it without judgment. I have a hard time drawing without criticizing myself so I color in a coloring book. I have found that, for myself, coloring is great mindfulness practice. I tend to find comfort in noticing colors, be it walking the dog or watching a movie, so using colors to create something is almost always soothing for me.
Masturbate
Yes, you read that right. It’s unfortunate that the topic carries such stigma and shame because masturbation and orgasms release “feel-good hormones” that can help you, well, feel good, in both mind and body. Check out this article if you don’t believe me! Get comfortable with yourself, appreciate your body and the amazing things it can do– masturbation really is all about loving yourself and your body.
Cuddle With Your Pet
Schools such as Harvard and Yale have not only done studies on the positive effects of animals as therapy but also provide animal therapy for their students. Much like masturbating, cuddling or even just petting an animal is believed to release serotonin and other “feel-good chemicals” in your brain. Here is just one article on the topic.
Journal
Write it down. Write what you’re thinking or feeling, if you were triggered, your thoughts as they’re coming into your head. Just start writing and pay attention to the feeling or tone of the words that you’re writing. You might find that you’ll come to helpful conclusions or realizations when you start having written conversations with yourself.
Your Favorite Hobby
One of my favorite hobbies is singing. As long as I’m practicing without judgment, singing is always a healing and soothing activity. It requires me to be present and to focus on my breath and body. Whatever your favorite hobby is, do it without judgment, mindfully, and with positive self-feedback.
Keep a List
Have a go-to list of all the self-soothe strategies that have worked for you and even things you want to try. Write it down and hang it on your fridge. Keep it updated and remember to keep it simple and comforting.
*main photo is of McWay Falls in Big Sur, CA- Esselen land
2 Comments
Chloe
Thanks for this! Bookmarking for my next hard day.
Chelsea
Thanks for your comment, Chloe! Hope it helps 🙂