For the longest time, I thought self-care had to be this big, aesthetic, perfectly curated thing—spa days, expensive skincare routines, journaling with a candlelit ambiance, the whole works. And sure, those things are nice (if you have the time and money), but I’ve realized that the real shift in my self-care journey happened when I started appreciating the small things.
Like actually sitting down with my cup of tea instead of chugging it while running out the door. Or taking a slow walk and letting myself admire the trees instead of power-walking like I’m training for an Olympic speed-walking event. Just slowing down a little has made such a difference.
Turns out, self-care isn’t about creating a picture-perfect routine—it’s about making the little moments count.
The Small Acts of Self-Care That Keep Me Grounded
1. Slow Mornings & a Cup of Tea ☕
I am not one of those people who jumps out of bed with boundless energy (who are they and what do they eat?). But waking up early and having a slow, peaceful start to my day makes all the difference. There’s something about those quiet moments—before my phone starts buzzing, before the world starts demanding things from me—that just feels right.
Most mornings, I make myself a cup of tea and actually enjoy it. Sometimes, if I’m feeling fancy, I’ll make matcha. There’s something therapeutic about the whole process—whisking it, watching the froth form, pretending I’m a matcha-making expert when, in reality, half the time I spill it. But that first sip? Hits the spot.
Also, making my bed? Weirdly satisfying. Instantly makes me feel like I have my life together, even if everything else is a mess.
2. Adjusting My Energy Levels Instead of Pushing Through
Let’s be real—I do not wake up every day feeling like I could conquer the world. Some days, just existing takes effort. And in the past, I used to beat myself up about not being as productive as I thought I should be. But I’ve finally learned (well, learning) that it’s okay to adjust what my 100% looks like each day.
If I don’t have the energy for a workout? I do some light stretches. If cooking feels like too much? I grab a batch-cooked meal from the freezer (past me really comes through in these moments). Self-care shouldn’t feel like another task—it should meet you where you are.
And let’s be real, forcing yourself to “push through” exhaustion never ends well. It usually results in me lying face-down on my bed, dramatically questioning my life choices.
3. Decluttering My Space, Decluttering My Mind
I never used to think of tidying up as self-care. I always saw it as a chore, something I had to do. But honestly? When my space is messy, my brain feels messy too.
So, I’ve started looking at it differently. Tidying up a little corner of my room = instant mental clarity. It’s not about deep cleaning every surface like I’m about to invite people over for an open-house showing—it’s just about making my space feel good.
Also, there’s something deeply satisfying about lighting a candle in a clean(ish) room. Like, who is she? A put-together adult? Love that for me.
4. Taking Breaks Without Guilt
For the longest time, I associated taking breaks with being lazy. I felt like if I wasn’t doing something productive, I was slacking. And honestly? That mindset still creeps in sometimes. But I’ve realized that stepping away for a few minutes actually helps me come back feeling refreshed and ready to go.
Sometimes that means making a cup of tea, lying down for a bit, or just distracting myself with a funny video (cue me deep-diving into an absurdly specific niche of YouTube). Other times, it’s stepping outside for some fresh air and just… existing for a moment. Highly recommend.
Breaks aren’t “wasting time”—they’re reset buttons. And we all need those.
5. Finding Comfort in Music & Books
When I need a reset, music is my go-to. If I need to calm my mind, I’ll put on something soft and instrumental. If I need a boost, I’ll blast an absolute banger that hypes me up. There is no in-between.
I also love getting lost in a book, though that can be dangerous because once I pick one up, there’s a high chance I won’t put it down again. Suddenly, it’s three hours later, I’ve ignored all responsibilities, and I’m fully invested in fictional drama. But hey, sometimes that’s the reset I need.
Making Self-Care Simple
If you feel like you don’t have time for self-care, start small. Pick something you already do and make it more intentional.
💡 Romanticize your own life. If you drink tea or coffee, actually sit and enjoy it instead of rushing. If you go for a short walk, take in the surroundings instead of just getting from point A to B.
Self-care doesn’t always mean adding something new to your routine. Sometimes, it’s just about appreciating what’s already there.
✨ What’s one small act of self-care that makes a difference in your day? Let me know—I love adding new things to my life-in-progress routine. 😊
One response to “Little Acts of Self-Care That Keep Me Grounded”
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Thank you so much for sharing this! This post made me see self-care from a totally different angle. All these five options of self-care are sooooooo good and I will stert using them.
- Starting the day slow with a cup of tea sounds so nice that I’ll try it out tomorrow. I can already imagine myself sitting outside on my terrace with some tea. But to do that I have to wake up on the right time for once. What should I tell myself to get out of bed in the morning?
- Adjusting to my energy levels is new to me, because I haven’t paid close attention to my energy and I always want to do the things I need to do and when I can’t seem to be able to do them (lack of motivation or energy) then I b eat myself up for it and just feel very down.
- Thinking of decluttering as an act of self-care is brilliant! Reading this I found myself looking around my room thinking what areas need decluttering and how I can do it. And I got myself thinking that I need to clean my kitchen more, because when my kitchen is clean I feel so so so much better.
- “I felt like if I wasn’t doing something productive, I was slacking.” resonates with me so much. I always think that too, but I try to change that. I need to tell myself that taking breaks is okay and after a break I can come back stronger.
- I love books and music! And I feel you, when I pick up a book, I don’t want to put it down either. It’s just so great to get lost in a fictional world and it’s worries and forget about my own worries for a minute. As for music, I listen to it every day and I always have to sing or dance along if I know the words or the dance. I just can’t seem to be able to sit still with my mouth shut when I hear good music, it’s like music is part of who I am.
Thank you for this post!
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