12 Self Care Sunday Ideas to Improve Your Mood

by The Violet Journal
self care sunday ideas

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You’ve been working hard all week, and you deserve a day off. So why not turn this Sunday into a self care Sunday?

Today I want to share my favourite self care Sunday ideas so you can reward yourself for getting through the week, and recharge in time for Monday.

 

What’s a Self Care Sunday?

To me, a self care Sunday is an entire day dedicated to self care. It’s the perfect way to release all the tension and anxiety that’s built up over the week, and prepare yourself for the week ahead.

But really, a self care Sunday is anything you make of it. You may not be able to take a whole Sunday off – perhaps you work 7 days a week or have children to take care of. But you can still do a self care half-a-Sunday – when it comes to self care, anything and everything is better than nothing.

 

How Often Should You do a Self Care Sunday?

I would love to do a self care Sunday every week, because who doesn’t need more self care in their life? It’s a fantastic way to spend your Sundays, and you should definitely consider making it a weekly thing.

But sometimes life gets in the way, and how often you can do a self care Sunday will depend on a lot of factors.

I usually do a self care Sunday every month or so, although it completely depends on my schedule. At the moment I have more free time than usual so I’ve been trying to do one every week, and it’s been fantastic for my mental health.

 

Related: 100 Easy and Free Self Care Ideas

 

self care sunday ideas

 

Try This Self Care Sunday Routine to Wind Down at the End of a Long Week

 

1. Wake up Naturally

If you need to catch up on some sleep, now’s the time to do it.

Switch off your alarm the night before, and let your body wake up when it wants to. Getting enough sleep is one of the best ways to look after yourself, and Sundays are the perfect time to sleep in.

 

2. Eat Breakfast in Bed

Even eating breakfast is an act of self care today. There are few better ways to start a day than bringing your breakfast back to bed with you. Enjoy it!

 

3. Limit Your Time Spent on Social Media

Avoiding social media is one of the most important parts of my self care Sunday routine, although that hasn’t always been the case.

When I first started doing self care Sundays, I refused to give up social media. I was convinced that letting myself scroll social media for a few hours a day was an act of self care.

But now that I’m no longer dependent on it, I can see the negative impacts social media has on my mental health. Social media is home to so much hate and negativity, and while there are so many positive accounts out there, I prefer to just avoid it all together.

 

Related: 6 Chrome Extensions for Social Media Addicts

 

4. Don’t Check Your Emails

Unless you absolutely have to, try not to check your emails. Taking time off from work is so important for your mental health, and you can start by replying to your emails tomorrow.

 

5. Go for a Walk

I like to do some light exercise on a self care Sunday, and taking a walk is the perfect option.

Put on your favourite music or podcast and wander aimlessly for a while. My favourite times to go for a walk are early in the morning or late in the evening, when the sun is low and there are fewer people out in town.

 

6. Read

Reading is a fantastic activity for a self care Sunday. It’s fun, it’s relaxing, and it’s a great way to escape reality for a while.

 

self care sunday ideas

 

7. Play Your Favourite Game

My favourite games change frequently, but at the moment I’m obsessed with Animal Crossing New Horizons. It’s a super relaxing way to spend your Sundays – and Sundays are turnip days!

 

8. Treat Yourself

One of my favourite ways is to treat myself to a takeaway, but only you will know the best way to treat yourself at the end of a long week.

 

9. See Your Friends or Family

I’m the world’s biggest introvert, so I spend all my self care Sundays alone. As much as I love my friends and family, I need time to myself to recharge.

But if you feel happiest when you’re with other people, then you may want to schedule in time to spend with friends or family. It’s completely up to you!

 

10. Take a Long Bath or Shower

Running myself a bubble bath is one of my favourite ways to end a week. I like to light some scented candles and just relax for a while.

If you don’t have a bathtub, then a hot shower is always nice, too. Try adding some essential oils to the floor of your shower for an even better experience – I like lavender oil!

 

11. Stretch

Stretching your muscles is one of the best feelings, especially at the end of a long week. Spend half an hour stretching before bed and you’ll feel relaxed and ready for the week ahead.

 

12. Get an Early Night

My bed is my happy place, so I always like to get into bed early. On top of that, getting a good night’s rest will set your next week off to a good start.

You don’t have to fall asleep straight away – I like to get into bed early and read a book until I fall asleep.

 

Read Next: 100 Easy and Free Self Care Ideas

 

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12 comments

Jenn July 16, 2020 - 2:27 am

I need to find some new games to play honestly. I miss playing them. My favorite was Spyro but I haven’t found anything other than Ratchet and Clank to be along the same lines. Awesome post though!

Reply
The Violet Journal July 16, 2020 - 6:54 pm

I never played Spyro as a child 😭 But it looks like a game I would absolutely love and I’ve been meaning to pick up the Reignited Trilogy for a while now. It might be the next game I buy!

Reply
The Queensights July 16, 2020 - 8:35 am

Weekends are the best days to really relax and have time for yourself. Thanks for recommending ideas!

Reply
The Violet Journal July 16, 2020 - 6:57 pm

I completely agree!

Reply
Michelle July 17, 2020 - 6:45 am

I am loving this post! My self care time is usually Thursday evenings because it’s the only time I’m home alone and everything is peaceful! I usually like to do yoga, have a long hot bath, read or just sit out in the garden.

Reply
The Violet Journal July 18, 2020 - 9:04 am

This sounds perfect to me! I’ve only just gotten into stretching and yoga but now it’s one of my favourite ways to practise self care.

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Kate at lovemyanxiousbrain.com July 17, 2020 - 7:13 am

These are lovely ideas! I don’t have a bathtub so I love the essential oils in the shower idea – I’d never have thought of doing that! And taking a break from social media is so, so important. As much as I love Twitter, the trending hashtags tend to be headache-inducing!! Thanks for sharing this x

Reply
The Violet Journal July 18, 2020 - 9:04 am

I don’t use Twitter anymore but I had such a love-hate relationship with it. I loved interacting with my followers but I always got so tense and anxious when I read through the trending hashtags.

Reply
Paige Eades July 17, 2020 - 10:44 am

These are some great ideas! I love using Sunday as a day to unwind and relax after a long week, and get yourself ready for the next one ahead. Thank you for sharing this, Rhi!

Paige // Paige Eades

Reply
Tarryn Leigh July 17, 2020 - 7:56 pm

These are such great ideas and I think I need a self-care Sunday this weekend! 🙂 xx

Reply
Mish July 22, 2020 - 3:49 am

I have such a love/hate relationship with Sunday’s. I love doing self care but also that means that it’s a beginning of a new crazy week.
Love these ideas to wind down though!

Mish | https://latteswithmish.com

Reply
The Violet Journal July 23, 2020 - 2:11 pm

This is too real!

Reply

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