Self-care is so important to our health and wellbeing, especially during this time of the Covid pandemic and social unrest. How are some ways that we can practice good self-care?

First, it is important to know the history of self-care.

Self-care has deep roots and a radical history that often gets swept under the rug when we start talking about our bubble bath rituals and “me time.”

Martha Tesema – How You Can Honor the Radical History of Self-Care

One of the main ways I practice self-care is with daily mindfulness meditation, and I’ve found some great apps to help with that. My very favorite app is the Shine app. I meditate with the Daily Shine every morning. It is the most interactive app that I’ve found so far. I like that it is inclusive and has a diverse community of practitioners, including a Shine Squad Facebook group. And the Shine blog has so much good stuff in it! Like:

How to Find or Create Your ‘Sacred’ Self-Care Space

Want to Make Self-Care a Routine? Remember ‘BACE’

Why Reflecting On Your Past Self-Care Is So Important

Another good one is the Calm app. Kaiser members can get a free subscription. This app has a Daily Calm meditation and a variety of other meditations and relaxing music.

I’ve recently become aware that playing relaxing music at bedtime helps me fall asleep and actually seems to reduce the number of nightmares I have. I am especially fond of the very relaxing nighttime sleepy music on the Breethe app.

Practicing daily gratitude is also an important part of my self-care. The Gratitude app offers a gratitude journal, daily affirmations, and a new Zen quote every day. I like the option to set recurring reminders to prompt me to think about and log what I am grateful for each day, and I like that I can add photos.

I tend to hold my breath a lot due to stress and anxiety, so I enjoy the MindBell app, because it rings periodically throughout the day to remind me to pause and breathe. Additionally, MindBell can be used as a meditation timer.

What Focusing on the Breath Does to Your Brain

How to Boost—Or Chill—Your Energy With Your Breath

Last, but most definitely not least, is the The Plum Village App, a free app with guided meditations, deep relaxations, and other practices offered by Zen Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh and his monastic community.

Check out The Art of Mindful Living

Other ways I practice self-care are making sure to eat well, get enough sleep, move every day, and maintain a regular routine. Also, I make sure to take mental health days.

Also, check out Greater Good in Action‘s great library of mindfulness, resilience to stress, and other practices for self-care.

How do you practice self-care? Feel free to share your self-care practices in the comments!