Self-Care Basics
Taking a few slow, deep breaths can calm your nervous system and help you stay present in the moment.
What is deep breathing?
Writing your thoughts and feelings in a notebook can help you process emotions; it’s called this.
What is journaling?
Talking to this kind of licensed professional can help you learn coping skills and process emotions.
What is a therapist (or counselor)?
Gentle movement practices like yoga, stretching, or tai chi can help regulate this stress response system.
What is the nervous system (or stress response)?
Reminding yourself “It’s okay not to be okay” is a way of showing this toward yourself.
What is self-compassion?
This daily habit helps regulate your mood and energy levels by giving your body needed rest.
What is sleep?
This grounding technique asks you to name 5 things you see, 4 you touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, and 1 you taste.
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique?
Reaching out to a friend, family member, or counselor when struggling is an example of this healthy action.
What is asking for help (or seeking support)?
Getting outside and spending time among trees or in nature is often referred to as this calming practice.
What is forest bathing (or nature therapy)?
Taking a shower, brushing your teeth, or changing clothes can be a form of this small but powerful act.
What is basic self-care?
Drinking enough of this can improve focus, energy, and even emotional regulation.
What is water?
Listening to music, taking a walk, or calling a friend are examples of these positive coping mechanisms.
What are healthy coping strategies?
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or suicidal crisis, you can call or text this 3-digit number in the U.S.
What is 988?
Eating balanced meals with regular timing can help stabilize these—important for both mood and energy.
What are blood sugar levels?
Sometimes, the best thing to do is rest—because this kind of fatigue often comes with emotional strain.
What is mental exhaustion (or emotional fatigue)?
Setting aside time to do something you enjoy—just for you—is an example of this kind of care.
What is self-care?
This kind of meditation focuses on being aware of your thoughts and sensations without judgment.
What is mindfulness?
This type of therapy focuses on challenging negative thought patterns and replacing them with realistic ones.
What is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)?
When your body signals that it’s tired, hungry, or tense, tuning in and responding is called listening to this.
What is listening to your body?
If you’re overwhelmed, naming your feelings out loud or writing them down helps you do this—acknowledge them.
What is identifying your emotions?
Limiting doomscrolling or social media use when you’re feeling low is a way of protecting this personal resource.
What is your mental energy (or mental health)?
Breaking large tasks into smaller, manageable steps is a common way to fight this overwhelming feeling.
What is stress (or overwhelm)?
Asking for a “mental health day” at work or school is a way of setting this important boundary.
What is a personal boundary?
Practices like gratitude journaling and positive affirmations help retrain this part of your mind to notice the good.
What is your mindset (or thought patterns)?
Instead of pushing through, giving yourself permission to rest and recover is practicing this balance between doing and being.
What is self-acceptance (or self-kindness)?