I dare you to name a better combo than practising self-care on a Sunday.
You’re right… There isn’t one!
Although I believe self-care needs to be a daily practice, I get that this isn’t always going to be realistic.
Besides, there’s nothing quite like recharging at the weekend with a nourishing self-care routine.
Not only will it help boost your overall mood, but it will also help reduce any anxiety you feel about a new week as your focus is on all the things that bring you joy.
Whether that is going on a long walk in nature or reading your favourite fiction book, self-care is essential when it comes to beating the Monday Blues.
I know it’s super tempting to stay in bed all day and binge-watch Gilmore Girls, but this is not doing anything for your self-esteem or mental health.
Take it from someone who’s been there: you don’t want to waste your Sunday in bed because come Monday, you’ll feel even worse than you did before.
So get up, get ready, make plans with friends, go see your loved ones or take yourself out on a solo date. And if you would rather stay home, then spend the day engaging in a worthwhile activity like scrapbooking, reading, drawing or painting than watching TV.
Here are 101 self-care ideas to help you ditch the weekend blues and make the most of your Sunday.
What I love most about Sunday self-care
I’ve very much been in reset, reflect, refocus and recharge mode this month.
Part of me feels guilty for taking so much time off my business, but another part of me says I really needed this.
In 2021, I wrote a blog post about self-care, and I quote, “Summer becomes this in-between season where we can take a breather, recharge our batteries, and realign ourselves.”
This reminds me that some things never change. No matter how much I’m committed to becoming the best version of myself, I still need to go back to basics. And that has meant rest.
To rest physically.
To rest mentally.
To rest socially.
For me, this has mainly looked like spending my weekends at the beach, drinking Aperol Spritz and hanging out with family.
But it has also looked like reading non-stop fiction books and reflecting on my year so far.
And that’s what I love most about Sunday self-care. It can be anything you want it to be. As long as it leaves you feeling positive and excited for the week ahead, you’re doing it right.
How to build a Sunday self-care routine
Here’s your quick step-by-step guide on how to build a self-care routine to work for you:
1 | Set your intention
What is the goal of your Sunday self-care routine?
Is it to spend more time alone, learn to be more present or allow yourself to decompress after a stressful and busy week?
Once you establish your intention, you will find it much easier to stick to self-care, as you’re laying the foundations and building your routine for the right reasons.
2 | Write a master list of feel-good activities
One of the most effective things you can do when building a self-care routine is to get clear on what you actually enjoy doing.
So brain-dump all the activities you can think of that light you up inside.
Focus on writing down at least 10-15 activities. Use the list below for inspiration.
3 | Focus on your needs
Self-care isn’t always about hot baths and pampering.
It’s about human needs.
When you focus on your needs first, you can intentionally choose an activity that directly addresses those needs rather than indulging in a random activity you won’t benefit from.
So, when writing your master list, make sure you pay close attention to your needs.
4 | Schedule 1-3 activities
Self-care doesn’t need to be an all-day event to be effective. It can be as simple as 10 minutes of me-time. So focus on doing just 1-3 things.
5 | Establish self-care reminders
Don’t underestimate the power of reminders.
You’re more likely to do something if you have a trigger to prompt you. So set an alarm at the time when you’re most available during the day and say to yourself, “Ok, it’s time for a self-care break!”
The only list you need: 101 self-care ideas for your Sunday
From making your own face mask to doing a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle and baking blueberry muffins, here are 101 self-care ideas to make the most of your Sundays.
And just so you’re clear, this post is for inspiration only. You don’t need to add every single activity to your Sunday self-care routine.
Choose just 1-3 activities from the list below and find a gap in your day to schedule them in.
I encourage you to bookmark this blog post so you can refer back to it whenever you need to.
Creative self-care ideas for Sundays
- Create a vision board for the month, season or year
- Write a love letter to your future self
- Scrapbook old holiday or travel snaps
- Put together a comfort or memory box
- Build your own self-care kit full of essential tools that allow you to feel joy and comfort
- Make your own beach-inspired jewellery
- Colour in a page from an adult colouring book
- Make your own soy candles using seasonal scents
- DIY your own body scrub or face mask using natural ingredients
- Learn how to knit
- Sew any items of clothing that have holes or need a spruce
- Write a short story or poem
- Paint by numbers or go free-hand
- Play around with watercolours
- Sketch
- Co-ordinate your bookshelf from A to Z
- Make a homemade pizza with fresh veggies
- Make your own food recipe using ingredients you already have
- Learn how to use Canva
- Start a passion project
Productive self-care ideas for Sundays
- Read Stay & Slay; How To Beat Burnout Without Quitting Your Job
- Learn a new skill or language
- Watch a documentary
- Practice gratitude by answering 2-3 of these journal prompts
- Start an online course on an interesting topic
- Map out your core values using this step-by-step guide
- Play a game of chess
- Tidy your room and living spaces
- Change your bedsheets and towels
- Explore your Ikigai
- Look for new job openings if you’re feeling stuck with your current 9 to 5
- Read your favourite non-fiction book
- Set personal intentions for the week ahead
- Choose 2-3 of these journal prompts and reflect on your wins from the past week
- Listen to a podcast
- Listen to an audiobook
- Catch up on your favourite blog during your morning coffee break
- Empty your inbox
- Draft an email to your boss communicating your needs or boundaries
- Meal prep for the upcoming week
- Get started with a productivity tool like Notion
- Detox from social media for a few hours
- Dive into The Weekly Debrief
Relaxing self-care ideas for Sundays
- Watch the sunrise
- Don’t set an alarm and wake up naturally
- Do a crossword puzzle or word search in bed
- Put your legs up the wall and wiggle those toes
- Come up with your own gentle yoga flow
- Practice meditation
- Do the 4-4-4-4 box breathing exercise
- Plant your feet on the floor, squeeze your toes, open the windows and say, “Today is going to be a great day.”
- Have an invigorating cold shower
- Take a nap
- Read your favourite historical fiction book
- Run yourself a warm bath, pour a glass of wine and play some chilled jazz as you soak
- Exfoliate and stimulate your skin with dry brushing
- Moisturise your entire body from top to bottom with coconut oil
- Use CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask and rehydrate your skin
- Take a 5-mins self-love break! Check in with yourself to see how you are feeling. Reflect on what currently feels good and what feels off. And think about the small steps you can take to make the rest of your day 1% better
- Declutter your wardrobe
- Spring clean your mental, physical and digital spaces
- Read through one of these trending blog posts
- Sit and do nothing
Playful self-care ideas for Sundays
- Write a bucket list of self-care activities for the upcoming week
- Plan your next trip abroad
- Or just book a flight to somewhere tropical
- Host an indoor girly picnic
- Tuck into a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle
- Have a board game marathon
- Learn to play a musical instrument
- Put on some cheesy 90s music and have a dance party
- Get dressed up and watch the Taylor Swift Era’s Tour at home
- Create a feel-good Sunday music playlist
- Go online book shopping for your summer beach reads
- Declutter your desktop by using an organiser
- Spend quality time in the evening with your family, loved one or by yourself (aka put your phone away)
- Write a letter to a friend and send it in the morning post
- Make some popcorn and watch a classic movie
- Build an indoor fort and have a movie marathon — Lord of the Rings anyone?
- Give yourself an at-home manicure and pedicure
- Make a homemade smoothie or juice with fresh fruits and vegetables
- Bake some blueberry muffins
- Have a good old belly laugh
Outdoor self-care ideas for Sundays
- Head on a solo date
- Spend the day at the beach drinking Aperol Spritz
- Visit a museum or art gallery for the day on foot
- Rent a bicycle and go for a ride
- If it’s been raining, put on your wellies and splash in the puddles
- Go on an extra-long walk in nature
- Head to the park and feed the ducks
- Swim in the sea or other natural body of water
- Expose yourself to the sun for at least 20 minutes
- Practice a few gentle Tai Chi movements outdoors
- Do a few rounds of sun salutations outside
- Go for a scenic drive
- Attend your local farmer’s market and try the fresh produce
- Spend the day at a cosy pub and relax by the fire with a good book
- Hang out in your favourite coffee shop all day and people-watch
- Go on a barefoot walk along the beach
- Or if you don’t live by the coast, go barefoot on the grass and squeeze your toes
- Visit a botanical garden or local nature reserve
- Go on a solo picnic
- Treat yourself to a spa day
Save these ideas on Pinterest for later
Final thoughts
There are endless self-care activities which will leave you feeling good on a Sunday.
101 of which are listed above. So, there is no excuse for spending the day wallowing in bed wishing you were on a tropical island.
Creating a life you love doesn’t just mean having the freedom to travel long-term.
It’s building a daily routine that excites and motivates you to wake up (even on a Monday).
It’s adopting healthy habits that align with the best version of yourself.
It’s having a self-care routine that you can turn to in times of need and nourishment.
I encourage you to bookmark this blog post so you can refer back to it whenever you need to.
And just like with all of my frameworks and tips, I suggest testing out these self-care Sunday ideas first before fully committing to them.
The trick is to find out what works for you.
Put together a tracker to help you visually see which self-care ideas you enjoyed and which ones you wouldn’t do again. Rate each ritual out of 5 stars and ask yourself, “How did this activity make me feel?”
Yes, a Sunday self-care routine can set you up for a more positive week but you never want it to feel like a chore. Otherwise, what’s the point?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to building a self-care routine so choose rituals that you actually need and enjoy. Not because everyone else is doing them.
Do what feels good for you, always.
You’ve got this,
Thalia xx
