Flossing is self care? I group that under "maintenance". It's the same level as going to the bathroom, washing your hands, etc. Self care, to me, is taking time that could be "productive" or doing something required and instead going for a walk or reading a book. It's a positive act that's not self damaging. Eating too much ice cream is not self care, but a bite might be.

yes i am jelking off constantly

Lazy self-care taker here! I could not resolve myself to make much time for self care so i just built in a few things in my daily routine: walk my 10k steps a day to get some alone time & reflect, slow down my life rythm by avoiding to run from one thing to the next and focus on things i like, increase the amount of sport i do (outside in nature as opposed to a gym (or indoors) that looks like a soulless beton cage), eat better and healthier, drink less, i have now a personal assistant in my phone to scribble down anything (memos, tasks, ideas, thoughts...) so as to not clog my head with things 'i have to remember', re-focus on beneficial friendships, etc...

Pretty much the same as you, but I do yoga instead of qigong. Plus I focus a lot on diet and nutrition and try to make sure I'm getting everything I need, whilst trying to minimise or avoid things that are bad for you, like processed foods, sugary stuff etc. Bought a Garmin smartwatch and smart scales last year to keep a track of my exercise goals, hydration, HRV, and sleep quality, and that's been real helpful in keeping track of my health.

Also planning to take up some basic martial arts as well; I was looking at kyokushin, but might pick wing chun due to it's practicality / self-defence aspects.

Bonus question: Where else can I post questions besides Ask Lemmy?

You can also post questions on Ask Lemmy's evil twin - !asklemmy@lemmy.world

One of my favorites is to take my dogs to the dog park, then relax under a tree while they run around and read a book. The hardest part is that as soon as I sit down in the grass, all the dogs run over and want pets and to cuddle in my lap.

IMO all forms of taking care of yourself are self care. You have to love yourself before you can offer anything to anybody else.

The effort starts an upward spiral of increasing rewards. You feel better about yourself, people treat you differently, you feel more confident, and the cycle repeats.

Yes, with occasional guided meditations from freemindfulness.org/download (5-15min)

Some very soothing meditations in varied styles. All available for free sharing under Creative Commons CC-by-nc-sa.

Self care is the thing that brings the most joy to my life so it's surprising how easy it is to let it slip. Daily meditation is huge. Being out in the wilderness and sunshine in general. Regular light exercise. Fruit and vegetables. Healthy relationships. Learning and teaching. None of these things are news to anyone. The challenge is to maintain a healthy routine.

Yes, to some extent I do try to maintain.

I try to sleep 7 or 8 hours every night.

I exercise 5 or 6 days a week. 4 yoga, 1 or 2 lifting.

Have a skincare routine night and morning.

I'm older now and think the main things that have kept me in good shape and looking better than I should are mainly just two (not counting taking care of teeth)

1. Don't get fat, stay active.

2. Night cream at bedtime, sunscreen in morning.

Yeah, I mean, I:

• Eat at least three times per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• Exercise three times per week (in the gym, lifting weights)
• Sleep at least 7 or 8 hours per night
• Go outside every day
• Have a skincare routine (although it's not much)
• Brush my teeth twice per day (after breakfast and before going to sleep)

Yes, more by choosing to not partake in harmful activities such as drinking smoking and eating trash

I beat up a heavy bag for a few hours a week but I refuse to cut my hair. What if it gets to a magical length that I no longer have to manage it anymore, that is the dream.

Yes in that I occasionally take a break from online things for my own well being.

I do some self-care things that don't seem huge but really help me feel like I'm on top of things.

For example, I have a skincare routine which is a little time-consuming (about 15 minutes each time) but has really helped take my skin from normal to beautiful. I'm 42 but I don't look my age, and in part that's down to genetics, but also hydration and skin care.

I also see a personal trainer three times a week at my gym for strength training, and even though I hate cardio, I try to incorporate it on my off days.

Nutrition is an important part of self-care for me, and I cook most meals at home. I love going out to eat but the food in most restaurants is so unhealthy and/or high-calorie, which is especially annoying as a short woman. I try to limit myself to about 1450-1500 calories a day, and getting an entrée and a couple of drinks at a restaurant can easily meet my daily calorie limit if I'm not careful.

Also, nail art! I've recently gotten into stamping and it's so much fun, and I get a lot of compliments :)

And I have a strict dog-snuggling schedule, which always brings a smile to my face ;)

In addition to some of the other things mentioned here, I set my alarm early enough that I'm able to take my time getting ready in the morning. Having a little bit of quiet time to myself with a cup of tea really helps set the tone for my day.

Meditation with help from the "Waking Up" app changed my life. I tried some other apps before and they're mostly just about stress relief which doesn't help you grow. This is different.

In addition to some already mentioned, I keep a diary. A couple entries a week. Sometimes to record a feeling, other times just to get a feeling out of my head and on to the page. Sometimes just to feel the subtle joy of making marks on a real page, after a day of hammering keys at the cloud.

Yup, I make a conscious effort to look after myself more now since I burned out from work a while back. I cycle to and from work, journal regularly (I started with Mind Journal and follow that format), walk my dog (and having a dog in general is great for self care). I make time to spend with friends and try to be present in the moment and enjoy the little things. I also make sure I go home on time from work, take my holidays and don't take on more than I can manage.

Yup, I make a conscious effort to look after myself more now since I burned out from work a while back. I cycle to and from work, journal regularly (I started with Mind Journal and follow that format), walk my dog (and having a dog in general is great for self care). I make time to spend with friends and try to be present in the moment and enjoy the little things. I also make sure I go home on time from work, take my holidays and don't take on more than I can manage.