Self Care Sunday: Discover What Version Is Best For You

Last Updated on November 22, 2024 by Prissila Murillo

Be part of self care Sunday, a day of the week when you take care of your mental, physical, and overall well-being! Self-care is one of those things everyone talks about like it’s a magic wand. Feeling stressed? Self-care. Burnt out? Self-care. Want to feel like your life is more than just back-to-back meetings and folding laundry? Self-care again. It’s easy to throw the word around, but figuring out what it really means for you? That’s the tricky part. It’s not all face masks and candles (though if that’s your thing, you should totally keep doing just that).

The truth is, self-care is personal—deeply, annoyingly, wonderfully personal. What works for your best friend or coworker might leave you cold. And that’s totally fine. It’s kind of the point. Let’s dig into why finding your own version of self-care is so important, how wildly different it can look from person to person, and how you can figure out what’s going to work best for you. 

Why Personalized Self-Care Matters

Let’s get this out of the way: self-care isn’t selfish. It’s not indulgent, lazy, or weak. It’s survival. Taking care of yourself means you’ll have the energy to show up for the people and things you care about. And when it’s tailored to you, it works better.

Imagine yourself in this scenario: your friend swears by morning yoga. Raves about it. I will not stop telling you about it. Tells you it’s absolutely life-changing. So, you try it, and ten minutes in, you’re lying on the mat thinking about coffee and regretting every decision that led you to that exact point in life. That’s not self-care. That’s just torture.

The problem is, that when we try to copy someone else’s version of self-care, we’re setting ourselves up for failure. Like wearing shoes that are a size too small. Sure, they might look great, but you’re going to hate every second of it and be in agonizing pain. Self-care is supposed to fit. When it fits, it feels good.

How Self-Care Varies Across Different People

Introverts vs. Extroverts

Introverts often need quiet time. Curling up with a book, walking in the woods, or sitting in a coffee shop with headphones on is their idea of heaven. Extroverts? They thrive on connection. A game night, a group fitness class, or even a loud brunch might be the perfect pick-me-up. And sometimes, even an extrovert needs to recharge alone—it’s all about finding the perfect balance.

Physical vs. Mental Recharge

For some, it’s all about movement. Running, stretching, or dancing – works wonders. Others might prefer calming the chaos in their minds. Journaling, painting, or even playing solitaire online can bring a sense of peace. The key is knowing when your body or brain is the one asking for attention.

Structured vs. Unstructured

If you’re a planner, you might love this self care Sunday ritual because you are establishing already a day for this to happen within your agenda! 30 minutes of yoga, followed by herbal tea and a self growth podcast? Yes please! If you’re more go-with-the-flow, you might prefer self-care that happens when it happens, like wandering into a park or baking cookies at midnight just because that’s what you feel like. Both styles are valid—as long as they leave you feeling good afterward.

How To Discover Your Ideal Self-Care Practices

Alright, so how exactly do you figure out what your thing is? It’s not rocket science, but it does take a little trial and error.

Reflect On What Energizes And Depletes You

Here’s a quick exercise you could try: think about your last great day. What were you doing? Who were you with? What made it feel so good? Now flip it. What about the last day that drained every bit of life out of you?

When you look at the patterns, you’ll start to notice what lifts you up and what pulls you down. The activities and people that leave you feeling recharged? Those are your self-care clues.

Experiment With Different Activities

Think of self-care as a giant buffet. You wouldn’t load up your plate with food you don’t like, right? The same goes for this. Try a bit of everything and see what it is that you actually enjoy.

• Maybe it’s something active like a hike or a dance class.
• Or maybe it’s cozy, like watching your favorite movie for the 17th time.
• It could even be something you didn’t expect, like learning to knit or trying that new online game you stumbled across one boring afternoon.

Some things will click. Others won’t. That’s okay. The whole point is figuring out what it is that works for you.

Tune Into Your Senses

Pay attention to what your body likes. Do certain smells make you feel calm? Does the sound of rain help you focus? Perhaps you love the feeling of soft blankets or the taste of a perfect cup of coffee. Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated—it can be as simple as leaning into what makes your senses happy.

Assess Your Current Needs

Self-care isn’t static. What you need now might not be what you needed last year—or even last week. Stressed out? You might need rest. Feeling blah? You might need a little bit of excitement. Pay attention to where you’re at, and don’t be afraid to adjust as you go. Each day, week, month, and year, is completely different, so change things as you need to. 

Establish Boundaries

Sometimes self-care is about saying “no.” No to extra work when your plate is already full. No to plans when you’re too tired to leave the house. No to anything that doesn’t feel right. Protecting your energy is just as important as recharging it. Boundaries will save you from so many moments that don’t bring you joy. Only say yes to the things you actually, really want to do and that make you happy.

Examples Of Self-Care For Different Personalities:

The Busy Professional

Self-care here is about carving out small, meaningful moments. Maybe it’s a 10-minute walk between meetings or taking the time to cook something nice instead of grabbing a takeaway. These little pauses can remind you that life exists outside of deadlines and emails. Even setting boundaries on work hours can be an act of self-care, letting you reclaim your evenings or weekends.

The Caregiver

If you’re always taking care of others, it’s easy to put yourself last. But your self-care matters, too. A long bath, a solo trip to the library, or a quiet cup of tea in the morning can feel like gold. Don’t forget, asking for help when you need it is also a powerful form of self-care. Caregivers often need to hear this: you can’t pour from an empty cup, so fill yours up first.

The Creative Spirit

Creatives often recharge by making something—anything. Painting, writing, baking elaborate cakes just for fun…if it lets you express yourself, it counts. And if you’re stuck? Maybe inspiration looks like taking a break and just doodling for absolutely no real reason. Sometimes, simply observing the world around you—textures, colors, stories—can feel like its own kind of creative self-care.

The Student Or Learner

When your brain’s working overtime, balance is key. Step away from the books. Stretch, watch a funny video, or treat yourself to a good meal. Self-care can be a reset button when you’re hitting that wall. Letting yourself rest when you’re tired or giving yourself permission to take a break can make your focus sharper in the long run.

The Introvert

Self-care for introverts is like a warm hug from solitude. Maybe it’s sitting by the window watching the rain or re-watching your favorite comfort show. Alone time isn’t selfish; it’s sacred. And it doesn’t have to be “productive”—sometimes just staring at the ceiling or listening to music is enough to recharge your soul.

The Extrovert

If you recharge around people, lean into it. Call a friend, plan a dinner party, or go to the social class you’ve been curious about. Connection fuels you, so don’t be afraid to seek it out. Even a simple coffee date with someone you trust can remind you that you’re not alone in the world. Sometimes, self-care for extroverts is about seeking out positive energy and letting it fill you up.

Why It’s Worth The Effort:

This is the part where I tell you self-care is worth it. But you already know that, don’t you? You’ve felt the difference between going through the motions and actually living. Self-care helps with that.

When it’s right for you, it boosts your mood, helps you handle stress, and makes everything feel just a bit brighter. And the best part? It’s not about being perfect. It’s about figuring out what works and doing it—even if it’s messy, imperfect, or looks nothing like anyone else’s version.

What’s truly amazing about self-care is how it ripples out into the rest of your life. When you feel balanced and whole, you show up as a better version of yourself in your relationships, your work, and your passions. It’s like recharging your internal battery—everything else just functions better when you’re running on a full charge.

Final Thoughts:

If you’ve read this blog post all the way to this point, here’s your reminder: self-care is about you. It’s not a Pinterest board or an influencer’s Sunday routine. It’s whatever makes you feel good.

So try stuff. Explore. Fail. Succeed. Laugh at how terrible you are at meditation but realize how much you love cooking with the music at its absolute loudest. Find joy in the small, unexpected moments—like a quiet night making fresh pasta when you’d normally be scrolling aimlessly while eating a takeaway pizza.

Your self-care doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else. It doesn’t even have to make sense to you all the time. As long as it makes you feel like you, you’re doing it right.