It seems like everyone is talking about “self care” these days. At Mindful Supply, we wondered what it might mean to practice self care mindfully.

First, the obvious question: isn’t mindfulness implicit in self care?

It seems to us like it should be, but a quick google search of the term shows a connection between self care and shopping: if you want to center yourself, you need to buy things. From expensive bubble baths, to beauty treatments, to new clothes, self care is something that is quickly commodified. And hey, we’re an apparel company, so we would be lying if we didn’t acknowledge that purchasing something as a treat for yourself doesn’t feel good (and we hope that if you choose to do this, you take a look at our line of Premium and Everyday stuff)!

But mindful self care, as we see it, is focused on the inside out. Instead of putting the focus on external actions, including buying things, we see mindful self care as internal and intuitive. It’s part of the process of staying in the present and anchoring the self in the present moment. Here are some of our favorite self care practices that have little to no cost:

1. Take a nap. Even a quick 10 minute snooze can do wonders to reset our brains.
2. Go outside. Don’t underestimate the power of fresh air and sunlight.
3. Move your body. Movement doesn’t have to be intense to be powerful. A walk or some stretching can help keep the blood circulating and clear your head.
4. Write. Putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) can be a very powerful way to sort through feelings. Having trouble silencing your inner critic? Don’t think of an outside audience when you write--just dump everything on to the page and go back and reorganize later (or don’t). Chances are that you’ll feel better even if you never revisit what you compose.
5. Make something creative. Activities like coloring books, baking, gardening, or knitting can provide a sense of tangible accomplishment (with the added bonus of having something to share)!

What do you do to practice self care? Let us know in the comments!