Practicing Self Care is a necessity. If you don’t take care of yourself it’s hard to show up every day for your career, partner, pets, and friends. If you’re chronically tired, overworked, eating like crap, and not practicing self-care, you’re bound to become overwhelmed. Try outdoor self-care activities for a fun and relaxing way to reduce stress and fight burnout.
Creating a simple self-care routine is a great first step in helping to replenish your energy and improve your mood and your life. Creating a Self Care Practice can help decrease anxiety, reduce stress, and increase productivity.
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What is Self Care?
Self Care is the act of caring for yourself. You can do this in so many ways.
- Self Care can be taking a personal day from work when you need it.
- Caring for yourself can be getting eyelash extensions and pedicures.
- It can be done by going to the gym and eating healthy.
- Self Care can be taking a nap.
- Or going shopping.
- It can even be traveling the world.
There aren’t a lot of rules on how to practice Self Care. And the reason is; your Self Care is unique to you.
The Different Types of Outdoor Self Care-
Try splitting self-care into five categories for a well-rounded approach self-care routine. There are items in each category that you can adapt for outdoor self-care.
Physical Self Care: self care for your physical body
- Eat a Well Balanced Meal- try grilling or using fresh local fruits and veggies to create fun and delicious meals.
- Skin Care (don’t forget your sunscreen this summer.)
- Pampering/Grooming (try a pedicure outdoors.)
- Exercise- take it outside! Walk, run, hike, swim.
Emotional Self Care: self care for your emotional and mental health
- Journaling– grab your journal and read outside to be inspired by nature.
- Personal Affirmations- stand outside and enjoy the fresh air as you hype yourself up!
- Expressing Gratitude- what are 10 outdoor things you’re thankful for?
Intellectual Self Care: self care that helps your learn and grow
- Learn Something New- try learning a new outdoor hobby or activity like SUP or Gardening
- Listen to a Podcast- Listen to a podcast on a walk or at the beach to learn something new.
- Read a Book- carry a book with you to the beach or park for a fun and relaxing way to kill time.
Spiritual Self Care: self care that connects you to a higher power, the divine, and/or your faith
- Meditation- try taking it outdoors, I find that early morning and evening are the best for fewer distractions.
- Tarot/Oracle Cards- do a card pull outside for fresh energy!
- Go to Church/Temple- try attending an outdoor church event this summer.
Social Self Care: self care that helps you to build strong relationships with your friends, family, and community
- Have a Beach Day- Catch up with a family member or friend at the beach.
- Meet a Friend for Coffee- head to a local outdoor coffee shop and grab a brew.
- Have a Girl’s Night- plan an outdoor girls night full of delicious cocktails
- Host a Dinner Party- plan a fun BBQ and invite over the friends and family.
What kind of Outdoor Self Care Activities are right for you?
Getting started with your self-care journey can be tough. If you’re having a hard time figuring out what activities are needed in your life, go grab your journal and use these fun thought starters to figure out what you need!
Self Care Thought Starters:
- I feel guilty when I can’t/don’t….
- I feel most myself when I take time to…..
- What makes me the most confident/happy?
- I get irritated when I don’t have time to….
20 Outdoor Self Care Activities to Try this Summer
Go on a Picnic for a fun outdoor self care activity to try alone or with friends
Pack up your favorite snacks and drinks and visit the local park. Either by yourself or with a friend having an outdoor picnic is a fun way to get some outside time into your self-care routine. And a girls gotta eat right?
Don’t forget to pack a blanket, sheet, or mat to sit on to prevent grass stains on your clothing! Set up in a nice shady spot and set up your picnic for a fun outdoor eating experience!
Favorite Picnic Foods:
- Grapes, apples, pears (easy to eat fruits)
- Charcuterie with crackers or bread
- Sandwiches
- Champagne or Sparkling water
Read a Book in a Hammock
Pick up an easy fun read and grab your hammock for a little break from reality. Reading a good fiction book is a great way to take yourself away from the stress of everyday life. Try a portable camping hammock or set up a hammock chair on your deck or patio.
Go for a walk for Outdoor Self Care
Exercise is fantastic for stress relief and mental health. While the weather is nice head outside and gets in your steps. Walking first thing in the morning is a great way to jump-start your metabolism.
Soak up Vitamin D in a Floaty
Get a fabulous floaty, blow it up, and head to the pool, lake, or ocean. Floating out in the sun is a great way to soak up vitamin d and destress in the sun. Make sure to wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn!
Celebrate the Full Moon with a Camping Trip
Pack up your vehicle and hit the road (or your backyard) for a camping trip during the full moon. The fresh air will help you relax, the simplicity of camping also helps to keep you in the present. So head out to the wilderness and enjoy!
Hike a New Trail
Visit AllTrails to find a new hike. You can search by hike difficulty, locations, and amenities. Which can help you find a new area to explore.
I particularly love AllTrails because I can pinpoint which hikes I can take my dog on and which I can’t. You can also read recent reviews which give up-to-date info on the trail conditions.
Try a New Salad Recipe
Search the internet (or your nearest cookbook) for a delicious and interesting salad recipe.
Five Salad Recipes to Try
- Healthy Taco Salad by Love and Lemons
- Grilled Curry Chicken Salad with Herb Vinaigrette by The Modern Proper
- Watermelon Salad with Cucumber and Feta by Dinner at the Zoo
- Blackberry Balsamic Spinach Salad by Taste of Home
- Vegan Cobb Salad by the Simple Veganista
Sun Salutations Relaxing Outdoor Self Care to Start Your Day
A simple sun salutation yoga sequence is perfect for stretching, distressing, and starting your day. With the extended daylight we get in summer the Sun Salutation sequence is perfect for jump-starting your day and warming up your body.
Sun salutations are practiced in time with your breathing as each breath takes you to the next pose. This chart below is the perfect way to walk you through it!
Get Up Early and Watch the Sunrise
Get up early and watch the sunrise at least once during the summer months. As the sun rises much earlier, it can be refreshing and exciting to get up early. Rising with the sun is also great for your own personal clock.
Create a Coffee Nook on your Patio for Daily Outdoor Self Care
Drinking coffee on the patio during the summer months is such a fun way to enjoy your morning cuppa. Make it even easier by setting up a Coffee Nook on your patio instead of a bar this summer.
Paint a Landscape Outside
Tapping into your creativity is a fun way to practice self-care. Grab an easel, paint, brushes, and a canvas (or paper) and head outside somewhere with a beautiful view. Spend the afternoon painting in the sunlight for a fun and relaxing day.
Go to a Drive In Movie
Many towns and cities offer Drive-In Movies during the summer months. A quick google search will often be the most productive way to find a film near you. Pack snacks, warm blankets, and pillows for extra fun and cozy time.
Where to find drive-in movies:
- Check out eventbrite.com
- Visit local events pages
- Check out Facebook Events
- Check to see if any local theaters have pop up drive-in movies
Make Smores with Friends
Meet up with some friends for a night of s’mores. Set up a s’mores station with marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. For a fun twist on traditional s’mores try Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or Dark Chocolate instead of traditional Hershey’s Milk Chocolate.
Take Yourself Out on a Date
Spending time with yourself in a fun and exciting way helps to build confidence and self-esteem. This is almost limitless.
Ideas for Taking Yourself on a Date
- Take yourself out for coffee and a manicure.
- Visit a farmers market and cook yourself a fun meal with goodies you pick up.
- Go to a movie by yourself.
- Visit your favorite store and take yourself out to lunch.
Set Up a Pool in Your Yard
Reduce stress by setting up a pool in your yard for a little exercise and a lot of fun. There are pools in many different sizes available. Set one up and grab your favorite floaty for a fun day in the sun.
Beat the Heat with Healthy Home Made Popsicles
Grab your favorite fruits, milk or juice, and yogurt, etc., and create healthy and refreshing popsicles to enjoy all summer long.
Mix your favorite fruits, non-dairy milk, and natural sweetener for a healthy and delicious popsicle! One of my all-time favorite popsicles is full-fat coconut milk blended and frozen. It’s the perfect healthy treat for a hot summer day.
Visit a Botanical Garden
Look for a botanical garden near you to spend a day enjoying interesting flora from all around the world! Make sure to take your camera as many botanical gardens are full of statues and art as well as beautiful plants and flowers.
Every botanical garden I’ve ever been to has had something different to offer. From art installations to cafes, to carnivorous plants. There’s always something to explore.
Start an Herb Garden
Growing things is fantastic for grounding yourself and reducing anxiety. Plant a small herb garden to add fresh herbs to new dishes you create in your kitchen. Herbs are often easy to grow and small, so they can be grown outside or indoors.
Easy Herbs to Grow:
- Chives
- Mint
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Dill
Learn a New Outdoor Hobby
Try a new outdoor hobby for a fun way to grow this summer. You can learn how to rollerblade, SUP- Stand Up Paddle Board, rock climbing, geo-caching, and so much more!
Learning something new is a great way to exercise different muscles in your brain! It can help reduce stress, lower anxiety, and build self-esteem.
Take Your Journal Outside
Relax outside for a clear and head as your journal away. Enjoy this fun list of summer journal prompts for a creative twist on journaling.
What Outdoor Self Care Activity is Your Favorite?
What's on your mind?