Self-Care • Practical Tools

Kindness Multiplied

When we are kind and generous with ourselves, we can pour kindness and love overflowing into others. Take time and take care of you, because you are God’s beloved.

“[Jesus] is the one answer to every question, concern, fear, and need we will ever have … Only in him will we find rest for our souls.” Jon Bloom

QUICK LINKS

• Self-Care for Your Emotions
• Self-Care Includes Connection
• Printable Self-Care Guides

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God— this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)

Practicing physical self-care is showing your body simple kindness, generously giving it what it needs, and doing things that help you live well.

• Do something physically soothing. Snuggle under a cozy blanket, lay down with a soft pillow, take a warm bath, soak your feet, apply heat, or give yourself a hug. Tune into how relaxing it feels and settle into that place.
• Sit outside. Soak in the sun, and breathe in the fresh air. Sit near an open window or look at pictures of a nature scene that appears refreshing to you. Think of this as a minute-long vacation.
• Listen to your body. It is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Respect what it tells you by not pushing past its limits.
• It’s OK to say “no” to commitments and activities that are beyond your current capabilities. Remind yourself that it is OK to say, “No.”
• Break tasks into smaller steps. Instead of cleaning your home all at once, pace yourself, and do one small task each day. Your body will thank you.
• Engage your senses. Savor a favorite food; delight in a lovely fragrance; relish a beautiful view; enjoy the feel of soft fabric; appreciate the sounds of nature. Embrace the pleasure of God’s world.
• Rest. Listen to your body, rest, take breaks, and do your best to get adequate sleep. When getting a good night’s sleep doesn’t seem possible, lean into the arms of Jesus. Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6:31b)
• Accept help. Offer others the opportunity to serve and love in this way. When possible, utilize physical aids, such as a shower chair or grabber to make tasks easier.
• Eat a balanced diet. Consider consulting a dietitian who can provide you with a meal plan tailored to your individual needs and preferences. Be kind to your body by giving it the nutrients it craves.
• Exercise. Consult your doctor about what type of physical activity is appropriate for you. It might be taking a walk or riding a bike or gentle stretching. Enjoy moving in the best way for you.

Exercise your brain, keep your mind sharp, redirect your thoughts, and focus on what is positive and true with these ten ideas.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

• Look at pictures of flowers, mountains, the ocean, sunrises or sunsets – anything that engages your mind and calms you, enabling you to take a deep breath.
• Listen to music. It can help with brain health and memory. Music has the power to lift our spirits and can help reduce anxiety.
• Focus on gratitude when you’re anxious or overwhelmed. Keep a list of what you’re thankful for and add one new thing every day.
• Look for the silver lining. Remember that God can bring good out of even the most difficult situation. Look for His fingerprint and His presence in new ways.
• Exercise your brain. Do word puzzles or brain teasers, challenge yourself to learn common, everyday words in different languages.
• Distract yourself when your mind is stuck by counting backward from 100 by 7s or counting colors. Choose one color and count each item of that color in the room. Then choose another color, and so on.
• Play the alphabet game. To redirect your thoughts when you need a break from something heavy, think of a name that begins with A, then B, and so on through the alphabet. You can do this with many different things: cities, countries, nouns, flowers, animals, foods, etc.
• Choose a word and list all the words you can make from its letters. For example, from the word heart, you can form the words: are, art, earth, hat, ear, heat, rat, and many more.
• Make a list of Bible verses, quotes, and encouraging words to refocus anxious or negative thoughts circling in your mind. Read from the list often and write your favorites on notecards, tape them to your mirror, or save them to your phone.
• Take a break from reading, watching, or discussing world events. Pray for those involved, then redirect your thoughts to what is inspiring, encouraging, and true.

Spend a little time getting to know God better — who He is, what He’s like, how He feels about us, and how He acts toward His creation.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4)

• Pray about everything. The Lord is ready to hear about your day-to-day activities, raw emotions, and heavy burdens. When you share it all with Him, you grow to trust Him more and more.
• Rely on the Holy Spirit’s prayers when you can’t find words of your own. In groans that words can’t express, the Holy Spirit will approach the Father on your behalf.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our heart knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with his will. (Romans 8:26-27)

• Listen to God. Sit in His presence. God speaks in many ways: through the Holy Spirit, His Word, music, others, and creation. Take time to open your heart, quiet your mind, and nestle in with Him, knowing He is near.
• Sit in the Lord’s Presence. Try to clear your mind, breathe in His love, exhale worries. Let your breath match the rhythm of a short verse, and simply repeat it over and over, resting in His Presence – e.g., Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
• Be creative. Choose a Bible verse, then write a poem about it, create word art, cut words from magazines, or draw an illustration as you discover His inspiration.
• Reach for the Lord in a way that perhaps you never have before, lean into His arms, and accept His grace, mercy, and kindness.
• Focus on the attributes of God. Choose one attribute at a time, learn more about it, and notice when you see God at work in your heart and life.
• Think of tangible reminders of God. For example, every time you see a circle, it can remind you that just as it has no beginning or end, neither does God’s love. Consider the many ways God shows His love. Think of tangible reminders of other things you want to remember about God. This can help you redirect your thoughts toward Him throughout the day.
• Memorize or meditate on a Bible verse that you find comforting. Start with one of these:

…For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted one. (Isaiah 49:13b)

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalms 34:18)

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalms 147:3)

• Dig deeper. Do a word study, read a book, or listen to a sermon or podcast, finding a wealth of encouragement for your spirit. Search for Bible verses, songs, or quotes you discover along the way.

Emotional self-care helps us to identify what we’re feeling and express it in healthy ways.

Trust in him at all times, O people, pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:8)

• Do something lighthearted. Blow bubbles, watch Christian comedians, make silly faces in the mirror, or view videos of laughing babies. Check out our Laughter page. Make it a point to laugh every day.
• Listen to music that resonates with how you feel, relaxes you, lifts your heart, or puts a smile on your face. Think of it as oxygen for the soul.
• Express yourself creatively. Write a poem, color, draw, sing, or work on a craft project. Notice the easing of difficult emotions as you create. Spark Wonder. Savor God’s holy fingerprint in every atom of creation. Engage your senses, cultivate curiosity, listen for the Spirit’s still small voice, and delight in God’s extraordinary creativity.
• Focus on God’s love. God’s love is the greatest antidote to fear. Search for Bible verses or songs about God’s love. Let them fill your mind and heart.
• Have a good cry. If your heart is heavy, crying can help release those feelings. You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. (Psalm 56:8)
• Practice forgiveness. Withholding forgiveness seals in the hurt. Think of forgiving as a step toward healing.
• Write in a journal. There are no rules for journaling. Just spill your heart. Use the Emotions Wheel to identify what you’re feeling then journal your thoughts.
• Search for Scriptures with emotional expression. Pray through them if they reflect what’s in your heart. Here are a few to get you started:

My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. (Psalms 6:3-4)

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. (Psalms 25:16-18)

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. (Psalms 31:9-10)

Connection with others is rooted in love, nourished through prayer, and strengthened by brave vulnerability. It is risky to step out in faith and trust, but it is even riskier to try to live this life alone.

Love one another deeply from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22b)

• Focus on the kindness and encouragement how you and soak up  the love they offer.
• Find something you enjoy (such as cooking, walking, crafting, or a book club), then delight in connecting with others who share a common passion.
• Build a bond with a neighbor or acquaintance. Meet for coffee. Invite them over for a game night. Suggest an activity you might both enjoy doing.
• Confide in someone you trust. Let them know if you want advice or just a listening ear.
• Set healthy boundaries. Boundaries keep us emotionally safe. Wedon’t want to create an impenetrable wall but setting guidelines will facilitate a growing relationship without compromising our emotional vulnerability.
• Communicate needs. It’s important to be able to communicatewhat we need, including how others can help. Keeping a list of what we need help with (such as grocery shopping, errands, lawn care, or a ride to an appointment) makes it easier when someone offers to help.
• Pick up the phone. Connecting in person might not always be possible, but a phone call can be a great way of keeping in touch and alleviating loneliness.
• Write a letter. Old-fashioned snail mail is a great way to connect. Writing a personal note takes just a little initiative and a few well-invested minutes.
• Prayer is one of the most selfless ways we can connect with othersbecause its bonds supersede all others.