It’s time for another resource roundup!
In honour of our #InternationalWeekendofSelfCare campaign, here is a list of our top 18 resources that can assist with your day-to-day self-care routine.
But First… What is Self-Care?
There are lots of different ways to define self-care. At The Lily-Jo Project, we think self-care is best defined as:
- The practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own physical and mental health.
- The practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.
As an individual, this means nurturing your physical health, mental health, and spiritual health on a regular basis.
At the most basic level, self-care is making sure you are:
- Getting enough sleep
- Maintaining a balanced diet
- Exercising regularly
Beyond that, self-care can also look like:
- Taking time to relax
- Fostering your creativity
- Practising gratitude and forgiveness
- Reflecting on your life and emotions
Unfortunately though, busy schedules, family and work obligations, and the many other stressors of life can make self-care seem impossible. Oftentimes, we are so focused on looking after others that we forget to look after ourselves – which can lead to a number of physical and mental health challenges.
The good news though is that there are resources out there that can help us prioritize our well-being.
Below, we have compiled a list of our top 18 self-care resources of 2023 that can assist with various elements of your self-care routine.
Ready? Let’s go!
Top 18 Self-Care Resources of 2023 for Teens and Adults
1. Podcast: Dear Therapists
Ever wanted to be a fly in the wall for a therapy session? Psychologist Lori Gottlieb’s podcast, Dear Therapists, allows you to do just that! We just love all the actionable insights and advice in this podcast – not to mention the real-life stories that remind us that we are not alone.
Listen here: Dear Therapists Podcast
2. eBook: Understanding Your Sleep from The Sleep Charity
How much do you know about sleep? Learn more (and gain some helpful tips and advice) by downloading this ebook from the Sleep Charity.
Read here: Understanding Your Sleep
3. App: Sleep Cycle
The more you know about your individual sleeping habits, the better prepared you are to make any necessary improvements. If you’re curious about things like your individual sleep quality, snoring patterns, and circadian rhythms – we recommend trying the Sleep Cycle App!
Check it out here: Sleep Cycle
4. Website: NHS Fitness Studio
Looking for medically-approved exercises to help you stay active and healthy? The NHS Fitness Studio is completely free and features a number of videos for aerobic exercise, strength training, and stretching.
Check it out here: the NHS Fitness Studio
5. YouTube Channel: Kaleigh Cohen Cycling
We had the pleasure of chatting with Kaleigh Cohen on our podcast (you can listen to that interview here) – and we also recommend her cycling channel on YouTube! It features upbeat and positive cycling workout videos that you can follow along with at home.
Check it out here: Kaleigh Cohen Cycling
6. Guide: How to Meditate from Mindful
Meditation can feel intimidating if you’ve never tried it before – but it’s actually a lot more straightforward than you may think! That’s why we love this article from Mindful – it helps to break down what meditation is, how to do it, and how it helps us.
Read it now: How to Meditate
7. Video: REACHing for Forgiveness
The science of forgiveness is fascinating. We love this video from Templeton World Charity Foundation, which explores a recent global research study on forgiveness. Results show that those who followed a particular model of forgiveness showed reductions in feelings of depression and anxiety.
Watch it now: REACHing for Forgiveness
8. YouTube Channel: Watercolor for Beginners by Makoccino
Get in touch with your creative side by trying your hand at water coloring! We love Makoccino on YouTube – she’s both positive and practical, and offers gentle advice for beginners.
Check it out here: Makoccino Watercolor
9. Guide: Affirmations from Mind Tools
Looking to implement more affirmations in your daily life but need a bit of structure and guidance? A great place to start is with this handy affirmations guide from Mind Tools!
Read it here: Using Affirmations
10. App: Color Puzzle
You can’t beat a relaxing puzzle to help you wind down at the end of a long day! The color puzzle game is not only beautiful to look at, but it can be played offline and on airplane mode.
Download it here: Color Puzzle
11.Website: Meal Planner from Eat Well
A key element of healthy eating is planning ahead! That’s why we love this easy-to-use meal planner from Eat Well that features fully customisable meal plans and shopping lists that work with your dietary requirements.
Check it out: Meal Planner from Eat Well
12. YouTube Channel: Yeung Man Cooking
Looking for some inspo for healthy meals? We recently stumbled upon the Yeung Man Cooking YouTube channel, which features dozens of plant-based recipes that you can try at home. We just love the host Wil’s relaxing and accessible approach to cooking.
Check it out: Yeung Man Cooking
13. Article: ‘Be a Better Listener’ from The New York Times
Being a good listener can help with so many aspects of our day-to-day lives. This article from The New York Times features practical listening tips and advice from someone who has worked for over 30 years in journalism.
Read it here: Be a Better Listener
14. Guide: Reframing Unhelpful Thoughts from the NHS
So much about our mental health can be framed (and reframed) by our own thoughts. This guide from the NHS offers practical advice on how to reframe unhelpful and worrisome thoughts.
Check it out: Reframing Unhelpful Thoughts from the NHS
15. Podcast: Happier
Interested in learning about what science says about happiness? Check out Gretchen Rubin’s award-winning podcast that features interviews, insights, and research-based strategies that help promote happiness in your daily life.
Check it out here: The Happier Podcast
16. Support Group: Side by Side from Mind
We all need support from others! If you are looking for an online support group, we recommend checking out Side by Side from Mind – it is a moderated community that is open 24/7.
Check it out here: Side by Side
17. Support Group: The Mix
If you are between the ages of 13 to 25, we also recommend checking out the online support groups from the Mix. These groups are scheduled throughout the week, and they feature a wide range of themes such as general mental health, addiction, sexual health, young parenthood, and self-harm.
Check it out here: Support Groups from the Mix
18. Downloadable: 2023 Self-Care Packet from The Lily-Jo Project
The last resource on the list is our official 2023 Self-Care Packets for Teens & Adults! This downloadable packet is FREE and filled with:
- Reading material on self-care
- Practical exercises and worksheets
- Links to additional resources and further help
You can grab your packet here: Self-Care Packet for Teens and Adults [2023]
If you have children, you can also access our dedicated self-care packet for children and families here: Self-Care Packet for Kids and Families [2023].
Final Thoughts
If you have never actively sought to create a self-care routine before, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed – and that’s okay! The best way to get started is to make one small change, then another, and then another. Over time, these “changes” become healthy habits that benefit your overall health and well-being.
Hale HaleThis blog article is a part of The Lily-Jo Project’s International Weekend of Self-Care campaign which takes place on the third weekend in August. To learn more about this campaign and access additional self-care resources, visit www.thelilyjoproject.com/internationalweekendofselfcare.
Further Resources on Self-Care
If you found this article helpful, check out the following resources on self-care:
- Article from The Lily-Jo Project, How to Self-Care as a Makeup Artist: Cheri’s Story
- Article from The Lily-Jo Project, Let’s T.H.I.N.K. About Self-Care With Lily-Jo
- Article from The Lily-Jo Project, The Science of Self-Care + How to Build a Self-Care Routine
- Article from The Lily-Jo Project, How to Self-Care as a Seafarer: Lisa’s Story
- Article from The Lily-Jo Project, How to Self-Care When You Have Financial Struggles: Babs’ Story
About the Author: Shelby
Shelby has been with The Lily-Jo Project since 2018, serving as the platform’s Content and Communications Manager. Having lived in four different countries throughout her young adulthood, Shelby is passionate about the positive impact new experiences can have on mental health.
When she’s not working with The Lily-Jo Project, she supports other projects through her creative agency, Hale Marketing and Communications. If you’d like to stay updated with Shelby’s story, you can find her on Instagram and LinkedIn.
