100 easy self-care ideas for stressed students

In between hours of revision and exams, there often isn’t much time to take care of yourself. However, self-care is one of the most important and productive things you can do during exam season! Not only does self-care help to prevent burnout, it can also help you deal with exam stress and, as a result, perform better on exams! Here are 100 easy self-care ideas for students 🙂

5 minute ideas

1. write down some things you’re grateful for
2. write some positive affirmations
3. drink some fancy tea
4. meditate
5. do some quick stretches
6. listen to some music
7. light a candle
8. eat a healthy snack
9. eat a not-so-healthy snack
10. start a worry list
11. hug your pet
12. text a friend you haven’t talked to in a while
13. give yourself a compliment
14. buy yourself some flowers
15. make a new spotify playlist
16. breathe!!!
17. make a list of things you like about yourself
18. cry (people who did the Edexcel 2022 GCSE Maths 1H paper know what I’m talking about)
19. dance
20. watch the sunset

15 minute ideas

21. try journalling
22. do some yoga
23. do a quick workout
24. text your friends
25. watch a ted talk
26. do a puzzle
27. tidy up your desk
28. unfollow social media accounts
29. make and drink a smoothie
30. take a relaxing bath
31. do a colouring book
32. try a new food
33. learn a new language
34. play around with your make-up
35. buy yourself a gift
36. compliment 5 people
37. wear your favourite outfit
38. declutter your email inbox
39. look through your old photos
40. read your favourite blog (mine, obviously)

30 minute ideas

41. go for a run
42. take a short nap
43. read a book
44. watch an episode of your favourite tv show
45. play a card game with your friends
46. draw something
47. go cycling
48. re-arrange your desk
49. try something new
50. crochet something
51. knit something
52. make a gift for a friend
53. make a vision board
54. walk a dog (if you don’t have one, volunteer at a shelter!)
55. write a letter to a friend
56. make a bucket list for the summer
57. figure out your stress indicators
58. do a jigsaw puzzle
59. switch up your phone lockscreen
60. embroider something

60 minute ideas

61. do a zoom call with your friends
62. listen to a podcast
63. cook your favourite food
64. go for a walk outside
65. paint something
66. listen to an audiobook
67. talk about what’s stressing you with a friend
68. take a course in something that interests you
69. volunteer at an animal shelter
70. volunteer for a cause that you’re passionate about
71. learn to play an instrument
72. plan out your summer
73. celebrate an achievement with friends
74. declutter your wardrobe
75. get a massage
76. go swimming
77. bake something (but don’t share it)
78. build a lego set
79. hand out at the park
80. try gardening

60+ minute ideas

81. watch your favourite film
82. hang out with some friends
83. get 8 hours of sleep
84. go on a picnic
85. do a digital detox
86. go to the cinema
87. take an art class
88. go hiking
89. go to a museum
90. go to a new restaurant
91. play a sport with friends
92. make long-term goals
93. write a short story
94. go to the beach
95. try scrapbooking
96. watch a bad movie with friends
97. evaluate your screen-time habits
98. play minecraft (the best video game, obviously)
99. go to a concert
100. reorganise your google drive