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Despite what the $1.5 trillion global wellness industry would have you believe, taking care of your physical, social and emotional wellbeing doesn’t require fancy French candles, powdered mushroom supplements or cryotherapy – unless you want it to. That's right, self-care doesn’t need to be shoppable, Instagrammable or endorsed by the beauty editor of the weekend paper – and we're here to prove it!
To celebrate the many wonderful ways we can look after our health and wellbeing, we called on the ClassBento crew to share their favourite ways to relax and unwind. From nostalgic 90s re-runs and rock climbing to private dance parties, it’s safe to say there really is no “right” way to practice self-care…
1. Cook slowly, eat mindfully
“My favourite way to unwind is by cooking. Making pasta from scratch, experimenting with stir-frys and curries and making apple pies are just some of the recipes I've been trying out. The most important aspect of cooking is to have a good few hours on hand and to simply enjoy the process. The key is good tunes, patience and plenty of taste-testing throughout.” – Kellie, Content Writer
“Nothing beats sitting on the beach with a good book and some healthy dinner while watching the sunset!” – Adelaide, Social Media Manager
2. Travel back in time
“Sometimes, I just like to watch re-runs of nostalgic shows I grew up with or look at old photos and videos. I like to take a trip down memory lane by looking at old keepsakes like drawings I did as a kid, magazines I used to read or toys I loved.” – Veronica, Designer
3. Wash the day away
“On these hot summer afternoons, I jump into the ocean at the end of each day which has been sublime.” – Natasha, Community Partnerships Manager
4. Dance, cos this time, there’s really no one watching
“My favourite way to unwind or get myself into a better mood instantly is to have a mini dance party by myself. No one’s there but me, and I just dance with (and for) myself. I groove depending on what my mood is… sometimes, you’ll find me jumping around with my hair out twirling and singing, sometimes I have a little slow dance with myself and give myself an embrace, other times I'll be discovering a completely new move.” – Rez, Customer Service Hero
5. Spend time with yourself
“I love taking a bath and doing a ridiculously long skincare routine.” – Phoebe, Content Writer
“I find taking long baths particularly relaxing because I'm forced to not use any electronic devices for a while. And I know I won't be picking any phone calls or getting any other distractions in there! There's also no pressure to do anything and it's a nice sensory experience to be surrounded by warm water!” – Iain, Co-Founder & CEO
6. Relax into your favourite reads
“I like to read The Happy Newspaper. It's full of really cute, funny, happy and heartwarming stories and is a nice break from the mainstream news which can be overwhelming at times.” – Laura, Head of Editorial
“More often than not it’s reading a book. Hard copy books make it all the better but a Kindle Unlimited book is my guilty pleasure. If I’m not reading a book at the time (which is rare) I’m usually watching a French TV show to keep up my language skills or scouring the internet for new true crime podcasts.” – Charlotte, Content Writer
7. Do a little DIY
“I knit and listen to podcasts, I'm one of those people who likes to keep my hands busy, even when I need downtime. If I could find a way to read a book while knitting and not messing up my project, that would be amazing!” – Jane, Content Writer
8. Skip the gym for the great outdoors
“I like active relaxation, like going on a trek in the nearby mountains or getting up and confronting my fear of the ocean by paddleboarding or kayaking out in the sea. I also encourage my kids to do active relaxation activities after school, rather than extracurricular classes that they really don’t like. They go out rollerblading, swimming or rock climbing (the best activity out there!).” – Luis, UK Country Manager
9. Get crafty with the kids
“Going for a walk, taking my kids to the park, doing a jigsaw or colouring-in books with the kids.” – Ryan, Community Partnerships Manager
10. Tend to your plant pals
“Before 2020, my downtime didn’t expand much beyond binge-watching reality TV shows like Love Island and scrolling on Instagram for hours. Fast forward two years and I’m now a proud plant parent with over 30 green friends. I even have an app called PictureThis to keep up with my ever-growing garden, which helps me make sure I’m meeting all their watering, fertilising and sun needs. Between Henry the aloe vera, Olive the olive tree and Hazel the sansevieria, my hands are well and truly full. Nothing feels more rewarding and relaxing than tending to my beloved plants and watching them grow and thrive!” – Laine, Editorial Manager
Regardless of whether you're an avid reader, a weekend hiker or a nightly bubble-bath-taker, it pays to remember that self-care is not synonymous with self-improvement. In fact, it can be totally private, unapologetically personal and utterly un-Instagrammable. So go on, treat yourself to some true "me-time" and fill your cup!
