14 self care activities to fill your non-productive bucket
I’m just going to give it right to ya - you do not need to be productive 24/7.
If that makes you squirm a little and immediately want to yell “but…!!!” then I suggest you head over to my other post about why you shouldn’t strive to constantly be productive, especially if you want to be successful.
Because the unexpected truth is this: if you want to be creative, efficient, or yes, even productive, you’re going to have to give yourself and your brain some downtime. Actually, your mind is doing a lot of work behind the scenes to figure out solutions and create new ideas when you don’t even realize.
But if you don’t ever give it a minute and let it do it’s thing, it’s more likely to just burn out instead.
Part of self care is allowing yourself to do things just for the joy and peace they bring you. Part of self care is not expecting yourself to constantly be productive. But before you excitedly rub your hands together and cozy in for a Netflix binge, try some of these activities instead to avoid over-stimulating your mind so it can really do it’s thing.
Read fiction
Or just read something that is not related to your personal development whatsoever. Purely for pleasure. Maybe that’s something you haven’t done in awhile - I was the same way - but once you get back into it you will probably be able to tell just how beneficial it can be to get lost in a story.
I now only read fiction right before bed, otherwise I get to thinking too much about everything in my self help books and I don’t sleep as well.
Learn a fiber art
This could be anything from knitting to crocheting or weaving. The repetitive actions can be soothing, while still keeping your hands busy to ease your restlessness. If you’re antsy and still want to feel somewhat productive by creating something, this is a great option.
P.S. all my friends who call me an old lady for knitting are 100% just jealous of the cool shit I make. I see you, friends.
Drawing or painting
You don’t have to be “good” at this. I repeat, you don’t have to be “good” at this. That’s not the point.
The point is to give your mind some creative leeway to purely express vs. to achieve. If you’re struggling with letting loose, have a crafting session with a kid, whether it’s your own, a niece or nephew, or the neighbor kids you babysit for.
Trust me, they won’t let you think too hard!! Let yourself feel like a kid again.
Ride a bike
If you don’t have one, ask to borrow one. Or if you live in a city, you might be able to use the rent-a-bike apps. If you never learned, dedicate half an hour to an hour each day to learning. You’ll nail it in no time. Once you’re comfortable riding a bike again, it will feel so freeing.
Learn a new, athletic skill
like skateboarding or roller skating. No, you’re not too old. Who cares if you look silly at first. It’s okay to fall down. Imagine how good you’ll be in 6 months if you stick with it.
Plus you’ll be moving your body and challenging it in new ways and that’s always a good thing!
Plus plus you’re gonna look cool as hell on a skateboard.
Pick one day a week that you’ll try a new, plant filled recipe.
I think trying delicious, healthy recipes for fun is a really awesome way to strengthen your relationship with food, reconnect with yourself and your body, and center your focus on the present moment as you chop and mix!
Why plant filled? Because an abundance of plants and whole foods is the most beneficial way to go. If you’re not vegan, that’s fine - just experiment with new fruits, veggies, and whole grains with a “the more the merrier” approach.
Take a walk without a podcast or music ~gasp!~.
Yeah, I said it. Maybe that sounds impossibly boring at first. But once you’re out there listening to the sounds of the world and your brain is running free like a child at the playground, it’s getting the unstructured playtime it needs.
Decorate!
For some this might feel too productive, but if you love decorating (like me!) it can be so fun to take on a new decorating project. If you don’t have anything left at your own house, offer makeovers for friends, decorate your car, or create a bulletin board you can change up often.
Have a recurring night out or game night with a couple of friends.
Then you always have something to look forward to every month, knowing you’ll get to relax and enjoy yourself with a nice distraction from all your productive tasks.
You can even show them that scarf you just knitted and teach them to skateboard.
Get a pet!
This isn’t something to be taken lightly, but getting a pet will insure that you slow down multiple times a day and be present with your animal. Playing with them, taking them for walks, feeding them, etc.
You’ll also develop a lasting connection, and that is priceless.
Take up hiking!
Chances are, there are tons of hikes you didn’t even know about that are driving distance from you.
Reconnect with nature and your body, and get in a fair amount of exercise while you’re at it. If you’re intimidated, start with a few shorter walking trails nearby your house, then work your way up to longer, steeper hikes.
I like using the AllTrails app to find trails and hikes near me, and they are sorted by difficulty level which makes it super easy to find a hike that’s perfect for you.
Pick up a coloring book
Remember when adult coloring books were poppin? Well, I still have mine and *occasionally* I’ll pick it up again when I feel like my brain needs to chill out. Never fails.
Then I always wonder why I don’t do it more often…
Gardening
Did you know playing in the dirt is actually great for your immune system? Well it is. Google it.
Also, great for your brain.
If you don’t have a garden, is there a community plot nearby you could join? A spot at your parent’s or friend’s house just for you? Can you create an indoor herb garden? Personally, I just bought a crap ton of plants and followed plant meme accounts on instagram. Plant life it’s one of my favorite non-productive pastimes, if I’m honest.
Puzzles
I honestly forgot how satisfying puzzles are until quarantine hit. And then me and my husband (along with the rest of the world) went on a puzzle binger. If you missed that train, I highly suggest you join us.
Some of the prettiest ones I’ve been eyeing up are by Jiggy Puzzles.
(BONUS) Journaling
I feel like journaling could go either way. I think sometimes people skip over journaling entirely, because it feels too unproductive to them. And then on the other hand, there are people who keep a routine of journaling as a part of their productivity schedule.
If you decide to take up journaling, remember that it can be for whatever purpose you want it for, and it doesn’t require any strict rules or expectations. You can use it for doodling or it can be a full blown art journal. You could write stories or you could use it to talk about your day. It can be a creative outlet or a means of release.
A great place to start is with my Self Discovery Workbook, full of prompts to help you understand and gain clarity about yourself and your path. It’s totally free and you can access it immediately! Just download it below:
What are some of your favorite seemingly non-productive activities to do? Do you make enough time for them?
And if you do struggle with making time for these leisurely self care activities, why do you think that is? Do you have any inherent fears or guilt about feeling “unproductive” at times? I would love to hear your thoughts - leave a comment below, or DM me on Instagram.
Did you know I also offer 1 on 1 coaching for people like you who are pursuing a passion project, but might not be sure how to balance productivity with purpose and still be wildly successful?
If you feel like that’s something you’ve been looking for, you can find out more here and book a totally free 15 minute discovery call to find out how I can help you and if we are a good fit. No pressure and no obligation, just possibility. (Was that too corny? Whatever it’s true ;)
-Brittney