100 Self-Care Saturday Ideas to Try This Weekend

Taking some time after a busy week to dedicate to a full self-care Saturday can be super beneficial for your health and overall wellness. Use these 100 self-care Saturday ideas to plan your own personal ideal day of self-care.

What is Self-Care Saturday?

Self-care Saturday is just a fun way to refer to a special day of self-care. The phrase “self-care Sunday” tends to be more trendy on social media. However, I believe that the entire weekend should be dedicated to showing yourself some extra love and care.

Self-care as a whole is greatly misunderstood. The misconceptions about self-care can be really damaging. Let’s break down a few of them.

Self-Care Misconceptions

1. Self-Care has to Be Glamorous. Believe it or not, self-care is NOT all face masks, spa days, and bubble baths (although it can be!). In fact, sometimes self-care isn’t glamorous at all. Sometimes it’s changing your sheets or cleaning your bathroom. Check out the 6 different types of self-care here to get a better idea of how self-care can look different every time.
2. Self-Care is Expensive. Nope, nope, nope. Self-care can be incredibly affordable – or even free! I will offer tons of totally free self-care options later on in this post.
3. Self-Care is Earned. Heck, no! Self-care isn’t earned through productivity or exhaustion. Rather, self-care is an essential part of life. Without it, you will likely experience some burnout, exhaustion, and major negative mental/physical health effects.

Now that we’ve touched on what exactly a self-care Saturday is, we can move into the HOW. These 100 self-care Saturday ideas are PERFECT for your upcoming weekend refresh.

If you find yourself wanting a specific type of self-care (solo, free, with a friend, etc.), feel free to jump through these different categories and find what feels best.

It’s okay if your self-care needs are different than someone else’s. AND it’s okay if your self-care desires change day-to-day. Listen to what your mind, body, and soul need and go with that choice. There’s no “right way” to have a self-care Saturday.

100 Relaxing Self-Care Saturday Ideas

50 Completely Free Self-Care Saturday Activities

1. Take a walk
2. Step outside and take 10 deep breaths
3. Rearrange your room
4. Binge-watch your favorite TV show
5. Make your favorite dinner
6. Tidy up your space
7. Read a blog that inspires you
8. Listen to an uplifting podcast
9. Plan for the upcoming week
10. Make a list of life goals
11. Learn about manifestation (lots of good podcasts/blogs for this!)
12. Take a nap
13. Turn off your phone
14. Get inspired on Pinterest
15. Have a baking day
16. Meal-prep some time-saving breakfasts or healthy snacks
17. Follow a yoga YouTube video
18. Do a guided manifestation (Insight Timer is the best free meditation app!)
19. Take a bath or shower
20. Call a loved one
21. Cuddle a pet
22. Cuddle your significant other
23. Put on comfy clothes – or even stay in you PJs!
24. Draw something
25. Sit in the sunshine
26. Take photos of something you love
27. Watch cute/funny TikToks – only positive TikToks allowed!
28. Read some happy news
29. Write a self-love letter
30. Go for a drive
31. Make a manifestation list
32. Clear your to-do list (it’ll feel so good! Promise!)
33. Organize your closet – list anything you don’t want on Poshmark
34. Write and practice positive affirmations
35. Ask yourself questions to improve your self-confidence
36. Put together a cozy corner
37. Educate yourself on the 6 types of self-care
38. Brainstorm future self-care ideas
39. Light some candles and/or diffuse essential oils
40. Learn a new DIY craft
41. Put together a self-care jar
42. Eat some fresh foods
43. Make a self-care schedule (get my self-care planner to help!)
44. Drink enough water (check how much you need here)
45. Have a movie night – popcorn, snacks, PJs, and all!
46. Catch up with a friend
47. Stretch your body
48. Listen to a happy song
49. Wash your face
50. Spread positivity! Leave a kind social media comment, send a nice text, etc.

30 Solo Self-Care Saturday Activities

Feeling like some alone time is just what you need this weekend? Solo acts of self-care are a great way to refill your tank and rejuvenate yourself. Here are some ideas for your alone-time.

1. Read a self-discovery book
2. Journal on some journal prompts
3. Take a fun local class – poetry, yoga, painting, etc.
4. Sign up for an at-home workout class (Alo Moves is my FAVORITE!)
5. Do a DIY at-home craft
6. Take yourself out to lunch
7. Take yourself shopping
8. Order in your favorite meal for dinner
9. Invest in an online course to learn something new
10. Treat yourself to an online shopping spree
11. Have a DIY at-home spa night
12. Buy yourself new journals for self-care

13. Sign up for online therapy (TalkSpace is what I use!)
14. Redecorate your room
15. Wander your favorite store
16. Take an online yoga or meditation class
17. Read your tarot cards – or get them read!
18. Color in a coloring book – Check out this cuss word coloring book for adults. It’s my favorite!
19. Do a puzzle
20. Have a relaxing self-care shower
21. Treat yourself to a delicious coffee
22. Take yourself out to brunch
23. Pick up your favorite snacks at the grocery store
24. Start refreshing your wardrobe – buy some new pieces you love!
25. Build a vision board
26. Buy yourself flowers
27. Book a massage/spa appointment
28. Buy some high-quality skin care and have your own spa night
29. Get yourself a self-care kit (for future self-care Saturdays 😉 )
30. Take yourself out for ice cream

For More Ideas: 30 Solo Introvert Self-Care Ideas

20 Social Self-Care Saturday Activities

If you’re more extroverted or feeling a bit more social, these may be appealing activities for your self-care Saturday! Connecting with others can be a great way to make ourselves feel happier and healthier!

1. Meet a friend for coffee
2. Compliment a stranger – making someone else smile always feels good!
3. Go on a “walk and talk” with a loved one
4. Reach out to someone you miss
5. Have a movie night with your significant other
6. Call your best girl friends for a “girls night”
7. Meet up with a sibling or close childhood friend
8. Call a grandparent/aunt/uncle/etc.
9. Pay it forward at the store/coffee shop – again, making someone else smile can make you feel good too!
10. Learn your partner’s love langauge – use this quiz
11. Have a deep conversation
12. Set boundaries with someone that drains you (we all know them!)
13. Go on a date
14. Do a partner workout
15. Go out to dinner with a loved one
16. Take a romantic walk with your significant other
17. Have a no-phone day with someone. Talk to each other!
18. Make dinner with someone fun
19. FaceTime or Zoom someone far away that you miss
20. Give a big hug!

Why Have a Self-Care Saturday?

Now that you have 100 self-care Saturday ideas, you may want to know when and why a self-care Saturday is necessary.

The weekends are a really common and natural time to practice some self-care. So many of us spend our weeks busy, stressed, and overworked. During these moments, it may feel more difficult to practice self-care. (Check out these 5-minute self-care ideas for those busy days!)

However, on the weekends, many of us take a moment to breathe. It’s beautiful.

Maybe you have the weekends off work or you are just in a mindset that is more self-care-ready. Because of this, self-care Saturdays can be a really valuable habit to build.

Why Choose Saturdays?

The phrase “self-care Sunday” is super popular. To be honest, self-care Sundays are great too. (Heck, self-care on any day is great!)

But, self-care Saturdays are a great option for a few reasons:

1. No Sunday Scaries. Sunday’s can be a really relaxing day, but, if you work Monday-Friday, you may be hit by the “Sunday scaries” on Sunday night. Essentially, this is a feeling of dread and/or stress for the upcoming week. This isn’t the best way to end a self-care day, so you may be better off with a self-care Saturday.
2. Sundays are for Resets. Sundays are commonly a “reset day”. Many people choose to organize, tidy, grocery shop, meal prep/plan, etc. on Sundays. While this is a form of self-care, it’s not alwyays the relaxing self-care we’re looking for. Self-care Saturdays can be pure fun and relaxation – no pressure!
3. Saturdays are Yours. I love Saturdays most of all… here’s why. Saturday mornings are great for sleep-ins. Saturday nights are also great for staying up and making memories. It’s the only day of the week (if you work M-F) that you can sleep in AND stay up. The whole day is yours. That’s a lot of opportunity for self-care!

Why is Self-Care Important?

If you are a loyal reader of my blog, you’ve heard me say this many times… but I’m going to say it again.

Self-Care is Productive.

Self-care is not “earned” through burnout, exhaustion, or productivity fatigue. Instead, self-care is essential to your overall wellbeing.

Everyone should develop a routine that allows them to practice self-care regularly. When we care for ourselves on a regular basis, we are more productive, healthy, and happy.

People that are hyper-focused on productivity and work tend to forget the important of slowing down. Ironically, rest, relaxation, and other forms of self-care are a huge part of remaining productive. You need to slow down and care for yourself on a routine basis.

Prioritize self-care and personal wellness – mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Not because you “earned it”, but because you deserve it and need it regardless of what you have/have not accomplished.

Now go have that self-care Saturday!