How to talk about self-care in Spanish

Think of self-care. What do you see? Many will think of relaxing somewhere peaceful. Others will picture a tasty meal cooked by someone else. And yet others will think of their favorite yoga sequence, makeup routine or video game. 

That’s the beauty of self-care: it can be whatever you want it to be. But how can you talk about self-care (autocuidado) in Spanish? You might be thinking to yourself: “Well, this is a very specific topic. I don’t think I’ll ever be asked about this.” However, if you’re familiar with our philosophy, we believe learning should be highly personal, customised and flexible from the start.

14 Spanish phrases to talk about your self-care habits

It all starts with the body and the mind. Here are some examples of self-care activities to help you stay happy, active and in touch with your own body! Just remember: the verbs on the list  aren’t conjugated. Make sure to adapt the verbs to your own situation! 

1. tomar una siesta – to take a nap
2. relajar – to relax
3. descansar – to have rest
4. estar en contacto con la naturaleza -to be in contact with nature
5. hacer ejercicio -to do exercise
6. ir al gimnasio – to go to the gym
7. beber agua/café/té – to drink water/coffee/tea
8. hacer una caminata – to go for a long walk
9. maquillarse – to put on makeup
10. recibir un masaje – to get a massage
11. ir a la peluquería – to go to the hairdresser
12. cuidar da la/mi piel – to take care of the/my skin
13. poner una mascarilla facial – to put on a face mask 
14. cocinar comidas saludables – to cook healthy foods

13 Spanish phrases to talk about how you feel psychologically and emotionally

Just as important as taking care of your physical side is maintaining a healthy heart and mind. Nothing like some relaxing, nurturing self-care activities to bring us some peace and quiet! And here’s how we’d say them in Spanish:

1. leer un libro – to read a book
2. escuchar un podcast – to listen to a podcast
3. escuchar música – to listen to music
4. escribir un diario – to journal / write a diary
5. probar algo nuevo – to try something new
6. meditar – to meditate
7. escribir – to write
8. aprender idiomas – to learn languages
9. aprender a decir “no” – to learn to say “no”
10. aceptar los elogios – to accept compliments
11. buscar un(a) terapeuta – to look for a therapist
12. hablar con un(a)/mi terapeuta – to talk to a/my therapist
13. rezar – to pray
14. viajar – to travel

10 ways to talk about being social in Spanish

We already know that helping others can make us feel amazing. But whether you’re actively trying to make someone’s life better or simply spending time with friends, your relationship with others is a part of a solid self-care routine. So here are some examples:

1. pasar el tiempo con los/mis amigos – to spend time with the/my friends
2. pasar el tiempo con la/mi familia – to spend time with the/my family
3. hacer voluntariado – to volunteer
4. hacer un donativo – to donate money
5. ayudar un(a) amigo(a) – to help a friend
6. cenar fuera – to have dinner out
7. jugar con el/mi perro – to play with the/my dog
8. jugar con la/mi mascota – to play with the/my pet
9. cocinar para alguien – to cook for someone else
10. tener una cita/salir con alguien – to go on a date with someone

Taking care of your space

While it might sound contradictory at first – after all, isn’t self-care about…well…the self? – many people associate self-care with caring for the space around them: organising, decluttering, cleaning and creating a beautiful home. Here are some self-care activities you can do around the house:

1. hacer un jardín en casa – to create a home garden
2. cuidar las plantas – take care of the plants
3. organizar/ordenar la habitación – organise/declutter the bedroom
4. lavar los platos / lavar la vajilla – to wash the dishes
5. reformar la/mi casa – to renew or renovate the/my home
6. decorar la/mi casa – to decorate the/my house

Y tú? 

Remember: language should be highly personal. We invite you to make it a priority to express your preferences, hobbies and occupations in Spanish as soon as possible, so you can witness your fluency soar! So what are your favourite self-care activities and how can you express them in Spanish?