Labor Day Self-Care Checklist: 6 Ways to Actually Rest This Weekend
Labor Day weekend is supposed to be a break.
But for a lot of people, a long weekend simply means having more time to catch up.
More errands.
More cleaning.
More plans.
More things to do.
This year, make Labor Day weekend self-care part of your plans.
Instead of treating the extra day as an opportunity to accomplish everything you've been putting off, use some of it to slow down and take care of yourself.
At-home self-care doesn't require a complicated wellness routine or an entire weekend at a spa.
Sometimes, a reset can be as simple as sleeping a little longer, putting your phone down, or letting someone else take care of you for a change.
Here's your Labor Day self-care checklist, with six simple self-care ideas to help you make room for rest.
☑ 1. Sleep In
If your schedule allows it, give yourself permission to sleep a little longer.
Sleep is one of the simplest forms of recovery, yet it's often the first thing we sacrifice when life gets busy.
You don't need to feel productive every minute of your long weekend.
Sometimes your body simply needs more rest.
If you're interested in building better recovery habits beyond Labor Day, our guide on creating a spa-like evening routine at home offers simple ways to make relaxation part of your regular routine.
☑ 2. Put Your Phone Down
How often do you actually disconnect?
Even when you're technically off work, your phone can keep you connected to emails, group chats, notifications, social media, and everyone else's requests.
Try giving yourself a little uninterrupted time.
Put your phone on Do Not Disturb.
Leave it in another room.
Go for a walk without checking it.
Sit outside.
Read something.
Or simply do absolutely nothing.
You don't have to be available every second of the day. A little time offline can leave more room for relaxation.
☑ 3. Take a Deep Breath
It sounds almost too simple.
But sometimes the easiest reset is simply stopping for a moment.
Take a slow breath.
Relax your shoulders.
Unclench your jaw.
Notice how your body feels.
If you've been carrying stress for weeks, you may not even realize how much tension you're holding until you finally give yourself permission to slow down.
Our recent guide, 5 Signs You're Carrying Too Much Stress, explores some of the physical and emotional signals that can appear when stress starts piling up.
☑ 4. Do Something That Makes You Feel Good
Self-care doesn't have to be complicated.
Maybe it's making time for nail care with a manicure or pedicure.
Maybe it's finally booking that haircut you've been postponing.
Maybe it's a facial.
Maybe it's a massage.
The point isn't what you choose.
The point is choosing something intentionally for yourself.
HereSpa's guide to the health benefits of regular self-care and pampering explores how activities such as massage, hair care, and nail care can become meaningful parts of a personal wellness routine.
☑ 5. Let Someone Else Take Care of You
This one can be surprisingly difficult.
Especially if you're used to being the person who takes care of everyone else.
You organize the plans.
You handle the errands.
You remember the appointments.
You make sure everyone has what they need.
But you deserve to be cared for too.
An at-home massage, manicure, pedicure, haircut, or other personal-care appointment can give you an opportunity to sit back and let someone else handle the details for a while.
And because HereSpa brings services to your home, at-home self-care doesn't have to involve fighting traffic or adding another destination to your weekend.
☑ 6. Don't Feel Guilty About It
This might be the most important item on the list.
Don't feel guilty for resting.
Don't feel guilty for taking an hour to yourself.
Don't feel guilty for getting your nails done.
Don't feel guilty for saying no to another plan.
Don't feel guilty for doing nothing.
Rest isn't something you have to earn by finishing everything on your to-do list.
It's part of taking care of yourself.
As HereSpa's recent article Your Body Is Asking for a Break explains, consistent moments of recovery can help you respond to stress before it becomes overwhelming.
Your Labor Day Self-Care Doesn't Have to Be Perfect
Labor Day weekend self-care can fit around your plans. You don't need to check every box.
Maybe you sleep in but spend the afternoon with family.
Maybe you put your phone away for an hour.
Maybe you book a massage.
Maybe you spend the entire day in comfortable clothes and don't accomplish a single productive thing.
That's okay.
These self-care ideas are starting points. Your self-care checklist isn't something you have to complete perfectly.
It's simply making room for yourself.
This Labor Day, Put Yourself on the List
The long weekend will eventually end.
The emails will still be there.
The errands will still be there.
The laundry will still be there.
But you don't have to spend every available moment taking care of everything else.
This Labor Day, give yourself permission to slow down.
☑ Sleep in.
☑ Put your phone down.
☑ Take a deep breath.
☑ Do something that makes you feel good.
☑ Let someone else take care of you.
☑ Don't feel guilty about it.
And if your version of a reset includes an at-home massage, manicure, pedicure, haircut, or another personal-care service, HereSpa can bring the experience directly to you, depending on what's available in your area.
Save this checklist for your Labor Day reset, and explore HereSpa.com when you're ready to put yourself back on the schedule.