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!
- tomar una siesta – to take a nap
- relajar – to relax
- descansar – to have rest
- estar en contacto con la naturaleza -to be in contact with nature
- hacer ejercicio -to do exercise
- ir al gimnasio – to go to the gym
- beber agua/café/té – to drink water/coffee/tea
- hacer una caminata – to go for a long walk
- maquillarse – to put on makeup
- recibir un masaje – to get a massage
- ir a la peluquería – to go to the hairdresser
- cuidar da la/mi piel – to take care of the/my skin
- poner una mascarilla facial – to put on a face mask
- 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:
- leer un libro – to read a book
- escuchar un podcast – to listen to a podcast
- escuchar música – to listen to music
- escribir un diario – to journal / write a diary
- probar algo nuevo – to try something new
- meditar – to meditate
- escribir – to write
- aprender idiomas – to learn languages
- aprender a decir “no” – to learn to say “no”
- aceptar los elogios – to accept compliments
- buscar un(a) terapeuta – to look for a therapist
- hablar con un(a)/mi terapeuta – to talk to a/my therapist
- rezar – to pray
- 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:
- pasar el tiempo con los/mis amigos – to spend time with the/my friends
- pasar el tiempo con la/mi familia – to spend time with the/my family
- hacer voluntariado – to volunteer
- hacer un donativo – to donate money
- ayudar un(a) amigo(a) – to help a friend
- cenar fuera – to have dinner out
- jugar con el/mi perro – to play with the/my dog
- jugar con la/mi mascota – to play with the/my pet
- cocinar para alguien – to cook for someone else
- 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:
- hacer un jardín en casa – to create a home garden
- cuidar las plantas – take care of the plants
- organizar/ordenar la habitación – organise/declutter the bedroom
- lavar los platos / lavar la vajilla – to wash the dishes
- reformar la/mi casa – to renew or renovate the/my home
- 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?
Maria Inês Teixeira
Maria Inês has been working as a language teacher and blogger for more than 2 years. Born and raised in Portugal, she got a BA in Art Studies and a MSc in Cultural Management.
