Self Care Can Be Fun (Really!). We Have Tips

We’ve all heard the standard wellness advice many times: among them, that most of us need more regular exercise, fewer processed foods, and lower stress. At Pfizer, we’d like to add another piece of advice: Fun will make your wellness goals easier to achieve.

The key to creating a habit that sticks is to turn the activities you need to do into the activities you want to do. Adapt your wellness goals into habits that fit your personality, and then remind yourself of the long-term pay-offs those habits will bring. Here are ways to turn self-care habits into an enjoyable routine that makes your life healthier and more fun.

The Tip: Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week.¹

The Twist: Cardio doesn’t have to look like jogging or gym time. Find an activity that looks like fun, like an adult kickball team, a dance class, or a walk through a park while listening to your favorite podcast. The goal is simply to keep moving. Moderate-intensity aerobic activity includes anything that raises your heart rate, speeds your breathing, but still allows you to hold a conversation.²

The Pay-off: Incorporating physical activity into your weekly routine creates a wide variety of benefits to your physical and mental health. For example, this habit will boost your mood, prevent or manage health conditions (including heart disease, stroke, and some cancers), and improve your sleep.³

The Tip: Reduce ultra-processed foods in your diet.⁴

The Twist: Create a cookbook club with friends or neighbors. When you eat more homemade meals, you eat fewer ultra-processed foods. And when you incorporate others into a new habit, you’re more likely to stick with it.⁵ Team up with others who also strive to eat healthier, and find a cookbook with recipes that match your goals. Then, plan a menu in which each person prepares a dish from the selected cookbook. You’ll expand your repertoire of homemade meals, and you might find a new favorite dish.

The Pay-off: By reducing your intake of ultra-processed foods, you’re reducing your risk for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death. You may also lessen your chances of developing other conditions, including type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and hypertension.⁶

The Tip: Manage stress.⁷

The Twist: Sometimes, managing stress may be about doing less. Setting boundaries and not taking on more than we can reasonably do is one way to reduce stress. Sometimes, however, managing stress is about doing more. One powerful way to manage stress is to add something fun to your schedule that you’ll enjoy.⁸ Perhaps you pick up a new hobby, start a weekly class, or schedule regular meet-ups with friends. Remember: Prioritizing moments of fun and relaxation can be the medicine we need sometimes.

The Pay-off: Stress in the mind is felt all over the body. When you manage stress, you lower your risk for health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression. Long-term stressors that aren’t well managed can also lead to generalized anxiety disorders.⁹

Learn more about adopting positive health habits:

• Five Steps to Prioritize Your Health in 2025
• How to Practice Self Care
• Five Steps to Good Health: Essential Advice for Men