Saturday Self Care Checklist, Ideas, and Planner
A Saturday self care checklist and printable planner to reset and recharge! Ideas for quick wins and self-care days.
As spring’s fresh breezes push out winter’s chill and we swap long sleeves for short ones, I’ve been thinking about self-care. How can I embrace this season of new beginnings—and shake off what’s currently draining my time or energy?
If your days feel like a blur of to-dos and you’re forgetting what “self care” even means, let’s reset together!
Right, So, What Is Self-Care? You’ll find a dozen definitions out there, but to me, it’s about filling your cup so you can be your BEST SELF.
Like Katie Reed said,
“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.”
And that’s why self care is important! When you’re feeling joyful and recharged, everything flows better—from how you handle stress to how you connect with others.
But we don’t need to wait for a seasonal change to start. Every weekend gives us the chance to reset and recharge!
That’s why I created a Saturday Self-Care Checklist packed with feel-good ideas and DIYs we can make. Whether you’ve got five minutes or a whole afternoon, you’ll find something here to lift your mood and love on yourself a little more.
This article contains some affiliate links. Thank you for your support. Please read the full disclosure policy for more details.
How To Create A Self Care Checklist
Between work, family, friendships, and chasing goals, it can feel like there’s zero “me-time” left in the week. That’s exactly where a Saturday Self-Care Checklist can make a difference.
From balancing the demands of work, a family, and staying connected with friends or working toward goals, sometimes it can feel like there’s no “me-time” left in the week. That’s where a Saturday self care checklist comes in!
Don’t let the title fool you, you don’t have to set aside an entire day. Self-care isn’t an all-or-nothing game. It’s about choosing what fits your life right now. Whether you’ve got five minutes or an hour, there’s an activity that can help you feel more grounded, present, and refreshed.
Start Small and Build From There
Pick just one thing to try. That’s it. If it feels good, add it to your routine and build from there. Love soaking in the tub? Light a candle next time before you step in. Toss in a scoop of DIY bath salts or apply a face mask. Layering these little luxuries can turn ordinary moments into actual self-care.
Switch Up the Approach
You don’t have to do things the “right” way. Take journaling—I love it, but I’m not always in the mood to fill an entire page. So I use a five-year journal where I write just a few sentences a day. Some days, it’s just one line of gratitude. That still counts! (Sometimes all you need is a different way of doing something.)
Turn Self-Care Into a Habit
Think of self-care as a form of habit-stacking that supports your goals. Want to read 20 books this year? Try swapping out your scroll time and reading for the last 30 minutes before bed. Little by little, those habits add up—and before you know it, you’re showing up for yourself daily.
(Starting a book series helps, too. I just started the Crown of Glass series!)
Over time, you’ll build a list of self-care activities that bring joy, calm, and energy back into your day.
Ready to get started? Grab your checklist and printable planner below—it’s packed with doable ideas and DIYs to help you make self-care stick!
you may also like
Your Self Care Checklist & Printable Planner
Self care is a powerful tool to reset, indulge, and recharge to give yourself the boost you need to be your best! And creating a self-care routine is simple when you’ve got a great list of ideas.
This printable Saturday self care checklist and planner is all yours! Print them from the Oily Chic Library. Then build your self care routine with these ideas for quick wins, pampering beauty recipes, and full-on self care days!
Planning Your Self Care Routine
You’ll find a wide range of ideas to make your own self care checklist. Combine familiar favorites with fresh ideas to build a self-care routine that actually feels good. Think simple things that support your body, mindset, and energy—with a little “oh-la-la” mixed in.
To make it easy to get started, I’ve grouped ideas into sweet time blocks, so you can choose self care activities by how much free time you have. You’ll see that even five minutes can make a difference.
And I’m sharing plenty of DIY options—like easy roller blends, relaxing bath soaks, and other tools you can reuse again and again. So, let’s find your zen zone!
Quick 5 Minute Mood Boosts
Text Someone Who Feels Like Sunshine – Whether it’s a quick “thinking of you” or a funny gif, reaching out to someone positive can lift your mood instantly.⠀
Unwind – Pick a stress-busting diffuser blend and add to the diffuser in the room you’re in. Take a moment to cup your hands around the mist, close your eyes, and inhale.
Step Into the Sunlight – Walk outside, stand by a window, or step onto your porch. Five minutes of fresh air and sunshine can reset your whole vibe.
Have 5 Minutes? Fill a 10 ml roller bottle with this blend, then fill it up with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil. Carry this magic wand of calmness in your pocket and roll it onto your wrists or temples whenever stress strikes.
15 Minute Pick-Me-Ups
Unplug – When you’re planning your self-care routine, think about how digital distractions can affect your mood. By setting aside tech-free time blocks, you can lower stress and boost productivity.
Indulge – For many of us, stress equates to tension in the neck and shoulders. There’s nothing like a massage to help relieve it! Mix up a bottle of DIY massage oil to apply and use with a handheld massager.
Have 15 Minutes? Add an eucalyptus blend to your diffuser, then:
- Read a chapter in your book
- Apply a smoothing lip scrub
- Turn down the lights and dry brush
- Make a fresh iced matcha
Get Your Glow Back – Just feeling good about the way we look can make an incredible shift in our mind set. Craft a luxurious coffee scrub to shed dead skin, tighten, and renew. Why not apply a DIY body shimmer spray after? It’s great for enhancing a glowy, sun-kissed look.
30 Minutes of Zen
Hydrate – Slice up fresh fruit or cucumber. Toss them into a large glass tumbler or pitcher with some fresh mint or basil leaves to infuse. Then sip to hydrate and refresh your body.
Uplift – Make uplifting DIY bath salts using essential oils for inner balance. Poured into pretty glass cork top jars, these bath salts are brimming with self-care.
Stretch It Out – Put on calming music and follow a 20–30 minute gentle yoga or stretch video. No pressure or perfect poses—just movement that helps you feel good.
Have 30 Minutes?
- Fill in your self care planner (print yours above)
- Take a magazine to your favorite coffee shop
- Eat lunch al fresco
Cozy Hour Favorites
Pin It – Create a self care mood board on Pinterest (here’s mine) or tack ideas to a pin board. Use it to spark inspiration, planning meaningful “me time.”
Get Hands On – A craft hour can bring a sense of satisfaction while you put idle hands to work. Make Palo Santo bundles or homemade potpourri for a soothing sensory project.
Bake Something Sweet – For a cozy weekend treat, bake a batch of cookies. Snack on a few with a big glass of milk while watching your favorite romcom, or package some up to share with a neighbor.
Reset – Candlelight, essential oils, and crystals are quite a vibe. Together, they create a beautiful way to shift the energy in your space. Make a unique crystal candle bowl and light it when you need to reset your mood.
Have 1 Hour? Stack your favorite self care activities!
- Smudge Palo Santo or light your crystal candle
- Sip iced coffee or fruit-infused water
- Pin to your mood board
- Text a friend to share ideas
- Reflect on what lifts your mood
Enjoy A Picnic – Pack a picnic basket with fresh fruit, cheese, cucumber sandwiches, and a couple of macarons. Add two mini bottles of rosé and invite a friend to meet you at the park.
Relax – I know you’ll love some relaxing soap making vibes, too. Learn how to make soap on a rope in less than 30 minutes! Thanks to melt and pour soap, it’s as easy as using a cake mix, and just as satisfying.
Soulful Saturday Self Care Day
Connect – Self-care doesn’t have to be solo. A self-care day is the perfect time to call a friend, craft together, or meet up for a walk. Human connection is its own kind of therapy. Need more ideas? Here’s how to plan a spa day at home!
Recharge – One of the best things you can do for self care is getting enough sleep. It’s wildly underrated, but sleep has a HUGE impact on how we feel each day.
Saturdays are perfect for sleeping in and easing into a slow morning. Turn your bedroom into a sleep haven: keep it dark, quiet, and cool. Stash electronics, spritz your pillow with a DIY sleep spray, and unwind with a nighttime ritual.
Don’t have time to sleep in? Plan to go to bed early instead. Diffuse a calming lavender blend, slather on some body butter, and slip into bed with a book. Even one night a week can change how you feel!
Fresh Start – If a certain spot in your home adds stress, now’s the time to change it. Small shifts—like rearranging furniture or decluttering—can help you fall in love with your space again. Start with my Sunny Home Reset for ideas!
Flow – A good weekend self care routine includes time for both creativity and relaxation. Try something new or turn to your favorites such as baking or gardening.
If you haven’t played with clay before, let your creativity flow with these steps to make terracotta stone diffusers! These activities can fill your cup and bring lots of joy and fulfillment.
Feel-Good Movement – Your self care checklist should always include activities that bring you joy. Love rollerblading? Lace up those skates! Prefer dancing in your kitchen to Hip Hop? Crank it up! Moving our bodies in fun, feel-good ways helps melt away stress and reset our mood.
If you diffused a mood-boosting blend, whipped up a quick DIY, or just took a moment to breathe—you did something for you, and that matters. Self-care doesn’t have to be fancy or time-consuming. It just has to feel good and make space for you to show up fully.
Bookmark this checklist, tweak it to fit your vibe, and keep coming back whenever you need a reset. You deserve to feel your best—on Saturdays and every day in between.
Did you try one of the ideas or made your own self-care twist? I’d love to see it! Snap a photo and tag #oilychic on Instagram —I might just feature your fab idea!
