Self-care Sundays: AI-driven wellness and relaxation

How to use AI for wellness

Generative AI tools are great tools for brainstorming and coming up with ideas, but first, you’ll need a working understanding of what self-care is. Merriam-Webster defines “self-care” as “health care provided by oneself often without the consultation of a medical professional.” But practically speaking, self-care encompasses a set of practices one does to care for one’s overall wellbeing, often with a focus on mental or physical health.

So where dose AI come in? Here are just a few of the many ways you can use AI to develop a healthy lifestyle:

• Design a personalized morning routine. Use generative AI to help you create the perfect self-care morning routine, starting with asking for information on sleep cycles, morning stretches, and ideas for personalized breakfast recipes based on your dietary needs.
• Meditate with AI. You can also prompt generative AI for meditation guidance, or download an AI-powered meditation app and enjoy one of their sessions (many are free, or offer free trials). Meditation is a great self-care technique and a fantastic way to cultivate mindfulness and relaxation.
• Create a relaxation routine. Create a custom relaxation routine with AI, which may include popular approaches like a soothing bath, aromatherapy, yoga, and calming music.
• Get real-time tips on wellness. AI can’t (and shouldn’t) replace human experts and healthcare practitioners, but it can help you stay motivated and focused on your goals. Prompt an AI tool to keep you on track with things like reminders to drink water regularly, find ideas for customized workout plans, or even provide motivational quotes when you’re feeling down.
• Wind down before bed. There’s no better way to end a self-care Sunday than a relaxing bedtime routine. Get soothing bedtime activity suggestions from AI, like book suggestions or deep breathing exercises.
• Try some journaling. Writing your thoughts down can help you process them and let them go for the day. Test the waters with an AI tool by asking for journaling prompts related to mindfulness, emotional awareness, or gratitude. In addition, pairing journaling with meditation is a great way to reflect on your experiences.
• Get creative with art. Use AI image-creation tools to make your very own art pieces or get inspiration for your own hands-on self-expression. You can even explore prompts for specific styles, mediums, or topics.
• Go for a nature walk. While AI can’t physically accompany you on a stroll (unless you have an app on your phone!) you can use AI-powered apps to find local nature centers and trails. If you live in a concrete jungle, ask AI for walking and hiking path suggestions. Going for a long walk is a great way to clear your mind while getting some exercise.
• Learn new well-being strategies. To top off your self-care routine, use generative AI to assemble resources for further reading or videos on wellbeing practices from traditions that are new to you. From mantras and visualizations to laughing yoga, there’s so much to explore. Maybe you’ll find something new to try next Sunday.

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The next time you feel nervous about the work week or just need a little you-time, try something new with the help of AI.