The best self-care practice according to your zodiac sign

If 2020 has taught us anything, it's the importance of self-care. As 2021 is well underway and we're trying really hard to stick to our new year resolutions - many of us are also working to adopt new habits that boost our wellbeing and levels of productivity.

And with more of us searching on Google for the term "star sign 2021" within the last month alone (up 9.900%), it looks like we're all hoping for a better year.

So to give us some inspiration, Health practitioner Gemma Hampson at the health and wellbeing brand GearHungry reveals the best self-care practices according to your Zodiac sign so you can get off to a great start...

The best self-care practice according to your zodiac sign

Aries (March 21 – April 19): UNSUBSCRIBE

An Aries is a natural born leader that applies focus and determination to every task. But it also means they hate dithering and like duties to be completed in a timely manner. Their competitive nature makes them work hours on end as they strive to be the best so they have to be careful of burnout. For this reason, carving out time to practice self care is crucial to an Aries.  

#Unsubscribe: The mail inbox of an Aries tends to be packed with work-related assets, subscription newsletters etc. Make organising your emails your first act of self-care.  Unsubscribing, deleting, and creating folders to organise messages will ease stress on a daily basis. You will also see instant rewards – crucial to an Aries as they feel that this self-care practice doubles up as a productive task.      

Taurus (April 20 – May 20): INDULGENCE

A Taurus is very opinionated and can be incredibly stubborn. They crave structure, routine, and stability. A person that holds the Taurus sign loves calm, a luxurious home sanctuary and a chance to rest in a quiet environment. In this case the best self care would be... 

#Indugence:  Meditation accompanied by scented candles is perfect for a Taurus.  The meditation aligns with a Taurus’ desire to position themselves in one place and the candles add a touch of luxury that the Taurus is accustomed to. Frequent meditation reduces stress by suppressing the body’s production of cortisol. As a Taurus craves structure, it's advised they practice their meditation at the same time and in a designated area every time.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20): HIIT WORKOUT

A Gemini is a social butterfly who loves to meet new people so they tend to dip in and out of social circles and know a little about everyone. They are always on the go and their mind works at a million miles an hour. They do not like being tied down in terms of relationships or social commitments and are likely to change their mind several times before sticking to a plan.

#HIIT: Not all self-care is calm and somewhat ‘still’. Consider any practice that is voluntarily adopted in order to improve oneself (whether that is physically, mentally, or educationally) is an act of self-care.  As a Gemini is fast moving and loses focus easily, HIIT workouts and/or circuit training are strongly suited as a means to boost energy levels and enhance a positive mindset. This frequent change in exercises over the course of the workout will aid in keeping the focus of a Gemini and ensure that no two workouts are the same.  

Cancer (June 21 – July 22): A RELAXING BATH

"Cancerians hold the most emotional depth in the Zodiac signs. They have great emotional instincts, often rely on their gut feeling and are their social circles ‘go to’ people for advice. They love being at home, in their ‘safe’ environment and often analyse all of the possible outcomes of visiting a new place before they take the plunge and go there in person."

Indulgent self-care practices come naturally to a Cancer....

#Bath:  A cancer is naturally drawn to water. They feel at peace on the beach and floating in the sea. Failing a visit to the ocean, drawing a bath is an event in the Cancerian household. They can spend hours in it sifting through their thoughts, thinking of new ideas and deciding how to move forward with their week.  A warm bath increases the temperature of the body and relaxes muscles. As a bath rapidly has a direct impact on the body, it results in instant relaxation along with less anxiety and stress.

Leo (July 23 – August 22) : DANCE

Leos are confident, secure in their opinions and not afraid to rock the boat. They tend to own the room and exert passion and enthusiasm. But they are also are extremely loyal and love to receive compliments. As Leos love attention, they are attracted to self-care practices that showcase their talents and encourage praise.

#Dance:  Whether it is partaking in formal lessons or dancing around your living room and following YouTube tutorials, Leos are sure to look forward to this self-care practice. The advantages of dance is that you can align the pace of the practice with how you feel.  Improving posture and stamina is a given however, dance also enhances coordination, communication skills and even cognitive function.     

Virgo (August 23 – September 22) : ART

Absolute perfectionists, a Virgo will practice and practice until they are pros! However, their perfectionist trait sees that they are often self-critical and can be extremely hard on themselves. As a highly creative and also a philosopher/daydreamer, they are artistic and often use it as an outlet to express their deepest thoughts.

#Art: A stickler for routine, a Virgo will thrive when practicing their act of self-care at the same time every day. Sitting in a quite environment and drawing and/or painting for a steady period of time is perfect for a Virgo and is an act of self-care and mindfulness. Mindfulness inspires participants to be consciously present in the moment and alone with their thoughts. 

Libra (September 23 – October 22) : CRYSTALS

Libras thrive in relationships and they tend to be people pleasers, so those closest to them can grow frustrated as they strive to keep everyone happy. They are great listeners and give advice with ease. But not the best at making decisions it is common that a Libra will start several projects at once but never fully finish them.

#Crystalwork:  Short practices work best for a Libra as anything with substantial commitment can throw them. As they appreciate the beauty in material things, working with crystals is a terrific self-care practice. A Libra will not be alone in their crystal work as Adele, Victoria Beckham and Kylie Jenner have all talked about their work with crystals. Crystal work can be practiced for 30 seconds or several hours and also be displayed around the home, perfect for a libra's aesthetic - check our crystals for beginners guide and get started.

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): NATURE WALK

A Scorpio is fiercely protective of their loved ones. A Scorpio's social circle is often surprised by their successes, as they often keep their road to success a secret until they have achieved their goals. But a Scorpio is a good person to have on side in a crisis as nothing phases them, no matter what the subject matter. 

#Nature: A Scorpio is at home in nature and at their best when they are outside.  Walking in the great outdoors is the perfect self-care activity for a Scorpio. Studies have proven that spending time in an outdoor space encourages a positive mood, boosts self-esteem, and increases the body’s levels of serotonin.  

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): VISIONBOARD

Full of energy and a flare for fun, hanging out with a Sagittarius always guarantees a good time. The don’t take life too seriously, but their carefree nature makes them loath deadlines and means they are terrible timekeepers. They may not achieve all of their dreams, but they are okay to keep the dream. A Sagittarius is great at getting themselves out of difficult situations and even enjoy the thrill of it.

#visionboard:  Creating a vision board is perfect for a Sagittarius. Not only does it present the opportunity to put their dreams on paper, but it also streamlines their ideas and encourages them to assess what is important to them. Creating vision boards boosts your mood and increases energy levels as it stirs excitement and promotes productivity.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) : YOGA

Capricorn is synonymous with workaholic. They are fiercely independent, self-sufficient and ambitious. Capricorns strive for success; they often climb the career ladder and are general overachievers. However, although accomplishing major success is the norm for a Capricorn, they will never shout about it or show off their success. As a result, self-care practices that serve as an energy boost are a must.

#Ongoinglearning:  Capricorns love to learn new things on an ongoing basis. Self-care practices that are never ‘completed’ and encourage participants to always find something new in their practices are pretty much made for Capricorns. Yoga is an ideal practice for Capricorns as it boosts energy, eases anxiety, promotes the notion that poses can always be improved and has endless books that fuel a person’s knowledge of the practice. Yoga boosts energy by improving posture, lifting the chest, and increasing lung capacity.  Supporting breath work, energy levels are increased. 

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) : SOLO PUZZLE GAME

An Aquarius thinks outside the box with ease and adores unusual activities. Although an Aquarius may be a geek on the inside, they succeed in providing the shock factor amongst their social circles and trust people that allow them to be themselves. It can take a while for an Aquarius to trust you though, and they are often perceived as cold. An Aquarius is always thinking. They are never likely to make a spontaneous decision and instead favour making considered choices. It may come as no surprise that an Aquarius will benefit from a self-care practice that is an ongoing game/puzzle.

#Gamesplayedsolo: A digital game that can be played solo however with others online to complement their team player skills is perfect for an Aquarius. The likes of Animal crossing is pretty perfect for an Aquarius who wants to have some time out.  It not only presents the opportunity to express their creativity but also use their analytical skills and communicate with others.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20) : JOURNALLING

A Pisces is deeply rooted in emotion and holds no judgement of others. A big cryer, they are not afraid to show their emotions in front of others so it is no surprise that a Pisces is a romantic type.

A Pisces is often believed to have psychic tendencies and is often ruled by their gut feeling. They can be considered to be delusional by others however, they easily adapt to their surroundings.

#Journaling:  With psychic tendencies and an inner wisdom, the most beneficial self-care practice for a Pisces is journaling. Manifesting is second nature to a Pisces.  Journaling accesses the left side of the brain, working to unblock the right side to create and feel.