There’s nothing quite like sitting down on the couch after a long (stressful) day and watching one of your favorite movies. Or, maybe you’re in the mood for something new to keep your interest and make you think.
Whatever the case, movies are a great form of self-care. They can help you to relax, escape from the real world for a while, and even put you in a better mood. Movies can be powerful motivators that can encourage you to follow your dreams and reach your goals. Or they can tug at your heartstrings and make you want to reconnect with family.
Whatever you need in your life right now in order to feel good and make your health a priority, chances are there’s a great film waiting for you.
So, draw a hot bath, get your favorite snack (popcorn and ice cream, anyone?), and set the scene for a self-care night with a great movie.
Setting Up Your Space for Self-Care
Setting up your living room can be the first step in self care (photo: Pexels.com)
If you really want to have a relaxing self-care night for yourself, take the time to set up your space. Sure, just turning on a movie can be a good way to escape. But, why not go all out and experience real relaxation?
You can start to relax before you even turn on your movie by taking a long bath beforehand. A hot bath can help to:
- Improve your heart health
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Calm pain and inflammation
- Balance your hormones
- Boost your immune system
You can set a relaxing mood for your bath by listening to soft music, lighting candles, or even using a bath bomb in the tub itself to soothe and exfoliate your skin. Just try to use a bomb with natural ingredients, so you don’t clog your drain!
When you’re finally ready to watch your movie, make sure your room sets the right environment. Stay away from harsh lighting or colors that are too bright. Rooms with comfortable furniture and calming decor can help with stress as well, and rooms that have plants can actually help you to breathe easier and find an overall boost in mood, too. Whatever helps you to stay calm and connect with what’s on the screen will be the most beneficial setup for your movie-watching experience.
Movies That Boost Your Mood
Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper, and Cher in “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” (Universal Pictures, 2018).
Everyone has different tastes when it comes to movies, but there are some consistencies that most people feel when they watch a certain type of film. For example, there’s a reason teenage comedies like “Clueless,” “Booksmart,” and “Mamma Mia!” tend to make you feel good, no matter how many times you’ve seen them (and good luck getting “Dancing Queen” out of your head, now!).
Most of those “feel good” movies dive into the lives of teenagers and the stress they have to deal with on a regular basis. While some of the scenarios in these films might be a little far-fetched, there are some lessons to be learned, including how to talk to your teen about their own stressful situations, or how to deal with them, yourself. Many of these movies look at stress from a comical perspective, which can help you to feel relaxed about any of the negative things going on in your own life.
Romantic comedies also tend to hit that “sweet spot,” especially if you’re struggling with personal relationships. Again, the scenarios in movies like “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” or “You’ve Got Mail” might be a stretch, but watching movies like these can help you to feel better about your own situation, and help you to see the humor in what you might be going through.
Movies That Speak to Your Emotions
Have you ever felt better after a “good cry”? There are plenty of stereotypes about watching emotional movies after big life events, like a breakup or something that makes you feel sad. But, there is actually some science behind that.
Watching movies can actually help to improve your overall mental health. They encourage an emotional release and can even make you think about your own life and make sense of it. Movies that depict mental health issues, like “Lifeline” or “Silver Linings Playbook” can help people dealing with things like depression or anxiety to see their own lives through a storytelling narrative. Even watching biopics of other people’s lives can boost your mood and make you realize that no matter what you’re going through, you’re not alone.
Ironically enough, sad movies can actually make you happier. So, if you feel like watching “The Notebook” or “My Girl” even though you know they will make you ugly cry, they can be extremely cathartic and make you feel thankful for your own life and the people/things in it.
Obviously, there are too many movies to list for the ultimate self care night. Don’t be afraid to choose films that make you feel something or movies that distract you from the everyday and can take you somewhere completely new. Whatever your favorite self-care movie is, make the most of your movie nights, and make it a priority to hit the play button more often.
—by Frankie Wallace
