13 Ways Men Can Look After Themselves

Posted On April 18, 2025

Life can be a total whirlwind and between dealing with family, your career, social obligations and your own hobbies, finding time to look after yourself in a meaningful way is not the easiest! When we talk about looking after yourself, we don’t just mean running a nice bath (though, there’s nothing wrong with that), but we’re talking about actually looking after yourself with a proper wellness routine.

 

Men are often taught that wellness routines are ‘girly’ and yet it is something that men need to embrace to be as fulfilled as possible. It’s all about staying healthy, mentally sharp and feeling great in your own skin and whether you are starting to take better care of yourself physically or you want to take care of yourself mentally, you deserve to know that looking after yourself is allowed. Here are some of the top ways that men can look after themselves better:

Make sleep your priority

Sleep is always going to be the best thing to do to improve your health. Skipping out on your sleep is going to make you feel irritable, tired and it’s going to cause weight gain and poor concentration, too. If you don’t want to risk heart disease and high blood pressure, you need to make sure that you’re literally giving yourself a bedtime to stick to. Sleep is what you need to be in good health so seven to nine hours of it each night shouldn’t be optional. A good sleep schedule is a must because better sleep leads to a better life.

Pay attention to your hair

If there is one thing that’s a crowning glory for women, it’s her hair. But did you know most men think the same? Hair thinning affects millions of men, and whether it’s a receding hairline, thinning at the crown, or shedding that seems faster than usual, it’s completely normal and it’s treatable. If you notice that your hair has started to thin on top or your hairline is receding, don’t just ignore it or cover it with a hat. Definitely don’t just comb whatever hair is left forward. Instead, seek help for hair thinning by your doctor. They can either refer you to a dermatologist to help you, or they’ll be able to identify whether it’s due to genetics, stress, or medical issues. From laser hair therapy to hair transplants, the earlier you take action, the more options you have.

Eat like your body needs it.

Your body is going to use food as fuel. Everything that you eat directly affects how you feel and your health and how much energy you have. You don’t have to become a health nut or go vegan overnight, but it’s always better to make good food choices where you can. Not only will this make a big difference to your health over time, but eating more fruits and vegetables are going to boost your nutrition. Start eating with intention. Make sure that what you are eating is going to be better for you and your long term health.

Move your body every day.

Exercise is not just something for athletes or bodybuilders, but it’s for everyone. With physical activity, you’re going to boost your energy, improve your heart health and support your own mental well-being. It’s also going to help you to manage your weight. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym everyday, but you do have to give yourself at least half an hour a day that can make a difference to you. Go for a walk, take the stairs instead of the lift, do body weight exercises at home. You could even ride a bike or try yoga. Anything that gets you moving is going to be a win because the goal is consistency, not perfection.

Don’t leave your mental health behind.

This is not just about avoiding depression, although that’s probably a good idea. In fact, checking in on your own mental health is all about how you cope with your stress, how you relate to others, and what choices you make. Many men still believe that they have to tough it out when they’re feeling overwhelmed, but they don’t. It’s always OK to talk about how you’re feeling, but it might be better to reach out to a therapist or a counsellor rather than leaning on your loved ones all the time. If you know that you need some additional and more complex health, getting that help and asking for it is smart, not weak.

Don’t ignore grooming.

It’s not vain to have a self-care routine or a skin care routine. If you have a beard, keep it trimmed. If you have longer nails, keep them clean. There’s nothing unmanly about going to get a pedicure or a manicure. It’s not extra to keep your hair and your nails clean, it’s basic hygiene. Looking after your appearance is going to help you to feel more confident and more presentable, whether you’re going to work on a date or you’re just chilling with friends.

Book to see the Doctor.

It’s nobody’s favorite thing to do, but when was your last check up? If your answer is that you don’t remember, then it’s time to book one. Preventive health is key to keeping any conditions under control before they become something difficult to handle. You should have your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar tested regularly and regular check ups can catch issues before they become major problems. Talking to your doctor about screenings for prostate health, colon cancer, and other age-related conditions lead to much better outcomes because you’re taking on board early action and how important it is.

Stretch and breathe.

In between smashing out those workplace deadlines and lifting weights at the gym, it’s time to take stock of breathing and stretching and what they could do for you. You believe your morning stretch and your usual breathing is going to make a difference. It’s not. Not in the same way that actual intentional stretching and breathing can do for you. Being mindful in what you do is going to lead to you feeling comfortable and happy. It’s also going to help you to prevent injuries and reduce muscle soreness. Just 5-10 minutes a day of stretching and mindful breathing can help you to feel more centered and in control.

Don’t let your friendships lapse.

When life is busy, it’s very easy to put friendships on the back burner, but where you can, try to avoid that. Your friends need to know that you are there for them. Strong friendships can improve your mental and emotional health, and having a village around you is going to help to pick you up when you’re feeling especially low. Call them, text them, or just plan something simple like grabbing a beer or going for a hike. Relationships take work, even for men.

Push yourself to learn something new.

Learning doesn’t stop just because you’re out of school these days. It’s important that you are pushing yourself to learn new things because that’s the way that you’re going to grow as a person. You could learn to cook a new dish, you could learn to pick up a new hobby, or you could even watch educational videos that can make you feel good about yourself just to be part of them. Whatever you do, make sure that you are continuously allowing yourself to learn, because often you’ll find that people, men especially, feel that it’s beneath them to do so. Don’t be that guy.

Look after your skin.

Men have the opportunity to take in the sun and enjoy that feeling, but also can develop skin cancer just like women can. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in men, and most of it comes from too much sun. Whether you’re outside just for beach days or you’re working outdoors, using an SPF 30 plus sunscreen every single day is important and you should remember to reapply.

Take breaks.

It’s important that you are taking regular breaks in your day-to-day life even if you’ve got stress going on and because burning out is no fun for anybody. If you’re not taking regular breaks, you’re soon going to feel the effects of burning out too quickly, and this could have all been avoided simply by making sure that you take a moment to breathe.

Be kind to yourself where you can.

You are a human being, which means you’re going to make mistakes. There will be times that you skip workouts and there will be times that you get things wrong, but the key is in making sure that you are looking after yourself while all that’s happening. If you don’t take regular breaks, you’re soon going to feel the effects of that. And all of it could have been avoided in the first place.