Surprising ‘self-care’ activities Brits swear by – gardening, cleaning and ironing

May 15, 2026

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Surprising ‘self-care’ activities Brits swear by – gardening, cleaning and ironing

From deep cleaning the bathroom to weeding the garden – Brits are ditching expensive spa days for these unexpected self-care rituals that support their mental wellbeing

Brits’ favourite methods of self-care include ironing, washing the car and giving the bathroom a thorough scrub. Alongside more conventional ways of looking after yourself, such as yoga and beauty routines, a poll of 2,000 adults discovered that many forms of ‘self-care’ don’t actually involve looking after yourself at all.

For the majority of respondents (57%), the act of caring for something else, whether it’s an object or a living thing, is considered a form of self-care and plays a vital role in supporting mental wellbeing, with cooking, gardening and pet ownership all featuring in the top 30.

The average adult practises self-care four times a week, for just over three hours in total. This typically occurs after a particularly stressful day, or when they’re feeling emotionally low. However, the primary motivation is simply to enjoy some time to themselves.

The research was commissioned to mark Mental Health Awareness Week by CASIO, makers of Moflin a smart companion powered by AI which has emotions like a living creature and is designed to help people of all ages relax.

Dr Zoe Williams, who partnered with the smart companion to shed light on the benefits of the care effect in everyday routines, said self-care is ‘becoming more personal and less prescriptive’.

“Self-care doesn’t have to mean spa days or meditation,” she said, “it can be found in caring for something else, whether that’s a plant or a treasured object.

“This ‘Care Effect’ creates an external form of mindfulness, helping to calm the nervous system, clear the mind and restore a sense of balance.”

New research reveals that the vast majority of adults (89%) feel it is crucial to educate children about self-care from an early age, fostering healthier sleep, hygiene and nutritional habits, while also helping them manage their emotions and stress — all of which can bolster mental wellbeing.

A spokesperson for the CASIO, makers of Moflin, said: “As the study shows, looking after something else has major benefits to oneself.

“Whether that’s tending to your home, your car, or even a pet, these small acts can create a sense of calm and control, especially when life feels busy or overwhelming.

“There’s a real emotional reward in caring for something outside of yourself.”

The findings also revealed that 27% of people would be ‘interested’ in incorporating AI into their self-care routine to provide comfort and aid emotional regulation.

Industry figures suggest the market for emotionally supportive AI is set to surge from around £666 million in 2022 to £2.2 billion by next year.