The Self-Care Routine Best For You Based On Your Zodiac Sign Element

We all unwind and nurture ourselves in different ways after a long, stressful day. A hot bath, a good meal, our favorite Netflix series, or maybe an extraneous run and some weight lifting. What replenishes and restores us to a state of peace can vary greatly. As they say, what's normal for the spider is chaos for the fly. But there may be more of a pattern to this than you'd think, and if you're into astrology, you can likely guess why.

"Just like the name suggests, your Sun helps you understand your 'solar power,'" Madi Murphy, CosmicRx founder and professional astrologer, told TZR. "The more you get to know your Sun, the more you have focused awareness of your consciousness and the more you tap into your limitless, unrealized potential." This all boils down to the element of your sign: fire, water, air, or earth. Water signs, for example, "may need self-care that has a gentle flow and honors emotions," said Murphy.

You can probably intuit that fire signs may require more energizing forms of care while air signs crave intellectual inspiration (via Slow North). Let's take a deeper dive into the self-care routine best suited to each element of the zodiac.

These fiery beings are known for their passion, drive, and high energy levels. Implementing self-care can actually be a bit tricky for this element as they often don't know how to slow down. So, the key is finding an effective way to channel that energy into something soothing, cathartic, and balancing. Napping can actually be particularly restorative for fire signs who need a restart (via Slow North). They may also want to try a new hobby. Something meditative like beading, weaving, or knitting could be a great avenue for fire signs. And we can't forget movement.

"Fire signs need to exercise and be dynamic in their everyday life. That means that their wellness routine needs to incorporate discovery of new places or practices, getting out of the house to get wellness, and even traveling for wellness," said Veroshk Williams, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and astrologer, and the founder of REST Wellness, in an interview with Bustle.

This earthy trio of the zodiac is known to appreciate luxury, decadence, and, well, the earth (via Slow North). Time in nature is especially restorative for earth signs. Fresh air and beautiful views will help them feel right at home. Massages, facials, bodywork, pedicures –- essentially, if you're an earth sign and you're having a rough day, a trip to the spa is your quickest cure. "Earth-centered Taurus loves things of the natural world that are moved through their senses, which brings them so much joy and delight," said Stephanie Gailing, astrologer and author of The Complete Guide to Astrological Self-Care, per EatingWell.

These pragmatic signs may also teeter into stress territory if their environment is tidy and well organized. So, if the clutter is piling up and you can feel the panic seeping in, take a moment to get things in order and then reward yourself afterward with a face mask, some decadent chocolate, candles, and an episode of your favorite show.

These dreamy, flowy thinkers will benefit from tuning out the noise and tuning into the rhythm of creation. Engaging in something hands-on can be super grounding for air signs, and they likely need a bit of that. Learning about a new subject through a podcast or documentary is another powerful route to take (via Slow North). Overthinking can be exhausting, so if you're engaging in a form of self-care like getting a massage or going on a hike, but the whole time your mind is replaying stressful situations or imagining potential catastrophes, then the whole replenish and rebalance mission is really not being accomplished.

"The best self-care strategies for air signs are arts and crafts, puzzles, listening to music, dancing, and anything that connects them creatively. It's important that air signs practice mindlessness into their daily life in order to let their overactive mind rest," said Veroshk Williams, Ph.D., told Bustle.

Water signs are known to be the most intuitive and sensitive of the zodiac. They are also likely to put the needs of others before their own, so self-care practices are especially key for Cancer, Pisces, and Scorpio. Chances are high they've all experienced firsthand that you can't pour from an empty well.

"Water signs need to connect with spiritual practices such as contemplation (that can be just reading, meditation, or achieved by baking), chanting or praying, taking long baths, or submerging in bodies of water. Taking time to process emotions (this is why psychotherapy should be part of their wellness routine) is a key element for water sign wellness," said Veroshk Williams, Ph.D., shared with Bustle.

Naturally, time near the healing powers of bodies of water will be particularly restorative for water signs, as will staying hydrated. They are highly in tune with the spiritual realms and are likely to receive messages through their dreams. Keeping a dream journal could provide clarity and a deeper sense of connection for water signs (via EatingWell).