I’ve been seeing the TikTok trend “Things I do to fill my cup,” and I love that we’re aware of the things that make us happy and recharged. We give so much to others, but how often do we pour into ourselves?

Whether it’s small daily rituals like our skincare routine or occasional splurges like going to concerts, filling our cup is essential to our well-being.

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If you’ve ever watched the series Parks and Recreation, “Treat Yo Self” is the perfect example of “fill my cup” energy. And if you haven’t seen the show, the phrase basically captures the spirit of self-care and indulging in things that bring you joy.

Life is too short and precious to not “Treat Yo Self” or fill your cup and I hope my list inspires you to think about a list of things that fill your cup. It’s never too late to start!

1) Spend Time with Family

I’m a family-oriented person and spending time with my family is a given. Quality time is one of my love languages, so it makes sense that being with them fills my cup. I love that we don’t have to do much for it to be a good time, but little activities make it even better.

Like watching anime with my husband after a long day, having a “Sissy Day” with my sister over a Philz coffee run, or watching Bridgerton with my mom. Quality time with family (blood or chosen) is my ultimate fill-my-cup act.

Our energy is meant to be around those who help fill your cup, not take from it. Once I realized this, my life shifted for the better.

2) Listen to Music

Music has been a constant in my life since I was a child and it’s a blessing to be deeply connected to it. My earliest memory of music was my dad playing Sade’s concert on a LaserDisc (iykyk).

I’m grateful for all the songs that have soundtracked my life and excited for all the songs I’ve yet to listen to. Just knowing there are new songs I’ll get to dance to and love is something worth living for.

Whether I’m listening to it in the car on my way to work or experiencing it live in concert, music fills my cup and connects to my spirit in a way nothing else does.

It’s no wonder music is central to so many religions and spiritual practices around the world, it’s a universal fill-my-cup act that connects us to something ethereal.

3) Read

Reading is my favorite way to stimulate the mind, especially when I need a break from social media. I’m drawn to reading books about philosophy, psychology, magical realism, creativity, and self-help.

There are books like Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy by William Irwin that I can read all in one day and Aleph by Paulo Coelho that bring me to tears. These are the type of books that fill my cup because they engage my mind and emotions.

4) Write

Writing has filled my cup since childhood with the millions of diaries/journals I’ve kept throughout the years, packed with ideas, thoughts, and stories that linger in the back of my mind. Even if none of my work gets published, the act of writing is satisfying enough.

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What I love about writing is that it feels like a conversation with the Universe. When I write for my blog, I focus on what I love, and those things seem to show up in my life even more. And when I write fiction, it becomes therapy that transforms my past pain and lessons into something creative and healing.

5) Shop

Shopping, especially thrifting, is an occasional fill-my-cup activity because I have to be in the mood for it. But when I am, I can go from a thrift store to an online store and instantly get a rush once I find something I love. Like when I went to a thrift event a few months ago and scored a batch of cute jewelry I was proud to take home.

Jewelry finds from Thriftapalooza in Pomona, CA

Whether it’s clothes, accessories, shoes, or home decor, it’s all a dopamine hit. And shopping with my sister is always a bonus since we have similar taste and can hype each other up with our finds. Shopping fills my cup because it feels like a treasure hunt and it’s just fun.

6) Snowboard

Although snowboarding is a winter-only activity, it fills my cup every time. I first tried it at nine and didn’t stick with it, but twenty years later I got back into it thanks to my husband and I’ve loved it ever since.

Snowboarding with my husband in Big Bear, CA

The best feeling is listening to my curated playlists while I ride because it makes me feel like I’m the coolest woman in the Universe. And if that’s not the most fill-my-cup vibe, I don’t know what is!

What I love most about snowboarding is that I kept wanting to improve, even after those early falls. It’s like something in me knew that it would be worth doing and my intuition was right.

7) Get Massages

Massages are an obvious fill-my-cup activity because they’re such an essential part of caring for my body. With all the sitting I do at work and the natural aches that come with getting older, monthly massages feel non-negotiable.

They’re not just a way to relax, they’re a preventative measure that helps keep my body functioning well and feeling balanced.

8) Watch Films + TV Shows

Just like reading, watching movies and TV shows stimulates my mind and emotions. I love classic films like Clueless (1995) for nostalgia, A24 films like Friendship (2024), and new releases like Weapons (2025).

Getting immersed in a film with a great story and likeable characters easily fills my cup because for a moment I’m transported into another world.

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For TV, I enjoy cerebral mind-fuck shows like Severance on Apple TV and timeless favorites that weird me out but can also make me chuckle like Twin Peaks. Also, when my husband suggest good anime shows like Blue Exorcist, I get hooked and it fills my cup more than I expected.

9) Satisfy Cravings

Sometimes I crave certain foods or sweets and indulging in them (in moderation) definitely fills my cup as someone with a huge sweet tooth.

Tonkatsu ramen from Hiro Nori in Chino, CA

Whether it’s cold and I want a warm bowl of ramen from Hiro Nori, or I’m in the mood for something sweet and refreshing like boba from OMOMO, satisfying those cravings always hits my sweet spot (no pun intended).

10) Travel

Traveling is another occasional fill-my-cup activity I love because experiencing a completely new environment does something positive to my soul.

Whether I’m taking a mini roadtrip to San Diego, heading out of state to Colorado or the Grand Canyon, or traveling abroad to Greece, experiencing new places makes me feel alive and fills my cup to the brim.

10 Things I Do To Fill My Cup