Self-Care Made Simple: Developing an Official Routine You’ll Love

In today’s fast-paced world, taking care of ourselves often falls to the bottom of our to-do lists. But what if prioritizing self-care could transform your life?

Self-care is not only vital for maintaining clear skin and a healthy body but also for our emotional and mental well-being. When we practice self-care, we care for our bodies both inside and out.

Did you know that around 74% of citizens in the USA associate self-care only with physical health? Interestingly, only 52% also associate self-care with mental health and wellness.

Establishing a self-care routine involves understanding your needs to nurture your body, mind, and soul. When you have a busy schedule, sticking to your self-care routine can be hard, but it isn’t impossible.

If you’ve clicked on this blog, you’re likely motivated and interested in knowing how to create a self-care routine. That’s perfect because I have the solution for you!

In this blog, I will guide you through simple steps you can start incorporating into your daily life to begin practicing self-care.

What does self-care mean?

Understanding self-care is like filling your cup of water first.

Explanation: Imagine you are a cup. If you keep pouring your energy and time into helping others without first refilling your cup, you’ll eventually be just an empty cup. To give, you need to get. Self-care is about taking the time to fill your cup so you have more to give.

It is about nurturing your body from the inside and out, particularly in stressful times. In doing so, you are maintaining healthy physical, emotional, and mental health.

What are the different types of self-care?

Physical Self-Care

• Doing exercise: Regular physical activities like walking, running, yoga, or dancing.
• You are giving your body the right nutrition: Eating a balanced diet without restrictions.
• Getting enough sleep
• Hygiene: Maintaining personal cleanliness and grooming if wished.
• Medical Care: Attending regular health check-ups and following medical advice.

Mental Self-Care

• Mindfulness and Meditation: Practising mindfulness or meditation to calm the mind and reduce stress.
• Engaging in intellectually stimulating activities such as reading, puzzles, or learning new skills.
• Expressing yourself through art, writing, music, or other creative activities.
• Therapy: Seeking professional help to discuss and manage mental health issues.

Emotional Self-Care

• Emotional Awareness: Recognizing and acknowledging your emotions.
• Expression: Finding healthy ways to express emotions, such as talking, journaling, or creating art.
• Boundaries: Setting and maintaining boundaries to protect your emotional well-being.
• Support Systems: Building and relying on supportive relationships with friends and family.

Assessing your needs

Before we start, it is important to assess your needs. Everyone is different, and as much as I want to help you in creating a self-care routine, I don’t know what your specific needs are.

Step 1: Assess your current state

What is missing? Maybe you are always tired and don’t have the energy to do anything. Or perhaps you often feel stressed and burned out. Or maybe you are showing symptoms of a nutritional deficiency.

Step 2: Make a checklist

Create a checklist of everything that is currently missing. Put them into the following three categories:

1. Physical Self-Care
2. Mental Self-Care
3. Emotional Self-Care

Step 3: Use journaling to identify patterns

If you are unsure what to include in the checklist, keeping a journal is a great way to identify patterns and areas that need more attention. This could include:

• Writing down your thoughts
• Keeping a mood diary
• Writing down your feelings

Step 4: Create an overview of your self-care needs

Once you have an overview of these areas for improvement, it’s time to move on to making an action plan and setting goals.

Step 5: Make an action plan

1. Set Specific Goals:
   • Define clear, achievable goals for each area of self-care.
   • Example: “I will go for a 30-minute walk three times a week.”
2. Develop a Routine:
   • Incorporate self-care activities into your daily schedule.
   • Example: “I will spend a few minutes every evening to cream in my skin.”
3. Start Small:
   • Begin with small changes and gradually build up.
4. Monitor Progress:
   • Keep track of your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
   • Example: “I will journal my journey weekly to see if it improves.”

Self-care routine creation: What are the next steps?

From now on, it’s quite simple. After all the brainstorming has been done, you can now focus on the action side of things. The hardest part will be staying consistent with it. However, if you have gotten this far in this blog, then you have shown great determination to make a change. And that is what matters most!

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going

Jim Rohn

Morning Mindset: What Not to Do and What to Do Instead

Starting your day right is the stepping stone to a successful day. According to recent statistics, 92% of highly successful people have a solid morning routine, and highly productive individuals are likelier to have a set morning routine.

What Not to Do

The first thing most people do when they wake up is check their phone for new messages. However, this habit exposes you to an information overload right away. Engaging with complex or negative information immediately after waking up can drain your mental energy, making you feel tired even after a good night’s sleep.

Skipping breakfast makes things worse. Breakfast is often called the most important meal, as it provides your body with the necessary nutrients to kickstart your day. Skipping it robs your body of essential nutrition, impacting your overall energy and productivity.

What to Do Instead

1. Ensure You Get Enough Sleep: A good night’s rest is the foundation of a productive day.
2. Start Your Day with a Glass of Water: Hydrate your body to kickstart your metabolism and reduce discomfort.
3. Make your bed: by doing so, you have completed your first task for the day. Starting with something simple and gradually building up.
4. Take Medication (if any) and Vitamins: Keep your health in check by taking necessary medications and supplements.
5. Take Time to Balance Yourself: Spend five minutes grounding yourself, whether it’s sitting quietly in bed, in the kitchen, or on your way to work.
6. Make a Nutritious Breakfast: Fuel your body with a nutritious meal to boost your energy levels. I tend to opt for a sweet breakfast, such as banana-baked oats or sugar-free muesli.
7. Walk to Work or School (if you have extra time): Incorporate fresh air into your routine. If you don’t have time for a walk, find an open window to work near, or consider working outside on a terrace if possible.

By avoiding negative habits and adopting positive ones, you can set a powerful tone for the rest of your day.

Steps for Midday Self-care

During the day we are exposed to information overload and stress. To ensure you are looking after yourself, follow these steps:

• Breaktime: Taking breaks allows you to gather your thoughts, and restore your energy. This includes taking shorter 5-minute breaks and a longer 30-minute break. During this time you can have your lunch or a snack, or you could go out for a nice walk.
• Drink water: During the day make sure to keep hydrated, especially if you are moving a lot, or when it’s hot out.
• Stress and anxiety: When you start feeling overwhelmed, it is important to think about your own needs first. Take a step back and remove yourself from the thing that is causing stress. After taking some deep breaths, reevaluate how you are feeling. When you are ready, go back and conquer.
• Reduce screen time: on your way to work or school, try and limit the time spent on your phone. Take a book with you instead.
• Create a to-do list: write down what you want to have accomplished by the end of the day. If you don’t manage to finish everything, then don’t worry because there is always a tomorrow. Sort your tasks by importance. This can be done using the Eisenhower Matrix.

By incorporating these midday self-care practices into your routine, you will be able to manage stress more easily and maintain balance throughout the day. Remember, self-care is an ongoing process, and it’s important to consistently prioritize your well-being.

Nighttime Self-Care Routine

After a long day, it’s finally time to relax. Throw off your bra, slip into those jogging bottoms, and make a cup of tea or grab a beer.

How we relax in the evening is individual to us, but we need to make sure that what we do is beneficial. Here are some ideas on what to include in your nighttime self-care routine:

Ideas for Your Nighttime Self-Care Routine:

1. Do Some Light Stretches to release tension and prepare your body for rest.
2. Switch Off Your Devices: Instead, engage in some offline activities
3. Take a Refreshing Shower: Gently cleanse yourself with your favorite soaps. Afterward, moisturize your body with a soothing body cream.
4. Listen to Music or Read a Book: Enjoy some calming music or lose yourself in a good book.
5. Journal or Pursue a Creative Activity: Write in your journal, draw, or paint. This is the perfect time to indulge in your creative passions.
6. Use Essential Oils: Diffuse relaxing essential oils like lavender or chamomile to create a calming atmosphere.
7. Drink a cup of Tea
8. Prepare for Tomorrow: Meal prep, lay out your clothes, and pack your bags to ease your morning routine.
9. Get a Good Night’s Sleep

By incorporating these activities into your nighttime routine, you can create a peaceful and restorative end to your day. Prioritize your well-being and make self-care a consistent part of your evening.

I hope this blog has helped you get a better idea of what to include in your self-care routine. Remember, it won’t always be possible to do everything you wish to do, but it’s important to come back to it.