Is your schedule packed with so many activities it’s hard for you to even breathe, much less enjoy your day-to-day life? A lot of us think of self-care as something we should only do when we get everything else done. And if you’re like most of the women I know, the very last person you take care of is yourself.
Because our lives are so busy, it’s not always easy to make time for yourself, but it’s important, and you’re worth it!
Today, I’m sharing a few of my favorite ways to sneak in some moments of self-care throughout the day, but first, let’s start out by making sure we are clear on one thing.
Self-care is about making your life easier, not harder. Make sure self-care is not just one more thing you feel like you have to do “right” or “perfectly” or even that you have to follow some specific plan. The most amazing thing about self-care is that it can be whatever YOU need it to be.
Self-care is simply about remembering that we deserve to take care of ourselves, and when we do, it not only nourishes us, but also allows us to be available for important things in our lives.
What exactly is self-care?
The term “self-care” refers to anything we do intentionally to care for our physical, mental and emotional health. The key word there is intentionally.
You might trip across a self-care practice now and then, but it’s critical to schedule it in your day–it’s that important!
Here are a few of my favorite ways to add bits of self-care throughout my day:
Morning routine – I wrote an entire post about my morning routine, so I won’t repeat that here, but check it out if you want to see what my routine involves. Let’s just say that it gets my day off to a great start. I actually look forward to getting up in the morning!
Exercise – Working out is part of my morning routine, but it’s worth mentioning on it’s own. There are many reasons I exercise, but the main reason is because it makes me happier.
Planning my Day – I always have my day planned ahead of time in my bullet journal. I find that writing things down helps free up my mind so I can focus and be more present.
Reading – Since I was a very little girl, I’ve escaped into good books. I like the break it gives me from my own life, and I love learning new things.
Quiet time – My kids think I’m crazy, but I never listen to music in the car. I actually love driving my kids places and having the time alone as I drive back home to think and reflect and just enjoy a few minutes of quiet with no electronic distractions!
Daily Reflection – At the end of each day, I use a reflection page in my journal to write down highlights from the day. I include wins, challenges, my favorite moment, and key lessons from the day. I’ve found this practice really helps me recognize all the good things happening in my life, and make adjustments where necessary.
Make Yourself a Priority
As you can see from my list, the possibilities are endless. This is where self-awareness comes in. Only you can know what recharges your battery and it’s your responsibility to build that into your life. Never forget–YOU matter!
Do men not also need to make self care a priority, to look after themselves and their mental health?
Jack, you’re so right! Men definitely need to make self-care a priority. My blog audience is primarily women so that’s the reason I was talking about women, but thank you for making that point.