How to create a self-care routine
Do you ever wish you had more time to relax and enjoy yourself? Or that you could take your own self-care routine more seriously? If so, read on to learn how to create a self-care routine that works best for you!
Set your intentions
Intentions are goals that you set for yourself. They can be general, like making more time for myself, or more specific—like spending one hour with my kids every day. Once you know what your intentions are, you can start taking steps to reach them. If getting dinner on the table faster will help you relax after work and make time for me-time with your partner in front of the TV at night, then get dinner on the table earlier!
Plan your evening in advance
One of my favorite methods for creating a self-care routine is planning my night ahead of time. By taking some time at dinner to relax, I know that I’ll feel more relaxed and ready for sleep than if I had rushed through dinner in order to squeeze in an episode of my favorite show. Make sure you schedule me-time into your evening, whether it be watching TV, taking a bath, or reading a book.
Go to bed early
Going to bed early is an excellent way to get more me time in your life. By going to bed earlier, you’ll give yourself time for tasks that you may have put off during your busy days. Relaxing activities like reading and crafting can be good ways of using your me-time productively. Take advantage of those nights when you have nothing planned and enjoy some extra zzzs. It’s one of the simplest ways to give yourself some much-needed rest.
Treat yourself to something nice
Treating yourself well can be as simple as having a bubble bath or taking a walk through your favorite park. Do something nice for yourself every day, even if it’s only for 10 minutes. When you feel good, you’ll be better able to deal with stress and hardship in your life. So go ahead; treat yourself to something nice. You deserve it!
Clean up your space
When you’re running from meeting to meeting and deadline to deadline, it can be hard to find time for yourself. Even when you do carve out a few minutes of me-time, your brain might feel like it needs something more substantial than simply sitting on your living room couch and staring at your phone or TV. If that sounds familiar, try decluttering one room in your house—even if it’s just an extra closet or unused corner—and get rid of all unnecessary stuff
Listen to soft music
It’s amazing how much of an effect music can have on our stress levels. There’s almost nothing like curling up with a soft playlist and just relaxing for a while. It’s certainly one of my favorite go-to self-care methods. If you want to make it even more special, play your favorite albums from when you were younger—it’ll take you back in time, but also help put things into perspective as you relax!
Breathe deeply.
If you’re feeling stressed out, taking 10 minutes for focused breathing can do wonders. Deep breathing helps center your body and mind, which calms you down and decreases cortisol levels—the stress hormone that eats away at your immune system. Plus, inhaling deeply reduces stress hormones, while exhaling increases feel-good endorphins in your brain
Practice mindfulness
One of the best things you can do for yourself is take time out every day—even if it’s just 10 minutes—to sit quietly and focus on your breathing. Mindfulness exercises teach you how to clear your mind of distractions, which allows you to be present and aware in each moment, rather than living on autopilot.