7 Ways to Incorporate Self-Care into Your Daily Routine
It’s time that you start making self-care a priority. Keep on reading to find out about 7 ways to incorporate self-care into your daily routine.
Self-care aka me-time.
It’s one of those things that you may not be prioritizing in your life right now. But the truth is that we all need a little self-care sometimes.
Now, if you’re rolling your eyes at me from behind your screen and think: ‘’I don’t need that self-care bullshit, I’m fine’’. I’m here to tell you that you do need self-care in your life, even if you’re feeling completely fine.
What is Self-Care?
Self-care
/ˌselfˈker/
noun
”The practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.”
We have a lot on our plates these days and we’re always busy. We work so hard that we tend to completely forget about ourselves and our own battery.
Think about it like this: when the battery of your phone is dying, do you run around frantically to get your charger? I know I do!
But when it’s about you, when your internal battery is dying, do you make sure to charge it too? Or do you keep pushing on until your battery is so low that your body starts to give up on you and you’re forced to take some time for yourself?
Why is it that we always make sure that our phone battery has enough power, but when it comes to ourselves we try to ignore the fact that our battery is almost out of energy?
If you think (like I did) that self-care is a luxury and that taking a long bath and putting on a face mask 3 times a year after a busy period is going to do the trick: think again! Self-care is about so much more than that.
It’s about actively making time for yourself and showing yourself some love and appreciation on a regular basis, so that can you reload that battery of yours and feel good. It’s about doing something for you.
Self-care should be a priority, not a luxury. You wouldn’t let the battery of your phone die, so why would you let your own battery die?
In this article, I’m giving you some ideas on how you can incorporate self-care into your daily routine. Even if you’re on a busy 9-5 or are going through a stressful period.
It’s about time you show yourself some love!
1. Learn Something New
If you’re anything like me, you have a list of things that you want to do or learn when you have the time: Learning how to build a website, finally starting your own business, or learning a new language.
But here’s the thing: If you don’t make time for those things on your list, you’ll never have the time for it. How many times have you told yourself you would learn something new when you’d have the time? And how many times did you actually get around to do it?
Think again, because creating that time for yourself to master a new skill, even if it’s just for 15 minutes a day, is a great way to practice self-care. Learning about something you’re passionate about is so fun and exciting! My favorite ways to learn are listening to podcasts, following online courses or reading books (And yes you can even do that on the couch, so no excuses!)
2. Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude changed the game for me. And I have to be honest with you here: I was quite skeptical about it at first. I didn’t think it was going to change much. But believe me: It is powerful!
If you practice gratitude, you focus on what is good in your life. I have incorporated practicing gratitude in my evening routine. Every night before going to bed, I write down at least 3 things that I’m grateful for that day. You can easily do this in 5-10 minutes.
Once you start making your gratitude list regularly, you’ll notice that it gets easier to find things you’re grateful for. Research has shown that practicing gratitude makes you more optimistic and happier. Take it from me: it feels so amazing to acknowledge good things in your life that you would normally not even notice!
3. Relax in a Mindful Way
Are you taking time to relax? I mean really relax? I’m not talking about watching a movie on the couch at the end of the day or drinking a cup of tea while scrolling through your Instagram feed. I’m talking about relaxing in a more mindful way, far away from screens.
Put a little bit more effort into relaxing. Make time for it and create a special space for yourself where you can rest, release any stress and recharge. Pay attention to your surroundings: put on some of your favorite relaxing music, dim the lights and light a scented candle or diffuse essential oils into the room. Then, do something that feels relaxing to you: read a book, meditate or just sit and breathe.
I love getting into this, what I like to call, ‘relaxation bubble’ where you can truly focus on the practice of relaxing. Talk about me-time!
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4. Do Something Creative
Creativity is a happiness booster! It’s fun and it’s for everyone, even if you’re not a painter, drawer or writer. You can be creative in many different ways.
Being creative lets you take your mind off things and can be a great way to relieve stress. I always feel like I’m in my own bubble where I just forget about the time and the things I was worrying about.
Through creativity you can connect with yourself, your thoughts and feelings. It’s a great outlet to express yourself and to feel the freedom of creating whatever you want. You’ll learn a lot in the process of creating. Creativity is kind of therapeutic and that’s why it’s a great way to practice self-care.
5. Check in With Your Feelings
No, I’m not telling you to go see a psychologist. What I am trying to tell you is that it’s good to regularly explore your feelings. How do you feel at this moment? What emotions do you have?
Write everything down in a good old journaling session. Journaling has really helped me to get my feelings out on paper, think deeper about them and reflect on them. And it is also a great way to get things off your chest and let go. Checking in with your feelings can help you understand your feelings and where they are coming from.
Just a little side note from me: Checking in with your feelings is not always going to be easy. Especially in the beginning it may be weird and uncomfortable to write about your feelings. But don’t let that scare you.
Also, I made a Simple Daily Check-In just for you to get you started!
6. Stop Saying Yes to Everything
This may not exactly be what you were expecting here, but saying no is actually a great way to practice self-care.
Because saying no to something, means saying yes to yourself.
Saying no to something does not mean you’re being selfish. It just means that you value your time and well-being enough to make deliberate decisions and choose what YOU need.
From experience, I know that it can sometimes take a lot of confidence to say no to things. Saying no can challenge your inner FOMO, or you may feel like you’re letting someone down. But I want you to know that it’s okay to say no. It’s okay to protect your battery and make choices that benefit your own well-being.
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7. Take Care of Your Body
Your body is your powerhouse. It gives you the energy to do all your day-to-day practices and to tackle all those plans, goals and dreams of yours. I guess in a way it is the foundation of your well-being. That’s why it’s so important to keep your body healthy.
So show your body how much you appreciate it. Fill it up with good foods that give you energy, exercise on a regular basis and drink enough water. You don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to make a healthy meal.
And when it comes to exercising, my best advice is: make it fun! No one is telling you to be on a treadmill for an hour 5 days a week. Do what makes you happy, whether that’s taking a dance class, doing yoga in your living room, or going on a hike.
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Just one more thing…
Now that you’ve made it to the end of the article, it’s time for you to start acting. What are you going to do to incorporate self-care into your daily routine? Leave a comment and let me know!
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