When was the last time you dedicated time for YOU?
I’m talking about mindfully putting time aside to look after number one. You probably can’t remember when it was, right? That is NOT okay – period.
I HAVE A TASK FOR YOU THIS WEEK. See if you can practice self care and do ONE THING EVERY DAY that focuses on you.
You’re probably thinking that I’m insane and that this is not possible. Not true. You just need to be mindful about dedicating the time.
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Feeling pretty relaxed 🙂
Personally, I have been REALLY bad at practising self care in the past, however, I am now making this a priority in my life and it’s something I know I must do to maintain balance every day.
*If you don’t think that self care is a challenge, I admire you… please leave a comment with tips on how you balance your life with regular self care!
Now that I’m making an effort with self care I wanted to share with you my go-to’s when I need to unwind and look after myself.
This is me after a one hour massage. In full relaxation mode and half asleep!
I have a task for you this week. See if you can practice self care and do ONE THING EVERY DAY that focuses on you. Click To Tweet
*Find time to practice self care every day of the week with these gorgeous printable self care worksheets (includes 75 new ideas)!
Self Care 101: 9 Ways to Look After YOU.
1. CREATE A GRATITUDE JOURNAL.
The gratitude journal I use is called The 52 Lists Project, with a list for every week of the year.
It’s a beautiful book that has so many lists to inspire self care and appreciate all the good stuff in your life. Some list examples:
The Happiest Moments in Your Life So Far
The Soundtrack of Your Life Right now
The Ways You Love to Have Fun
List all the People that Brighten Your Day
Spend 5 minutes at the beginning or end of your day and reflect on what you are happy with in life. What are you proud of? What are you thankful for?
Self care Tip #1: Create a gratitude journal. #selfcare #balance #selflove Click To Tweet
2. RETHINK YOUR BEDTIME ROUTINE.
Go to bed 30-45 minutes before you plan on falling asleep. Grab a book, diffuse essential oils (this is my diffuser that I have completely fallen in love with and use every day), or write in a journal.
The point is to unwind.
You’ve probably been thinking about everyone else except yourself all day, so this alone time is important to…
a) Set yourself up for a good night sleep
b) De-stress
c) Do something that relaxes you.
Now take note and see if this new routine helps you sleep more soundly.
Related: Self Care Morning Routine. New Ideas to Start Your Day
3. GO ON A DATE…with yourself.
Honestly – if you haven’t done this do not hesitate! Do you ever notice that it’s hard to find someone that likes doing exactly everything you like to do? Well, that’s okay. Do it with yourself and for yourself.
When I spend time with myself I like to take a long walk, then get a delicious coffee (and stay in the café) and enjoy, while watching life and people go by. Then I go for a pedicure and take full advantage of the chair massager! After, I pick up some inexpensive flowers from the market.
If I don’t want to spend any money – I take a long walk or go to a beautiful park and read under a tree.
Related: The Art of Dating Yourself + 10 Self Dates to Try Now
4. LEARN TO SAY NO.
You know when you feel you need to be somewhere, you need to call someone or you need to do a favour for someone? Sometimes you just need to say no – to yourself and to others. Some people tend to overdo it and think of everyone but themselves.
Saying no to that party on Saturday night is okay. I understand you might feel guilty, but learning to let that guilty feeling go will empower you. It will help you put yourself first, which is important to keep balance in your life. I’m not saying to always say no, but I am saying to listen to yourself and put your needs first.
Remember, if you aren’t happy no one around you will be happy either.
Self Care 101: Tip #4 - Learn to Say NO! #selfcare #happiness Click To Tweet
5. MAKE A HAPPINESS PLAYLIST.
It’s proven that happy music can lift your spirit and literally set you up for a positive day. If you’re not already on Spotify, sign up! You can set up a free account and create tons of playlists.
Once you have your happy playlist – listen to it when you wake up, when you’re in the shower, on your way to work or while eating breakfast. If you wanna get a dance party started – even better!
Over at the Nostalgia Diaries, they have “Music Monday’s” with some great playlist ideas. Here’s a great one… 21 New Songs That Sound Like They’re from the 1980’s.
RELATED: Get Your Groove on Happy Playlist.
6. EAT WELL.
You know it’s been a bad week when your fridge is a mess, you miss meals or eat poorly. I know you’re not proud when you don’t eat well and it just doesn’t feel good. By fueling your body with healthy food you are boosting serotonin and reducing bloat, making you feel better overall
Tips to eat healthy when you don’t have time:
a) Find a healthy resource: I am constantly referring to Joy McCarthy’s book, Joyous Health. It helps me choose clean, whole foods and explains the benefits of clean eating. It also doesn’t hurt that the recipes are to die for!
b) Make a healthy smoothie (use organic spinach, a protein and some fruit).
c) Have healthy snacks on hand, such as almonds, fresh fruit and cut up vegetables. Ensure you have healthy proteins ready in the fridge (boiled eggs, grilled chicken, chickpeas, feta, almond butter).
Related: 5 Cookbooks That Inspire Healthy Eating
7. GET MOVING.
We all know that exercise reduces stress, improves your mood and makes you feel great, yet many of us put it off.
The trick: Commit to doing something weekly (at the same time)… and don’t do this by yourself, as you want to have someone to motivate you to keep going.
Some ideas…
Sign up for a weekly dance class
Find a walking or running buddy
Try a personal trainer
By committing to someone else, encourages you to do it. You can do it for them, but importantly do it for yourself.
8. DO WHAT YOU LOVE.
A lot of people aren’t lucky enough to be in jobs they love. If you are, congrats you are doing something right! If you aren’t, just remember that life is a balance and finding time to do the things you love can be done outside of work.
If you love music, go to a concert. If you love art, try a painting class or go to the art gallery. If you love movies, allocate time to watch what you like (for example if you’re a mom or dad, don’t only watch kid’s movies). If you want to give back, volunteer. If you want to get out of the job you are in, spend time learning and educating yourself.
We only live once so doing something you love on a regular basis is important to living a fulfilled life.
RELATED: The $100 Startup: Reinvent The Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future
9. FIND YOUR SPIRITUALITY.
Whether you’re religious or not, think of being spiritual as a time you dedicate for reflection.
Meditate or pray
Take a long walk
Do some gardening
Have a bath
Drink tea
Practice yoga
The focus here is while you’re dedicating time to spiritual self care, you can reflect on being in the present, clearing your mind and focusing on the positive. Release your stresses and just be.
How will you practise self care this week?
Leave a note in the comments and tell me which self care ideas you’re going to try.
Related Self Care & Personal Development Posts:
- Building a Happy Week: Self Care Worksheets
- Self Care Morning Routine – New Ideas to Start Your Day
- 47 Self Care Sunday Ideas
- Time Block Your Way to a Balanced Life
- Happiness Advice from the Kids in Our Life
- No Time for Self Care? Try These 3 Tips Now
Self Care 101. 9 Ways to Look Afer You
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I try my best to stick to these as best as I can but sometimes I get so caught up with life that things get out of hand. Thanks for this post.
I just started thinking about overhauling my bedtime routine. I was doing really well for a while but then I got back to a 3am bedtime which is NOT going to work!
I love the bedtime routine… it’s too easy to get on my phone but better to read a good book.
GREAT TIPS! The one I struggle with the most is going to sleep earlier than midnight. I am such a night owl and stay up way too late and then start my day way too early for going to bed so late. I’ll definitely keep working at it. Great post.
I love this and definitely need to get back to reading or taking a few minutes before bed each night. Thanks for sharing!
Go on a date with yourself is my favorite! I am always a bit nervous to go out alone! But it’s true, no one loves what I love as much as I do!
This is honestly one of my fav ways I look after myself. Start to do it and you won’t want to stop!
What a great list! I recently started a gratitude journal and I find it very helpful. Also the point you made with eating right is so true, it really makes a huge difference.
Such a great list 🙂 I love the idea of going out for a date with yourself and the bedtime routine 😀
This post is RIGHT. ON. TIME. I was just talking about this with a friend over the weekend. Enough with the talking about making myself a priority. Time to start doing it! Going to bed 45 minutes before I intend on going to sleep is a good one. I need to wind down or at least be intentional about trying…I think that will help me fall asleep faster! Great tips!
Moving, eating well, beginning my days with renewal are so important for me. When I don’t do them, my days are less productive, I walk in less peace and bravery. Great post!
I LOVE this list <3 I just did an at-home Spa Night for myself and it was so refreshing that I've been trying little by little to incorporate more pockets of "me-time" into each day. I've changed my schedule at work even so I could leave a little earlier, have the house to myself, and commit to my yoga practice. It's been so amazing to have this extra time to unwind and reboot. Excellent list – thank you!
I really need to be better about this! I try to get out for a walk/job a few mornings a week but is about the only time I spend on myself.
The one I definitely need to work on is having a more routine bedtime. Every night is different, and I often end up working on my computer too late, and then I end up sleeping really poorly. Thanks for the great reminders!
My bedtime routine is the absolute worst. I can never stick to a good schedule to save my life. My sleep is all over the place!
These are all wonderful ideas! I am terrible at sticking to a bedtime routine, so I am going to try your first suggestion tonight and get to bed 45 minutes earlier 🙂
Bed time is best time!!! Self care when having young ones is most time not a challenge it’s mission impossible. But. I bet my husband (as most men) can give us all an advice or two…
I absolutely love this post! Self care is so important and it is something I emphasize to others too. Unfortunately I haven’t been putting enough emphasis on it for myself. The universe gave me a very clear sign today that I need to be prioritizing self care more. This post was just what I needed.
Love this list and love your perspective. I agree with you all on points. I especially enjoy the ‘date with yourself ‘ concept.
I don’t usually go in for the ‘self help’ type things but this post has really inspired me. I’ve been working non-stop this week and am feeling totally drained. I’m going to kick off with some of your suggestions starting today!
These are some great tips. we all need to take care of ourselves first before we can commit to anyone else
I LOVE this post! It helped me see things a bit different and realize where I am failing or lacking. #3 is a big one for me. I have a problem saying NO. Totally agree with you, I need to think MORE about myself and less of others when ever that is possible.
Thanks so much Myrah! I have placed so much guilt on myself for saying no in the past, but have turned a new leaf and really do say no (nicely!) when I need to.
Making time for ourselves is so important! Creating a bedtime routine that’s calming is a great idea and something that I need to start doing.
Making time for daily meditation, yoga, and writing in my gratitude journal are ways I practice self-care that have tremendously improved all aspects of my life! I’m less-stressed, more productive, and overall happy and content with my life 🙂
That sounds so great – especially the daily meditation.
I have not always made time for self care either. I am realizing how important this is and am trying to do better! A sister has got to take care of herself!! 🙂
These are such great ways to take a step back and take of yourself for a change! Something I defiantly need to work on!!
what a great post. this really speaks to me. I need to be better about all of these things. I get so caught up in the to-do!
This is a super list of good advice. Trying to sleep earlier is definitely something I’m going to be working on. Also, I think what you said about being able to say no is amazing advice. It’s so hard sometimes though!
I seriously need to learn to say no!!! It’s something I always tell myself to do, but still end up saying yes. ugh!! what will it take to learn?!
I used to feel the same way and then somehow I just started to do it. It makes me feel so much better.
I love the format of this post – well done!!
The main one right now is that I need to prioritize myself, my well-being and my plans so I’m setting boundaries so that I have more energy and focus for ME!
http://www.elleisforlove.com
Thanks! Setting boundaries (whether it’s with yourself or others) is so important. Glad to hear you’re going to focus on you 🙂
I really love this post. It is just so true, your points are spot on, your writing is compelling and makes me want to read the rest of your posts. You have a passion for writing, I really hope you continue to write, you are truly great.
Oh wow Catie. What a compliment. Thank you so much!
I like this post so much! I’ve got the bedtime routine down and my goodness it helps! I’m now working on moving more. 🙂
A good bedtime routine is SO important. I bet you sleep great because of it. Thanks so much for your feedback Joy! Have a great one.
I really enjoyed this. Self care is so important.
Thanks for the feedback Haylee. All the best 🙂
I loved this post! Self care is very important and should never fall by the wayside. I totally agree that sometimes the greatest self care is just saying “no” sometimes. And that 52 lists gratitude journal looks very interesting! Definitely a great concept.
Thanks Tiffany! Agree, saying no can be so hard.
These are all really important tips. I’m going to try practice the one about saying no, which I am rubbish at! Thanks for sharing x
It’s SO hard to say no. I constantly work on this. Thanks for your thoughts Katie 🙂
What a great list, and a great reminder to look after ourselves. When I remember to take the time to do the first one I always sleep better, I need to make it routine. Thank you for the post!
These are all such great ideas. I love the thought of going on a date by yourself. Too often I’ll run somewhere and grab lunch and take it home or grab a coffee to go. I never ever stay at the cafe alone and just eat and enjoy my time. I’m going to make that a priority this month though!
You should definitely do it. Having some good quality alone time saves me!
Loving this! We must know our self worth. Thanks for sharing ♥️ ♥️ By any chance you are interested on doing collaborations, you can connect with amazing brands and fellow bloggers through the influencer directory of Phlanx.com!
Xoxo,
Tiffany
Great post! Like you, I’ve been bad about caring for myself. In the past year, I have been trying to make it more of a priority. You have so many good tips. I’m glad you mentioned a gratitude journal. I personally have found it to be so helpful in turning my mood around and reminding me of what really matters. I wish I could say that I record my gratitude in a gorgeous journal, but I’m too busy, and found it was easier to utilize the memo app on my phone for a make shift journal. It makes it easier to fit in some time to refocus. 🙂
These are such good ideas. I like them all and need to try the spotify. Thanks
Gratitude Journal. #buyingone!
Good afternoon. Many thanks 🙂 Really enjoyed reading this page.
Hello! Glad to hear it 🙂
SO TRUE! I’m a huge advocate for self-care, and these are great tips!!
Thanks Emma – I hope this sparked a few new self-care ideas for you 🙂
This is such a great post with so many wonderful self-care tips. I have to admit I’m guilty of self-neglect. I go to sleep way too late and eat poorly too. So I’m going to try to find time to nurture myself every day from now on.
It’s so easy to forget to take care of yourself, especially when you are busy. Glad to hear that you’re going to try and find some time for a little self-care. It’s so important! Thanks for the note Poovanesh!
All great tips! I’ve just recently started to keep a gratitude journal, and I find it’s such a great way to change my mindset for the better. When I’m having an especially stressed-out day, I crack it open and read a few pages and I quickly remember why my life is pretty awesome. Thanks for a great post!
Thanks Jess! That’s amazing you keep up with a gratitude journal! I think we can get really down on ourselves at times so it’s great to give ourselves a little reminder that there are actually some pretty great things in our lives 🙂
These are all great suggestions. It’s so easy (too easy) to forget to be kind to ourselves. Lovely post.
I honestly haven’t been doing much self-care lately but I need to make a conscious decision to start. I love gratitude journaling and it is always my easy self-care habit that I do whenever I need to feel refreshed.
Hi Debbie,
Self care can be hard at times, especially during the pandemic. I absolutely love gratitude journaling too. It’s amazing how focusing on little, positive things can really improve your day.
Take care!
Yolanda