Self-care is more important than ever. While practising a self-care routine will look different for everyone, finding time to do things that fill your cup and improve your wellbeing will have a positive ripple effect across many aspects of your life.
Finding a routine that works for you takes time and patience, but once you’ve identified strategies that make you feel good and are easy to stick to, turning self care into a daily habit becomes a little bit easier.
Here are a few quick tips to help you find a routine that works for you.
1. Kickstart Your Day with a Zestful Morning Ritual
The way you start the day sets the tone, so it’s important to kick things off on the right foot. Getting out of bed can be rough—especially on those cooler, darker winter mornings when you just want to stay warm and cosy—but forming the habit starts here.
How about a routine that doesn’t involve leaving the bed (yet)? Keeping a reusable bottle next to you on the nightstand means a nice refreshing drink of water is never far away. And nothing beats a nice cool cup of water first thing—not only does it help wake you up, but it replenishes water lost during the night.
Another good morning ritual is to head outside into the fresh air and sunlight—leaving your phone behind. Avoiding phone screens helps both your body and your mind adjust to the new day gently, as it gives you a moment to absorb the benefits from natural morning sunlight with purpose.
2. Cultivate Mindfulness Routines
A short meditation or other form of mindfulness practice is also a great addition to your routine. Mindfulness can be whatever you want it to be. This option is great for those who would like to enjoy some peace and silence in their day, but you can be mindful in any way that connects your mind and body. This can include:
- journaling
- crocheting
- reading
- dancing
- exercising
- and more
Remember, you don’t have to be productive all the time, things that make you happy and bring you into the moment are perfectly acceptable ways to spend your time, and if you want to do absolutely nothing at all, that counts too! Self care is all about you.
3. Prioritise Rest
Our bodies need sleep to recover from the day and create energy for the next one – and resting before sleep is vital to helping us unwind.
Creating a night time routine is a great way to help you wind down. Focus on soothing and calming yourself to let those busy thoughts fade away.
A nighttime self-care routine might include:
- A warm bath or hot shower
- A nice cup of herbal tea to relax your mind and muscles
- Removing all electronic devices an hour before bed
- Cosying up with a book
4. Try a Digital Detox
Technology is great for productivity and keeping us connected with others, but it’s also easy to find ourselves reaching for our phones whenever idleness strikes. But when you’re focused on your screen, you’re not existing in the world around you.
To help avoid this, it’s a good idea to incorporate regular digital detoxes into your life. This can be as simple as avoiding your screen when you first wake up and before bed, or you can take it a step further and schedule in whole days where you go tech free.
During these times, really focus on being present and making connections with yourself, your environment and those around you. You might consider reorganising your space, gardening, or taking a walk in nature. Any activity that you choose is valid, so don’t feel like there’s a specific way things have to be during your digital detox time.
5. Tap into the power of movement
Finally, getting moving is also a key part of a good self-care routine. Yes, exercise is good for your physical wellbeing, but the mental health benefits of working out are just as important.
It’s a good idea to move your body daily. This doesn’t have to be structured in any way if you don’t want it to be, it can be as simple as a morning stroll around the block. The point is to better connect with your body and find ways to boost joy through movement, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Just be sure to keep a reusable cup full of water close by no matter what you choose to do so you can stay properly hydrated while you do it.
Self-care is a unique practice for each and every individual, so it’s really up to you how you do it. Find what self-care routine works for you, and enjoy the sense of fulfilment that comes with it.