How to Build a Self-Care Routine: Part 1

(Four Part Series) – Part 1

What is self-care?

Self-care is giving your body, mind and soul what it needs to be healthy. Some areas of self-care are healthy eating, exercise, getting enough sleep, and a big one, knowing your limitations, which I will admit is a big one for me, I don’t like relying on others to do something and risk it going wrong. I do everything myself, which in turn, puts way too much work on my shoulders. Knowing that the only way to take care of myself is to let others help when they are able and building a self-care routine.

Self-care is not… 

Self-care is not something you only do when you are stressed or frustrated and need a break from life, like perusing social media or skipping out on your responsibilities to take a bath or watch television. Your body, mind and soul need things to keep focused on your goals and stay healthy. 

Getting back to the Basics 

What are the basics of self-care? The basics for most people are eating right and getting enough sleep. Eating three healthy meals a day at regular intervals will help strengthen your body by giving it the nutrients it needs for a healthy heart, reduces the risk of cancers, helps improve gut health and brain memory. Creating a meal plan/schedule can help keep you from skipping meals, keep you on track as well as take a break away from your workspace. 

Getting enough sleep is a big one, it helps rejuvenate your body and relaxes your mind. When you don’t get enough sleep your body is out of whack, you’re tired and you’re irritable when you should be refreshed and relaxed, ready to start the day ahead. 

Overcoming Barriers

We tend to come up with excuse after excuse as to why we don’t want to do self-care. “I’m too busy”, “the kids have a game”, “I don’t have time”. The list is endless. There is a way to overcome the overwhelming barrier between you and your self-care. Plan it into your day! Create a schedule, put it on your calendar, create a spreadsheet, or make a list. 

The easiest way is to plan it with similar items on your already busy “to-do” list. You want to do affirmations, but don’t have time to write them down? Say them out loud while you dive to work. Want to start meditation? Do a ten-minute meditation while you wait for your kiddos to come out from practice.

Incorporate the things you want to accomplish into your daily schedule by finding easy ways to pair them together. I wanted to start washing my face in the mornings and at night, so I incorporated it into my morning and nightly routine. I do my morning face wash in the shower and my nightly face wash before I brush my teeth and put in my eye drops. It only takes about two minutes of my time. 

Why do we often fail at self-care?

Some people fail at self-care because they want the results to be instantaneous. “I meditated for ten minutes on Monday, but didn’t feel any better afterwards” or “I did a thirty-minute workout on Wednesday, but didn’t lose any weight.” Some things take time and aren’t going to be immediate. People also have the lack of confidence and focus to keep up with their self-care routine or they rely on someone else to keep them in check. Having an accountability partner is good for encouragement and support, but you shouldn’t rely on them to keep you going. The only person in charge of your self-care is YOU.

If you need the extra encouragement when your accountability partner isn’t there, post encouraging quotes around the area, such as on your fridge, bathroom mirror, on your desk, the background of your phone or in your car. Encouraging quotes like these: “You got this!”, “Keep going!” and “You are stronger then you know” can go a long way when you are discouraged. 

How to engage in Self-care

The steps you can take could be:

Step 1:  Figure out what kind of self-care you are looking to improve on. 

Step 2: Make a list or the self-care items you would like to icorporate into your daily schedule. 

Step 3: Start Small! Go through your list and choose one or two to start with and Find ways to incorporate those items into your daily schedule. 

Don’t think you can add eight or nine new things to your daily routine and expect it to go smoothly. Start by adding one or two new self-care items to your routine. After a few weeks when your self-care has become routine, add one or two more.  

Scheduling your self-care can help you associate your self-care practices with other items in your daily routine. For Example, if you go to a break room for lunch, you could read a few chapters in your book while eating. Once you make this a routine, you will start associating your break room with reading. Or if you wanted to start washing your face every morning, add it while taking a shower. Once the routine is set, your mind will automatically associate washing your face with taking a shower and it will become automatic without you even realizing it. 

Congratulate yourself for your accomplishments. I don’t mean go out and eat a cupcake, if exercising is the goal you incorporated into your daily routine. I mean, appreciate the feeling of accomplishment and success in your achievements. Get a new notebook to track your workout routine. 

“There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.”  ~Aldous Huxley 

Always Remember!

How to Build a Self-care Routine: Part 2 -Set Up