May 17, 2023  |  wellness

CREATE A SUSTAINABLE SELF-CARE ROUTINE

WORDS    |   Nelle
IMAGE    |  

@aimazin

 

 

 

Self-care can vary in different ways, but it is essential to maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle. It can be crucial for both your physical and mental health.

Creating a sustainable self-care routine that works for you can be challenging, especially if you have a busy schedule or struggle with self-discipline. However, it is crucial to prioritize self-care to avoid burnout and improve your overall well-being.

Increased productivity: Taking care of yourself can help you stay focused and energized, leading to increased productivity and better performance in work or other areas of life.

Although the idea of self-care after a long, busy day can sound dreamy, finding the motivation or the time is challenging. As it benefits your lifestyle, we have developed a few ideas to implement into your daily routine. Especially if you struggle with productivity, it can help you stay focused and energized, leading to increased productivity and better performance in work or other areas of life. Something we could all do a lot more of if we are going by the Monday morning memes.

1) Define what self-care means to you


Self-care can mean different things to different people, and defining what it means to you is essential. Start by thinking about the activities that make you feel relaxed, recharged, and happy. It could be taking a warm bath, reading a book, practising yoga, or spending time with loved ones. Create a list of activities, and use them as a starting point for your self-care routine.

2) Assess your current routine


Look at your current routine and identify any activities draining your energy or causing stress. It could be checking emails before bed, skipping meals, or overworking. List these activities and try eliminating or reducing them as much as possible. This will create space for more self-care activities in your routine. Set yourself a challenge to avoid these activities after a particular time of day, and no, we don't mean after 11 pm!

3) Create a schedule


Schedule your self-care activities into your daily or weekly routine. This could be as simple as setting aside 30 minutes daily for a workout or reading a chapter of a book a day, cooking a fresh home-cooked meal each night or booking yourself in for a facial as a treat once a month. Remember that self-care doesn't have to be time-consuming or expensive. It's about prioritizing your needs and making time for the activities that make you feel good.

4) Be consistent


Consistency is critical when it comes to creating a sustainable self-care routine. Stick to your schedule as much as possible, even if it means saying no to other commitments. Remember that self-care is not selfish; it is necessary for your well-being. The more consistent you are, the easier it will be to make self-care a habit.

5) Stay flexible


Your self-care routine should be flexible enough to accommodate changes in your schedule or unexpected events. Be easy on yourself if you miss a day or have to reschedule an activity. It is important to prioritize self-care and make it a routine.

In conclusion, creating a sustainable self-care routine that works for you requires self-awareness, consistency, and flexibility. By defining what self-care means to you, assessing your current routine, scheduling your activities, and staying consistent and flexible, you can create a schedule that supports your well-being and helps you lead a more balanced and fulfilling life. Something we all crave, implementing these small changes into your daily routine can lead to significant results of feeling better within yourself. 

"On average, it takes more than two months before a new behaviour becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact" - James Clear, author of Atomic Habits.