How To Make Self-Care Part Of Your Routine

According to a recent study, 40% of people say they rarely have time for self-care. There are varying reasons for this, whether they’re overwhelmed at work or simply have a never ending to-do list to contend with once they get home. However, the truth is, self-care is not only important, it’s vital. 

After all, self care can: 

• Help you to maintain your health, with one study finding that self-care can boost your immune system. 
• Provide you with a sense of clarity and direction moving forward.
• Reduce burnout, stress and anxiety, allowing you to better your mental health.

Photo by Brandy Kennedy on Unsplash

With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to make self-care part of your daily routine. 

Remember that routines aren’t set in stone. 

While some aspects of your routine, such as the time you must clock-in at work cannot be altered – others are not set in stone, and you should not treat them as such. This means that you can easily move things around when necessary to allow yourself a bit of downtime and relaxation. 

Figure out what kind of self-care works for you. 

Self-care means something different to each and every person, because we all have our own hobbies and interests. However, until you find self-care activities and hobbies you truly enjoy, such as visiting the Salon and Spa, you’re unlikely to set aside time for them in your routine. For example, you may find yourself making excuses because the idea is not that exciting or enticing. As such, take some time to explore different forms of self-care until you find the activities that you actually want to spend your time doing. This will give you the chance to live magnificently.

Add self-care to your calendar. 

If you’re the kind of person who adds their every activity to their calendar – from social gatherings to meetings – one way in which you can ensure you include self-care in the mix is by actually adding it to your routine. This is because the act of writing something down often helps us commit it to memory, while also increasing accountability. This means you’re less likely to forget to indulge in self-care. 

Learn to say no.

If your jam-packed schedule leaves no room whatsoever for self-care, this is a clear sign that you need to reassess your priorities. You don’t need to be busy every moment of every day, and being caught in a constant state of business often means that your needs are being neglected. One way in which you can counter this, however, is by learning to say no. 

For example, if your boss asks you to take on extra work, but you’re already on the cusp of burnout, it’s okay to say no. Likewise, if you were looking forward to staying at home and relaxing one evening, it’s okay to turn down last minute plans with friends. While you can always explain your reasoning, remember that no is a full sentence within itself – and it’s important you learn to prioritise your own wellbeing. Doing so will not only help you to set healthy boundaries moving forward, it will give you more time in the day to indulge in self-care.