We all know that we need self-care, yet it can be challenging to take the time to care for ourselves. Self-care can end up so far at the back of our minds when we finally have a moment to take care of ourselves; we don’t even know what to do. Here is a list to help you out. At the bottom of this article is a self-care planner that you can print out so that the next time you have the opportunity to take a self-care day, you don’t have to waste time thinking about what you’re going to do for yourself.
Make No Plans
Well, I’m a huge advocate of planning when it comes to a self-care day; however, the idea is to intentionally plan not to plan. If your self-care day is scheduled on the calendar, that’s enough. Don’t make any other plans. You have no idea exactly how you’re going to be feeling that day, so a great way to have an awesome self-care day is to wake up having no obligations.
Watch Something Funny
Self-care is about feeling good. Funny movies and television shows are a great way to feel good. Plan to watch something humorous. There’s nothing better than a good belly laugh, and on your self-care day, that good belly laugh might just be the thing to revive you from the tough days you’ve had before.
Make Something
Our minds and our bodies are connected. When you make something with your very own hands, you’re helping to care for both your mind and your body. Take some time to make something on your self-care day. I use the verb “making” loosely. You could make a picture by painting. Make a cake by baking. You could make a wooden sculpture. It doesn’t matter what you make, simply create something with your own two hands.
Journal
Journaling is an excellent form of self-care. If this is something that’s already in your daily practice, amazing. If you’re not doing this daily, that’s OK, instead ensure you take some time during your self-care day to journal. Journaling helps to release tension from your mind and your body. There is no right way to journal. Simply put pen to paper and begin to write.
If you need prompts here are a few questions that are great to answer in any journaling session:
What am I grateful for today?
What does my ideal life look like today?
If I win the lottery, what would I do?
What does my ideal life look like three years from now?
What is one of my favorite memories?
If I could have lunch with any person dead or alive, who would it be, and what would I ask them?
What does success mean to me?
Plan Your Week
Self-care days are about helping you feel better. Having a plan helps you to feel in control of your life, and that is a great feeling. Take some time during your self-care day to plan your next seven days or even the next month. When you’re finished, that small action will bring you relief through knowing what it is you need to do in the upcoming week or month and leave you feeling confident that you have made time to accomplish these things.
Do Small Tasks To Make The Week Easier
One of the sayings that relate to how stress builds up, for me, is death by 1000 cuts. Sometimes it’s not the significant stressors in our lives that get us into a point of overwhelm or frustration but instead all the tiny things that start to build up. Like that pile of laundry on the chair, the mess under the kitchen sink, the 15 silly emails that require a response, the crack in the wall, the dust building up on the radiators, etc. All these tiny things can cause stress. Self-care days aren’t just about lying around and pampering yourself; they are about doing what it takes so that you can refresh and revive yourself. If tiny things are going on around your house or at work that are causing you stress take some time during your self-care day to handle those.
Go Outside
Get out into the fresh air. Take some time to feel the sun on your face, breathe the open air, and look at the clouds. Getting outside is not only good for your mental health; it’s also great for your physical health. Take a moment on your self-care day to enjoy the outdoors. If you can get to a park or go on a hike, that’s amazing. If not, a walk around the block will do just fine. During your walk take some time to notice what’s going on in your neighborhood. Take a look at the stores. Pay attention to the people around you. Take a moment to watch the traffic. Listen to the sounds of the place that you live in. Getting outside on a self-care day is a sure way to help you rejuvenate.
Spend Time With Someone You Love
Our relationships keep us. Therefore on a self-care day, take a few moments to spend time with someone that you love. If that someone is far away, then take the time to call them. A good chat with a distant friend can be just as reviving as a hug from someone close to you. The whole point of this recommendation is to ensure that you build and strengthen the relationships that add meaning to your life.
Sweat
Our bodies are meant to move. Our bodies are meant to sweat. Sweating is an essential part of self-care. Moving with the intention of sweating is an integral part of self-care. It doesn’t mean that you have to do an exercise that you don’t enjoy. There are a lot of different ways to sweat. Dancing, sex, playing tag, playing basketball, and hot yoga are just a few. Take some time during your self-care day to sweat. If you like to work out, fantastic, get an extra work out in. If you don’t enjoy working out, then try one of the above mentioned intentional movements that aren’t your typical or traditional form of exercise.
Take Action
Self-care days are not a luxury; they are a necessity. You need time to rest and restore yourself so that you can be at your best for yourself and for those you care about. The first step to doing this is planning a self-care day. Take some time now to look at your calendar and understand when you can make time for yourself. I know that this is the hardest part, and that’s why you need to do it right now. If you can’t find a whole day, that’s OK, can you find a half-day or even three hours?
It could mean that you take a little bit of PTO or arrange to leave work early. Maybe it means you ask your partner to watch the kids after work one day or on a Saturday morning. It could be that you take a full day off from work or ask grandma to watch the kids for a Saturday. If your kids are older, it could be scheduling some time for them to spend a whole day with their friends out on an adventure. The entire point is to make a way for you to spend a significant chunk of time restoring. To help you further plan, download the self-care day planner at the end of this article. And remember, it’s OK if the only thing you write on the planner is the date that you are planning self-care with no other obligations on that day.
For more guidance check out, Self-Care Tips For Burnt Out Moms.
Don’t forget to sign up for the Rose Gold Mine, my free resource library. You’ll get free printable worksheets, workbooks, and checklists to help with goal setting, time management and self-care for busy moms.
Take action to start believing in yourself at How To Get Unstuck.
