How to make your own self-care routine

Every day can be stressful when you have too many responsibilities to deal with, and if you are working, it can be difficult to find the time to focus on yourself sometimes. Therefore, self-care is very important, as it is the care of your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

Self-care encourages you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself, which further aids you in maintaining a positive relationship with other people in your life, such as family and friends.

It is true when people say, “You cannot give others what you do not have”, meaning that if you are not happy, how can you make others happy?

That is why I put together a list to help you focus more on a self-care routine and pay attention to your wellbeing, if you are not already doing so.

• Make some time to meditate during the day. The duration is completely up to each individual, but making this an important part of your morning or night routine can be very beneficial in terms of helping you to relax and relieve your stress from daily life.
• Similarly, exercise can be helpful in releasing stress and keeping your body moving. It also releases “happy hormones”, also known as dopamine, which increases the more regular your exercise becomes.
• Journaling is a great way to get your thoughts out onto paper and note down your present feelings. It can lead to being able to manage time better, be more productive and keep track of your emotional wellbeing.
• Keep your body up to date with vegetable snack and fruits throughout the day.
• If you have any pets, go spend some time or play with them. Research shows that being with animals also releases dopamine in your body, leading you to feel more peaceful.
• Treat yourself with a nice hot bath and light some candles. Candles are a good way to de-stress, and taking that hot bath will help with relaxing the muscles in your body.
• Write down your goals for the future. This can be both short-term and long-term, as it will help you to focus on something and take steps on how to reach them.
• Getting in contact with a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while, or reaching out to someone you want to see again, can be a great way to spend some quality time. You could also take the risk and speak to a complete stranger whilst out in public, either on transport or in a café. It will help your mental state by increasing your self-awareness, confidence, and communication skills.
• Daily planning and organising your space is another way to make sure you are looking after yourself. If your environment is clean, your mind stays clean as well.
• Eat your meals at a certain time everyday consistently. Making sure you have a certain time for fixed activities can be a great way to make yourself more productive and create a good self-care routine.

Through these ten tips, you will be well on your way to creating a good everyday self-care routine. It does not have to be all about doing something in isolation, you can go out for yoga with friends, do a group meditation, or plan some meals with your family or friends. Tailor it to your needs and wants, and good luck!