Self-Care 101: 5 Easy Ways to Develop a Daily Routine that Works

When it comes to self-care, one usually thinks spa days and massages.  But that’s not necessarily the case.  Self-care can be everything from a five minute meditation practice to taking a long walk.

With all the misconceptions around what self-care truly is, an internet search can easily overwhelm someone looking for simple ways to add self-care to their life.

Here are five different self-care practices that you can easily implement into your life.

1 – Move: 

One of the easier ways to inject self-care into your life is to get up and get moving.  A simple routine such as a lunch time or evening walk can help you get your heart rate up and get you burning calories.  By no means do you need to run a marathon or join a fancy gym.  Consistent practice is the key and will lead to positive results.  Start with a goal of 30 minutes a day, three days a week and work up to five days a week.

2 – Laugh: 

“Laughter is the best medicine” is actually for real. Laughter can stimulate the release of endorphins, the feel good hormones that boost your mood and make you feel good! Good ways to get more laughter in your life include watching your favourite comedian, a funny movie or read a comic. One of my favourite ways to bring more laughter into my life is my partner – we have so many silly inside jokes that can make either one of us absolutely belly laugh!

3 – Journal: 

Journalling has always been around since pen and paper were invented but bullet journalling is a new way to keep track of almost anything going on in your life. Getting things out of your head can produce a sense of calm, and putting it on paper ensures you keep track of things. 

Bullet journalling can keep track of your calendar, contacts, future plans, books to read and so on.  With so many videos and Pinterest boards dedicated to bullet journalling, it can be overwhelming.  Here are a couple videos to start with – 

4 – Unplug:

In 2022, we seem to be always on and that can lead to real trouble,  So a small self-care practice can be to simply unplug from the world for a while.

I’m not talking days isolated in a rustic cabin, though that may be nice!  I’m simply talking about taking a breather for a few hours.  Put your phone on Do Not Disturb and go take a hot bath.  Go for a walk – see self-care item 1 above – or enjoy a meal with friends. Anything that can silence the constant clatter of everyday life and be a great gift to yourself and those around you.

5 – Create:

Each and every one of us has the power to be a creator.  Unleash your inner artist and create something fun, profound or soothing.

Bake some cookies or brownies.  Paint a sign.  Bust out the Cricut and make a vinyl craft. Write a poem.  Sow some seeds.  Teach your dog a trick.  Hell, try and teach your cat a trick!  Give yourself permission to unleash your inner creator as a way to show self-love.

Choosing to honour yourself by creating a self-care routine that help fulfil you is such a brave thing to do.  It says, I value myself, my talents and my time.  It shows the other members of your family that self-care is not only OK, but is actually essential for each one of us.