Adding self-care into your life may seem a little difficult at first, but like any new habit, it just takes a little practice and consistent effort to make it become part of your routine.
You’re probably thinking, how am I possibly going to find time to do anything extra for myself, let alone try to build a habit of to and make it part of my regular routine.
One of the best ways to get started is to build your activities into predictable parts of your day.
We know that we have do to something regularly in order for it to become a habit and a changed behaviour.
Keep reading, and I’ll show you some tricks to making self-care a routine part of your life.
Make It Personal
Choose activities that are meaningful to you and that you enjoy – this is your first step in creating your self care routine. This is your practice, so you want to be sure it’s customized in order to get the most out of it.
Consider making a list of things that help you to feel relaxed, peaceful, excited or happy.
These activities need to be able to be completed in a short amount of time. They also need to easily fit into your life without having to invest in special equipment or tools. The things you choose to do should be as simple as possible, at least as you begin your practice.
Fit It In
One of the easiest ways to incorporate your self-care rituals into your day is to do them at the times that are most convenient for you. It will be much less stressful if you choose times that are already somewhat flexible. This will make it easier to incorporate something new into that space.
Many people go with morning or evening routines, right when they wake up and before going to sleep each night.
Getting up fifteen minutes earlier than usual and setting aside a window during the usual night-time schedule are usually things most folks can do. However, maybe designating your daily lunch break as your self-care time might work better for you.
It is about finding a moment to call your own every day, so initially trial and error may be required. If you are a morning person, consider listening to music while having your morning coffee or try a morning meditation.
An evening person might consider writing in a gratitude journal before going to bed or setting a side just 5 minutes to pamper themselves in some way. If your’e a busy person, try going for a short walk over your lunch hour.
Be Flexible
It’s best to come up with a routine that works for you and then stick to it. Making a commitment to a particular schedule helps you to create a habit and this new habit will ensure that you get the self-care you need.
However, try not to be too tough on yourself. You will have some days that are way more hectic than others. You may not be able to fit in your anticipated self-care activity, and that’s okay.
There is always a new day tomorrow when you can try again. Soon, you’ll find yourself wanting to take part in these rituals, and getting back on track will be easy.
It will take some effort but it doesn’t have to be difficult adjusting to this new practice of regular self-care . Making a few adjustments to your existing schedule can free up some space in your day. Choose things that will refresh you and that are simple in nature will make getting started a breeze.
How is your self care journey progressing? Leave a comment below – we’d love to hear from you:)