10 Habits to Start a Self-Care Routine Today
♥
By: Melody Lipford
Artwork by: Natasha Ling (@nlingart)
Are you tired of hearing about self care routines yet? Self care is a subject I’m sure you’ve heard about and may be tired of to be frank. However, your body may be even more tired of you not giving it the care it truly needs.
Check out these 10 habits that can help you start a self-care routine today.
A consistent hygiene and beauty routine.
Consistency is often easier said than done. There are numerous beauty routine videos with glamorous models usually showing an inaccurate depiction of an average person’s normal day to day routine.
The average woman typically does not have time for the basics of a daily routine she deserves– let alone the resources for expensive serums or other beauty products the models flaunt in their videos.
Whether you prefer a full face look,or enjoy a more natural look, do what you feel is right for you. One strategy that has made my routine so much easier is to lay out all the products I plan to use the night before on my vanity. It saves me so much time.
Create a consistent meal schedule with wholesome food staples in your daily life.
Making time to incorporate home-cooked or at least quality meals into your routine can be tough to do if you don’t set aside time or plan how to incorporate it into your routine. Try implementing fun weekly themes like Taco Tuesdays or a Sandwich Sundays.
However, don’t pressure yourself to have a perfect meal plan. Ultimately, you know what works best for you and your lifestyle. Planning three to five dinners at home can save you so much money and your future self will thank you. For some people, taking time to cook dinner can be a fun and enjoyable way to de-stress during the work week.
Turn off your phone for 10 minutes everyday.
I know the thought of completely turning off your phone feels impossible, but it’s important to schedule off-screen time so we can care for ourselves fully– mentally, emotionally, and especially our vision. Try to incorporate a schedule where you only check email once per day to minimize distractions and reduce stress. And let people know the time you will be checking your email during the day. Your self-care is worth it!
Listen to your favorite song every day.
You automatically feel better after listening to your favorite songs. Songs from your childhood, your teenage years, or even a song from now–play them more! Songs can be the perfect mood booster and catharsis for practicing self care. Listening to one of your favorite songs while working, cleaning, doing laundry, or whatever it may be can be a great way to connect your mind with happy memories, and raise your mood.
Talk to at least one family member, friend, or loved one everyday. Choose someone that has a positive impact on your life.
Work-life balance is extremely important in our fast paced technology driven world. Many of us become so entrenched in our work that we forget to ground and center ourselves with the people who truly care about us. Take 10 minutes to phone or facetime with a friend or family member to gain a new perspective. Our hearts desperately need to feel connected.
Get comfortable saying no.
As much as I love the movie,Yes Man, starring Jim Carrey, I have found that the yes-man type of lifestyle is not for me. Personally, it’s not worth the hype. All in all, saying yes to everything in retrospect is a way of saying no to yourself and what needs you may have. In turn, take some of the nos you are trying to incorporate in your life with other people as time to say yes to you and make self-care a bigger priority.
Schedule alone time to reflect.
Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, we all could benefit from some time alone to process, recoup, recharge, and to collect our thoughts. Alone time allows reflective analysis of situations in all areas of life, much needed downtime, or to simply feel more in tune with yourself as an individual.
As a creative, this is where I find my spark flows for making new art whether written, musical, visual, or simply writing out thoughts.
Watch your favorite TV show.
Watching television or streaming shows in large quantities isn’t healthy, but treating yourself to your favorite show at least once a week could be a healthy way to incorporate some self care.
Personally, knowing I have something to look forward to such as a favorite show at the end of the day serves as a mental reward and motivation after a long day. In addition, the mindless and enjoyable act of watching a favorite show can help to calm your nerves, ground yourself in the present moment, and keep you from dwelling too much on past or future tasks.
Walk outside and take notice of your surroundings.
Much of life today is seen through a screen. Mobile phones, laptops, iPads, Kindles, the list goes on. Monitor your digital screen, and spend more time interacting with one another in person and less time engaging in digital interactions.
Get outside more and notice your surroundings! In general, our bodies need Vitamin D which comes from being outside in the sun! Get out in nature and give your body what it needs! Who knows, stepping away from the screen for five minutes may provide clarity or spark creativity and innovative ideas. Physical activity boosts endorphins which can help elevate your mood and help you feel energized throughout your day.
Treat yourself.
Treating yourself can vary greatly depending on your needs and finding a way to truly enjoy yourself. Treating yourself could entail buying a luxurious bath bomb and taking time for a relaxing bath, going hiking with a friend, watching your favorite TV show, going out to a nice restaurant, or even getting take-out for a night in. Regardless, incorporating this strategy once a month into your routine can be a drastic mood lifter and motivator to keep you going and recharge your battery!
Self care doesn’t have to break the bank! There is no set price when it comes to self care. Simply, implement the habits that work for you and your budget. Eventually, you will find your winning combo of practices to add to your routine. Your future self will thank you for it!
Overall, self care is an ever-evolving practice that we can all shape and mold to fit our needs and lifestyle. While some methods work for a while it is more than okay to increase or decrease over time. Do what works for you and most importantly realize you are worth the time for self care.
10 Habits to Start a Self-Care Routine Today
♥
By: Melody Lipford
Artwork by: Natasha Ling (@nlingart)
Are you tired of hearing about self care routines yet? Self care is a subject I’m sure you’ve heard about and may be tired of to be frank. However, your body may be even more tired of you not giving it the care it truly needs.
Check out these 10 habits that can help you start a self-care routine today.
A consistent hygiene and beauty routine.
Consistency is often easier said than done. There are numerous beauty routine videos with glamorous models usually showing an inaccurate depiction of an average person’s normal day to day routine.
The average woman typically does not have time for the basics of a daily routine she deserves– let alone the resources for expensive serums or other beauty products the models flaunt in their videos.
Whether you prefer a full face look,or enjoy a more natural look, do what you feel is right for you. One strategy that has made my routine so much easier is to lay out all the products I plan to use the night before on my vanity. It saves me so much time.
Create a consistent meal schedule with wholesome food staples in your daily life.
Making time to incorporate home-cooked or at least quality meals into your routine can be tough to do if you don’t set aside time or plan how to incorporate it into your routine. Try implementing fun weekly themes like Taco Tuesdays or a Sandwich Sundays.
However, don’t pressure yourself to have a perfect meal plan. Ultimately, you know what works best for you and your lifestyle. Planning three to five dinners at home can save you so much money and your future self will thank you. For some people, taking time to cook dinner can be a fun and enjoyable way to de-stress during the work week.
Turn off your phone for 10 minutes everyday.
I know the thought of completely turning off your phone feels impossible, but it’s important to schedule off-screen time so we can care for ourselves fully– mentally, emotionally, and especially our vision. Try to incorporate a schedule where you only check email once per day to minimize distractions and reduce stress. And let people know the time you will be checking your email during the day. Your self-care is worth it!
Listen to your favorite song every day.
You automatically feel better after listening to your favorite songs. Songs from your childhood, your teenage years, or even a song from now–play them more! Songs can be the perfect mood booster and catharsis for practicing self care. Listening to one of your favorite songs while working, cleaning, doing laundry, or whatever it may be can be a great way to connect your mind with happy memories, and raise your mood.
Talk to at least one family member, friend, or loved one everyday. Choose someone that has a positive impact on your life.
Work-life balance is extremely important in our fast paced technology driven world. Many of us become so entrenched in our work that we forget to ground and center ourselves with the people who truly care about us. Take 10 minutes to phone or facetime with a friend or family member to gain a new perspective. Our hearts desperately need to feel connected.
Get comfortable saying no.
As much as I love the movie,Yes Man, starring Jim Carrey, I have found that the yes-man type of lifestyle is not for me. Personally, it’s not worth the hype. All in all, saying yes to everything in retrospect is a way of saying no to yourself and what needs you may have. In turn, take some of the nos you are trying to incorporate in your life with other people as time to say yes to you and make self-care a bigger priority.
Schedule alone time to reflect.
Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, we all could benefit from some time alone to process, recoup, recharge, and to collect our thoughts. Alone time allows reflective analysis of situations in all areas of life, much needed downtime, or to simply feel more in tune with yourself as an individual.
As a creative, this is where I find my spark flows for making new art whether written, musical, visual, or simply writing out thoughts.
Watch your favorite TV show.
Watching television or streaming shows in large quantities isn’t healthy, but treating yourself to your favorite show at least once a week could be a healthy way to incorporate some self care.
Personally, knowing I have something to look forward to such as a favorite show at the end of the day serves as a mental reward and motivation after a long day. In addition, the mindless and enjoyable act of watching a favorite show can help to calm your nerves, ground yourself in the present moment, and keep you from dwelling too much on past or future tasks.
Walk outside and take notice of your surroundings.
Much of life today is seen through a screen. Mobile phones, laptops, iPads, Kindles, the list goes on. Monitor your digital screen, and spend more time interacting with one another in person and less time engaging in digital interactions.
Get outside more and notice your surroundings! In general, our bodies need Vitamin D which comes from being outside in the sun! Get out in nature and give your body what it needs! Who knows, stepping away from the screen for five minutes may provide clarity or spark creativity and innovative ideas. Physical activity boosts endorphins which can help elevate your mood and help you feel energized throughout your day.
Treat yourself.
Treating yourself can vary greatly depending on your needs and finding a way to truly enjoy yourself. Treating yourself could entail buying a luxurious bath bomb and taking time for a relaxing bath, going hiking with a friend, watching your favorite TV show, going out to a nice restaurant, or even getting take-out for a night in. Regardless, incorporating this strategy once a month into your routine can be a drastic mood lifter and motivator to keep you going and recharge your battery!
Self care doesn’t have to break the bank! There is no set price when it comes to self care. Simply, implement the habits that work for you and your budget. Eventually, you will find your winning combo of practices to add to your routine. Your future self will thank you for it!
Overall, self care is an ever-evolving practice that we can all shape and mold to fit our needs and lifestyle. While some methods work for a while it is more than okay to increase or decrease over time. Do what works for you and most importantly realize you are worth the time for self care.
About author: Melody Lipford
I grew up in the United States, specifically in the Appalachian Mountains. I grew up with humble beginnings and always strived to be the first one in my family to graduate college. As a recent college graduate of Emory & Henry College, it is safe to say I achieved that goal.
However, my adolescence and college years were not free of anxiety and depression that comes not only with that goal, but also were mental illnesses I had suffered from since childhood. Through it all, I have learned self-care and have strived to use my love of writing to break the stigmas that encompass such a common subject such as mental health.
I look forward to doing this at Home of Passion and invite readers to start this discussion in their own lives. Let’s end the stigma together.
About author: Melody Lipford
I grew up in the United States, specifically in the Appalachian Mountains. I grew up with humble beginnings and always strived to be the first one in my family to graduate college. As a recent college graduate of Emory & Henry College, it is safe to say I achieved that goal.
However, my adolescence and college years were not free of anxiety and depression that comes not only with that goal, but also were mental illnesses I had suffered from since childhood. Through it all, I have learned self-care and have strived to use my love of writing to break the stigmas that encompass such a common subject such as mental health.
I look forward to doing this at Home of Passion and invite readers to start this discussion in their own lives. Let’s end the stigma together.
Like!! Really appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing.