As someone who is very Type A and likes to have things scheduled out, I’ve always tried to have a set routine when it comes to self-care. But amidst the rollercoaster that is 2020, I’ve found a more flexible approach working for me - by not being married to any one practice, but pulling from my toolbox of self care and applying whatever feels best in the moment. Once again I find that it's not so much about sticking strickly to one particular activity, but about creating the habit of taking the time for myself in the first place. It’s a mindset shift; that idea of choosing me, when I could easily fill that time with something more “productive” or completely tuned out (i.e. disconnected from myself and what fills me up).
With this in mind, I made a list of all the ways I choose to show myself some love. This is my toolbox - yours will be different. Don’t feel like you suddenly need to start incorporating all these things. My hope in sharing this is that you remember that there’s SO MANY different ways to show up for yourself, and that having some ideas and tools at the ready makes it easier to weave in some self-care throughout your day.
When “self-care” becomes a whole separate production you need to make time for or a strict routine you feel pressured to stick to, it’s time to re-evaluate. Usually the things we love doing but feel kinda like a waste of time? Yeah, those are the things that fill you up. Get some.
33 Ways to practice self-care:
yoga - free flow for ANY amount of time
yoga - restorative, maybe just a few chill poses before bed?
meditation (so many ways to do this, doesn’t have to be complicated!)
journaling (free write or use prompts)
pulling tarot cards (obsessed with this new deck from my friend Linzi!)
sipping tea
using my jade roller
stretching
foam rolling
using the theragun
CBD muscle rub
self massage
cooking & eating a nourishing meal
having my favorite snack (popcorn!)
taking a walk
sitting outside somewhere with no agenda
going out for a coffee and strolling around
taking 10 deep breaths
working out
flipping through a magazine
reading a book
going to bed early
watching a romcom in bed
listening to an inspiring podcast (this has been my go-to lately)
drawing/coloring/anything creative
spending “too much” time catching up with an old friend
writing down goals & dreams
making a gratitude list
clear out / re-organize my space
set up my space for easier self-care (i.e. making space for yoga or removing “work stuff” from the bedroom)
do a face mask
give myself a mani/pedi
get dressed up for no reason (this feels extra special right now!)
Surely there’s more - what are your go-to’s? Anything from this list you want to start to incorporate? Drop a comment below :)
p.s. notice how almost ALL of these don’t require your phone or a screen of any kind? Simply turning off your phone or leaving it in the other room can be an act of self care. Which is why I’m getting ready to launch a screen time challenge to help us all break the addiction! SIGN UP HERE!! xo
