Simple Self-Care Routines You Can Fall Back On When Needed (Day 4)

Beneficial habits like self-care often go by the wayside during stressful times. It can be difficult to focus on anything but the bare minimum when life gets hard. The fact is, though, that these are the days when you most need to take care of yourself, and when having a list of simple care routines comes in handy.

Prepare a List of Simple Self-Care Routines

One way is to have a self-care toolkit to help you out during these instances. Having a list of self-care routines can make it easier for you to implement them when needed. There are some other tricks you can employ to get you through the tough times, too. Keep reading, and I’ll share them with you.

image with words on self care — Self Care is Important

” The best way to improve the world is to improve ourselves.” – Coach John Wooden

Make a List of Routine Actions You Can Take

Let’s start with your self-care backup plan. This is a list of at least five activities you can easily fit into your life during the most stressful periods. Having a reminder on-hand will let you gain the benefits of caring for yourself without having to think about it too much. Areas to consider are: emotional self-care, physical self-care, mental self-care, social self-care, practical self-care, and spiritual self-care.

This list can include simple reminders like go to bed early so you get enough sleep, eat nourishing food to keep your energy up, begin or improve your self-fitness routine, or ask for help when you need it because these are all things you might forget when you’ve got a ton on your plate. During times of trouble, the very basic foundations of self-care can be the most important.

Using Simple Routines to Deal With Stress

Make a Care Package For Those Stress-Filled Days

Another way to boost your chances of keeping self-care at the focus during hard times is to prepare a care package ahead of time. This can include some of your favorite little indulgences like a good book, herbal teas, facial mask, fuzzy slippers and classical CD. Include anything that brings you joy. As Sara Ban Breathnach mentioned in “Outfitting A Comfort Drawer” being able to reach for this package when you’re stressed can mean the world and make a huge difference to your outlook.

Creating a Self-Care Tool Kit

Having a tool kit of sorts can be a handy way to plug into self-care options when it’s time to refresh or the going gets tough. A self-care tool kit might be a tangible thing like keeping your favorite candy on hand for a sweet treat now and then. It can also represent keeping the contact info for your massage therapist in your phone to easily make an appointment.

Your tool kit won’t look like anyone else’s because it will be filled – metaphorically or literally – with the things that refresh your mind and body.

Here are some ideas of items to have in your self-care tool kit.

A calendar- Schedule self-care activities that help you feel refreshed and renewed. Some activities could include:

* Date night

* Spa day

* Massage or acupuncture

* Therapy

Engaging in regularly scheduled activities not only helps you feel and look your best, it gives you something to look forward to. Having at least one scheduled self-care activity on your weekly calendar can help re-energize your spirits.

A creative outlet- Creativity feeds the soul. Being able to express yourself is a way of releasing tension, refueling your spirit, and finding peace and harmony between your mind and body. Here are some fun ways to express yourself through creativity:

* Garden

* Coloring, painting, drawing

* Cooking

* DIY projects

Being creative uses your brain in very specific ways and the processes of creativity help reduce anxiety, high blood pressure, and more.

Solid friendships- Toxic people bring you down. Grounded people who bring their best selves to the table are part of an essential self-care tool kit. We aren’t meant to do life alone. Here are some fun ways to use solid friendships as a self-care tool:

* Book clubs

* Meet up groups

* Coffee dates

* Progressive dinner parties

Organized group events and spontaneous get-togethers are an excellent way to re-energize and get invigorated. Being able to connect with high-quality friends is important for a healthy mind and body.

Having a “tool kit” on hand of the activities you enjoy to refresh and recharge can help you when you’re burned out and feeling overwhelmed. Reach into your kit, grab the right tool, and you’re set.

Involve Your Crew in Your Routines

Healthy friendships are crucial to our well-being. When things look bleak, you may require a bit of help to get back on track. That’s why it’s a good idea to reach out to trusted friends and family now to enlist their help for the future. Talk to your closest confidantes and let them know you would like them to always encourage your self-care routine.

Share with them the benefits it’s provided you and tell them you’d appreciate their assistance if they see you aren’t caring for yourself as well as you should be. Sometimes those who know us best can see things we don’t. When your crew knows to look out for you in this regard, they can reinforce your self-care needs during times of stress.

Taking steps to plan now can make maintaining your self-care routine easier in the future. Always remember it’s during the hardest times that you need to nurturing yourself the most.

To creating helpful routines

Fran

P.S. If you have just found this blog post and missed the signup for the 7 day challenge, go here: https://franwatson.ca/blog/selfcarematters/