We all know that self-care is important, but sometimes it feels like if we’re going to treat ourselves, we have to have a full “self-care day.” Self-care can and should be simple things that you incorporate into your daily routine to take time for yourself. Here are some ways I try to take care of myself every day.
- Journaling
-
There are lots of different ways to journal, you just have to find a method which works for you. You can journal at the end of the day and write about what happened that day, or how you felt throughout the day. You can journal first thing in the morning and write out your stream of conscious thoughts to clear your mind. I have found that the best journaling method for me is writing down three pages of stream of conscious thoughts first thing when I wake up in the morning. Then, throughout the day whenever I need to clear my mind, I pull out my journal and write some more.
- Sheet Masks
-
Face masks are probably the most common form of self-care, but sometimes they’re time consuming to remove. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good clay mask every now and then, but I prefer a sheet mask. Sheet masks are easy to apply and once the 20 minutes you have it on are up, you just peel it off, throw it away and continue going about your day.
- Reading
-
I know a lot of people are opposed to the idea of sitting down and reading an actual book – probably due to all the years of school being forced to read books we hated – but once you find a book that you actually enjoy, you’ll find yourself looking forward to reading. Reading is one of the best forms of self-care in my opinion because you’re disconnecting from your phone, laptop and television, and just reading a book. I also recommend putting your phone on do not disturb while you read to avoid getting distracted.
- Put Your Phone on Do Not Disturb
-
Setting my phone on Do Not Disturb mode at a certain time each night is probably one of the best decisions I’ve made when it comes to self-care. I am someone who can not get a notification and simply ignore it. If I get a text or email, I feel as though I have to check it and respond immediately. This is why, after a certain time, I do not get any notifications. Do not worry, you can change the setting so that notifications from specific people pop up in case of an emergency, without being flooded with other notifications. Making this change has helped me fall asleep faster at night, as I’m not distracted by social media, text messages and emails.
Self-care is super important and does not always have to be time consuming. Try adding these four methods of self-care into your daily routine to better take care of yourself every day.