Self-Care Habits to Practice Daily

Chances are part of your daily routine already consists of a few self-care habits and you don’t even realize it. Do you take a daily multivitamin? Read a daily devotional or practice another meditation technique to get your mind, body and spirit aligned for the day?

Anything beneficial you do for you could be considered a self-care tactic. The problem is we don’t take enough time to participate in self-care routines, or even notice the ones we already employ.

Somehow our priority lists include everyone but ourselves. But if you really think about it, by neglecting self-care you also neglect the others that depend on you if you can’t put your best foot forward.

Self-Care is Necessary

First of all, we need to ditch the idea that self-care is indulgent and selfish. When you purchase something new that means a lot to you, you probably pay special attention to taking proper care of it so it will last and remain in the best shape possible.

We need to shift the way we think and start taking better care of ourselves.

Certainly, proper nutrition and exercise, along with enough quality sleep, are at the top of the list.

But what are we feeding our souls? Our minds? It’s important to partake in a daily self-care routine; it’s just like performing routine maintenance on a vehicle.

If you don’t take care of the little signs of normal wear and tear, it eventually turns into bigger and more costly issues. Self-care can be the difference between constantly feeling exhausted and overwhelmed to feeling refreshed and revived.

Daily Self-Care Habits

When referring to a self-care “routine” it doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing, day in and day out. That might work for some, but others feel the monotony and get bored. If you need to switch things up, go for it. This is all about you taking care of you.

No one else can dictate how to serve your own needs. You are the only one in control of your self-care habits and routine.

Let’s take a look at some suggestions to help you jumpstart daily self-care habits that will stick!

10-Minute Self-Care Ideas

Any of these can be completed in 10 minutes or less:

• Meditate first thing in the morning

• Watch the sunrise

• Sit still; no phone, no people… just sit

• Declutter one small corner of the house or office that’s been bugging you; a junk drawer, medicine cabinet, under the sink, etc.

• Fix something that’s been neglected; sew on that button, change the dead light bulb, etc.

• Practice mindfulness during a simple task; brushing teeth, eating a meal, etc.

• Stretching exercises

• Take a walk

• Feed birds at a park

• Catch up on your favorite blog

On-The-Go Self-Care Ideas

These self-care habits can be done while on the go. Time is an issue for many of us, but these ideas make it virtually impossible to use “time” as an excuse when it comes to self-care.

• Strike up a short conversation with someone new; a cashier, a barista, the person in line ahead of you, a coworker in another department, etc.

• Smile!

• Notice 5 things of beauty on your way to work instead of being on auto-pilot

• Crank up your favorite playlist and sing loudly without a care in the world

• Take a different route and take notice of the surroundings

• Refuse to rush

• Intentionally relax your body (shoulders down, belly relaxed)
• Some deep breathing on your way from the car to the post office

• Make a stranger’s day; help carry groceries to their car, hold a door open, a random compliment, etc.

• Make use of public transportation and use that time to read a book or listen to a podcast

• Tell yourself three things you love about yourself; and three things you’d like to improve on

Pampering yourself isn’t just for aesthetics; it’s part of self-care. It feels good on the inside when our toes are prettily manicured, as we climb into clean cotton sheets. Personal grooming doesn’t have to be a big to-do either.

It takes a few minutes to pluck away at some stray eyebrows or do a mini facial. Check out a video tutorial on quick hairstyles and try out a new one. Up-dress for the day, just because it feels good to feel beautiful! Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize – it feels wonderful to add a pretty piece of costume jewelry or a new scarf to your outfit.

Don’t let self-care be intimidating or allow time constraints to fool you into thinking self-care habits are impossible. Again, you should be a top priority or nothing or no one else is going to get your best.

It’s a domino effect and the sooner we start taking better care of ourselves, inside and out, the sooner we will enjoy richer, fuller lives with more zest and zeal.

Not only will we make a difference to ourselves, but the world (and the people) around us will take notice too.