With everyday tasks and responsibilities, it’s so easy to forget about self-care.
You do everything you can to move forward at work, run a home, look after the people you love, and keep up a social life, and somewhere along the way you end up completely exhausted.
You feel stressed, overwhelmed, and sometimes even anxious, because it seems like you just can’t catch a break. (Believe me, I know that feeling well.)
But what if a lot of that pressure could be eased with very little effort?
What if one simple change in your daily routine could make your days happier and easier?
Making self-care a part of your daily routine might be exactly what you need.
4 Self-Care Tips to Add to Your Daily Routine
Self-care can improve the overall quality of your life. (I’ve been writing about it here since 2018, so you can probably tell I’m a huge fan!)
Taking a little time for yourself every day can help you feel happier, calmer, and even more organized.
Self-care can mean many different things, and it matters for everyone, no matter what stage of life you’re in.
Whether you’re a busy student, juggling a full schedule, or wondering why self-care is so important in the first place, the way you look after yourself deserves more attention than it usually gets.
If you’re looking for more ways to bring self-care into your life, in this post I’ll share 4 simple ways to add it to your daily routine.
1. Get Active
Living an active lifestyle is one of my favorite ways to practice self-care.
Moving your body has so many physical benefits, and it helps you feel healthier and more accomplished as you go about your day.
Staying active doesn’t have to be hard or boring.
A lot of us connect “being active” with intense, sweaty workouts, and while that works for some people, it’s definitely not the only way to get up and move.
Even just rolling out a yoga mat for ten minutes of gentle stretching counts, and it's such a nice way to start the day.
Some other ways to stay active and fit movement into your daily routine include:
- Going on walks with your dog, neighbors, or friends
- Joining a gym
- Hiking
- Bike riding
- Signing up for workout classes such as yoga, Zumba, or weight lifting
It’s worth trying to stay active with friends and family, because it makes this new part of your self-care routine more fun and something you actually look forward to.
2. Plan Ahead
Planning ahead is a simple form of self-care that most people don’t even think about.
It keeps you more organized and better prepared, which helps you feel more relaxed and put together.
If you want an easy start, a set of meal prep containers makes Sunday prep feel so organized and your weekday lunches so much simpler.
Some ways to plan ahead every day include:
- Meal prep; your food is ready for the week and you don’t have to worry about what to eat after a long day
- Lay out your clothes the night before
- Schedule doctor appointments and other appointments weeks in advance and set reminders on your phone
- Make lists of daily and weekly goals so you can divide your time wisely
- Don’t wait until you’re completely out of food or household products to go to the store; buy what you need as soon as you notice you’re running low
- Get a calendar or planner and write down what you have to do by hand; when you see it all written out, it’s so much easier to plan the rest of your week or month
Planning ahead only takes a few extra minutes a day, but it can make a real difference to your mental and emotional wellbeing because you feel so much more in control. Just keep it gentle: add a reasonable number of tasks to each day, so your planner calms you down instead of overwhelming you. (If your to-do list tends to make you anxious, here’s how I use planning to relieve anxiety.)
I like keeping a simple daily planner open on my desk, because seeing the day written out helps me breathe a little easier.
3. Make it a Point to Be Cleaner
Keeping your home, desk, bedroom, and car clean is another simple form of self-care that makes life easier and helps you feel better.
Try to tidy as you go, so you don’t have to do a huge deep-clean every so often.
Simply spend an extra 5 minutes cleaning up the kitchen after each meal, or straighten up your bedroom before you go to bed every night.
Having a cordless handheld vacuum within reach makes those quick five-minute cleanups so much easier to actually do.
These small efforts stop messes and clutter from piling up and turning into one more source of stress.
Another way to bring cleanliness into your self-care routine is to not hold on to clutter.
Be proactive and let go of things you no longer need or want.
When you clear out a little bit of clutter every day, it never becomes overwhelming or turns into a whole project you have to find time for.
4. Set Some Time Aside to Do Something You Enjoy
This is probably the most important part of adding self-care to your daily routine.
It’s so important to make time for things that make you happy.
Try setting an hour aside each day just for you. Honestly, I can’t imagine functioning well without a little bit of time to myself every day.
Whether it’s an hour before work or an hour right before bed, you’re giving your mental and emotional health a little boost.
You’ll find yourself looking forward to this time, especially on days when work or home life feels stressful.
One of my favorite cozy ideas is keeping a jigsaw puzzle going on a side table, so you can add a few pieces whenever you need a break.
Some ideas for your “me time” include:
- Start a new book
- Learn a new skill, like playing an instrument or making a craft
- Blog (it’s one of my own favorites!)
- Write
- Call friends or family members
- Walk your dog
- Do a puzzle
- Bake
- Take a bath
- Read a magazine
- Start a new TV show
Practice Self-Care Now For a Happier You Later
Small everyday efforts in your routine add up and make a real difference for your future self.
As you look for ways to improve your overall health and happiness, keep these tips in mind. And if you want even more ideas, my list of 50 self-care activities is a great place to start.
One more thing: self-care is wonderful, but it isn’t a replacement for professional support. If stress or anxiety starts to feel like too much to handle, please reach out to a doctor or mental health professional.
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