3 Steps to develop a basic self-care plan and stick with it.
There is no way around it. Self-care matters. If you avoid taking time for yourself, avoid tending to your needs, eventually it will take a toll. I know, it is hard to make time to do the things you may need to feel better. I get it. Somewhere along the way, self-care got lost. Maybe you became too busy, too disconnected, too stressed to realize you had slowly let go of the things that were helping you to keep a healthy balance in your life. I’ve been there.
I understand that self-care sometimes feels selfish. Especially when you feel like you are already overbooked and exhausted. But self-care is essential. Self-care isn’t just about pampering yourself with lavish or expensive things. Self-care is also about nourishing yourself. It is taking each day to meet your emotional and physical needs. Your self-care plan is tailor made to fit you. It won’t look exactly like anyone else’s because you are not exactly like anyone else.
I know it may sound exhausting to even begin to develop this plan. So, I have broken it down into 3 steps. 3 specific steps to begin developing your self-care plan today.
Take a few minutes to reflect on things that help you to feel more at peace and start making a list of these things. This list might include things like taking a walk, spending time outside, taking time to work on a hobby, meditating, journaling, eating healthier, reading….. as you can see, this list could be long. That’s ok. It’s a starting point.
Take a realistic look at your daily schedule. I know. It’s packed. So, give some thought to the stressors you experience throughout your day. Think about the parts of your day that already bring you contentment. Give some thought to where you can begin to incorporate healthy habits into your day.
Schedule time for your self-care each day. Choose an activity from your list and schedule it into your day in a way that makes sense for you. If you notice you feel rushed and tense in the mornings before you even get to work, for example, you might choose to start your morning by listening to a short, guided meditation or doing a few minutes of gentle stretching. If you notice that you feel stressed in the middle of the day, you might choose to take a few minutes to try some breathing exercises, schedule a quick phone call with a friend or even take a short a walk at lunch. Feeling stressed at the end of your day? You might choose to spend a little time journaling, sharing how you are feeling with a friend or even doing a little yoga. Whatever activity you choose, try including it into your daily routine consistently. Start small. You can always build from there in the future.
Following these 3 steps will help you to create a very basic self-care plan. It will help you get started. Try to follow the plan you have created for a couple of weeks and then check in with yourself in order to help reflect on any changes you are noticing. This will give you a chance to adjust your plan or build onto it as necessary.
Most importantly, be patient with yourself. Changing your habits takes time. You will have off days, of course. But every new day brings you an opportunity to start again. So if you notice you are having a hard time, following the plan you developed, try approaching yourself with compassion, not judgement. Revisit the 3 steps above to help adjust your plan in a way that meets your current needs.