How to build in self-care into your everyday life

There was a time in my life that I wouldn’t have been able to take an hour to myself. I was in school for my master’s degree, raising an infant, and working full-time. A colleague of mine started calling me “Superwoman,” and I really liked the title. I liked the idea of being able to handle it all myself. Yet, I was so stressed that I wasn’t functioning very well. I was feeling anxious all the time — forgetting things and getting into arguments with people. I was on edge constantly. 

“A colleague of mine started calling me “Superwoman,” and I really liked the title.”

In my mind, I had to do everything because I wanted to be perceived as a woman who can handle it all. 

It wasn’t until I had a health scare that I decided to make some changes in my life. I was sitting at my desk at work and started seeing these little blue sparks of light. I walked to the restroom to rinse my face. Soon, the little specks turned into what I can only describe as giant clock-like spokes that were flashing and spinning. 

Luckily, my friend saw me going to the bathroom and checked on me. I asked her to take me home, but when we got outside I felt better, so I drove myself home. I never went to a doctor — even though I had great health insurance. When I got home and held my baby, I committed to making some better choices. 

What even is self-care?

After my episode, I couldn’t stop working or going to school, but I could cut myself a little slack. And I could start incorporating self-care into my daily routine. 

It’s tough: we’re supposed to work full-time, raise a family, hang out with friends — and then find time to pamper ourselves. I soon realized self-care is more than that. Self-care is also taking care of your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. It’s about taking time to pause and enjoy the things that add happiness to your life in measures large and small. And don’t we all need more ways to spark joy and relieve stress? 

Kicking off a self-care routine

Identify the times in your day that you could incorporate some you time — and then do it. When you use your filler time for a little self-care, then you don’t need to feel like you have to squeeze one more thing in your day. You can find easy ways to add balance and harmony to your life. 

Start by asking some questions. Is a daily hot, fragrant bath a must-have? Could you have a weekly face mask and FaceTime with your college roommates? What about adding a foot soak at the end of a hard day on your feet? Maybe your self-care looks like listening to an audiobook or catching up with a friend during your morning routine or while you cook supper. 

Growing as a person as part of your self-care routine

We all have at least one special talent that we’d love to cultivate more. What’s yours? If you don’t know yet, now is a great time to figure it out!

It’s ok to cultivate a passion or hobby just for the sake of learning something new. What if you could spend time each day learning a language, meditating, playing an instrument, working on a painting, or writing some poetry? Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to cook or dance. All of those are self-care, too, if they make you feel good. 

Making self-care a priority

Decide what your self-care routine looks like, and make it a non-negotiable in your life. Once you begin to incorporate it into your day, you might like treating yourself well so much that you start adding it to your life in larger doses. 

Most of us are so busy working hard or taking care of others that we sometimes forget we also need our own attention. So, I suggest starting small — right where you are — by incorporating a simple self-care routine into your life. 

Cheers to a new and even better you!