How to create your own self-care program
Creating time for ourselves, making space for our own needs is a choice, not a lucky coincidence every once in a while. Reorganising the wardrobe, cleaning the house, tidying up the children’s room, catching up on emails or getting some work done are not options. While they are tempting and many times we fall for them, I have found on more than one opportunity that using time off for these purposes is counterproductive. We end up frustrated and with no energy for anything else.
Investing quality time in yourself is the key to success in all other areas of life, even if it’s only 5 minutes a day. But when we decide to take a break, sometimes we are so overwhelmed by the options that we don’t know where to start or what to do.
I have created a self-care map that can help you find something you like, or at least point you in the right direction.
Reflect on the following questions to find out what better adjusts to your needs and desires:
- What type of activities bring you joy?
- What time of the day would suit you better to accommodate a short ritual?
- Do you enjoy more being indoors or outdoors?
- What is the best way for you to express yourself?
- How can you explore and materialise your creativity?
- What can you do to move your body and release stagnant energy?
- What kind of therapy or practices can support you to improve or maintain your health?
- What tools can help your self-development and evolve emotionally and spiritually?
- What relaxation techniques are available to you?
- How do you take care of your body?
Self-care rituals can help maintain our well-being and good health
Ideas for your own self-care ritual
If you have 5 minutes:
- Expressive: Sing along a catchy song
- Active: Walk around the block
- Therapeutic: Massage your feet
- Reflective: Brain dump on you journal
- Relaxing: Lie on Savasana or adopt Child’s pose
- Pampering: File your nails
If you have 15 minutes:
- Expressive: Create a mandala or put together a flower bouquet
- Active: Dance to five of your favourite songs
- Therapeutic: Prepare and enjoy a herbal tea
- Reflective: Read a couple of pages of a book
- Relaxing: Listen to a guided meditation
- Pampering: Use a body scrub during your shower or put on a face mask
If you have less than 60 minutes:
- Creative: Take up knitting or crocheting
- Active: Practice yoga
- Therapeutic: Re-pot a houseplant or sew seeds
- Reflective: Listen to a podcast
- Relaxing: Take a hot bath
- Gratifying: Cook yourself a nice and healthy meal
If you have more than an hour:
- Creative: Join a pottery or painting class; learn something new
- Active: Go for a hike or practice a sport
- Therapeutic: Go to your doctor’s/dentist’s appointment
- Reflective: Create a manifestation board
- Relaxing: Get a professional massage or take a nap
- Pampering: Visit the nail or hair salon
Use these ideas to reflect on and create your own rituals, and please let me know which ones you prefer!
If you are a mum in need for a break, sign up for me FREE 5-day Self-care Challenge for Busy Mums.
