Self-care is a really trendy topic, and I’m happy that it is! Sometimes it can feel confusing though, especially because of social media. We often see a very glamourized version of self-care because it looks nice in photos. Self-care isn’t necessarily facials and candle-lit bubble baths. The important part about the self-care habits you choose to incorporate is that they are chosen specifically for you to meet your unique needs.
We all have different needs when it comes to feeling our best, so what works well for someone on social media might not be helpful at all to you. When you are working on adding in more self-care habits to your routine, start by setting an intention for what you want to get out of the habits you select. Maybe it’s more energy or a better mood or less headaches or feeling loved. Decide how you want to feel first and foremost. Then you can select habits that you know will get you that feeling. You can also experiment if you’re not sure that a new habit is going to work well for you. Do it for a week and assess if it moved the needle on the outcome you were seeking. If it did, great! Keep the habit and continue to be aware of how that habit affects you. We are always changing, so what worked last month may not work next month. Be flexible and open to adjusting your habits, and know that you don’t have to do them everyday for them to make an impact. Actually, you might feel overwhelmed or stressed trying to do some things every single day, which of course defeats the purpose.
Here are 50 self-care ideas for you to try out:
Contributed by Melanie Maxwell, R.H.N.