Not sure if you were a Parks and Recreation fan, but Donna and Tom have a day dedicated to treating themselves. It’s called treat yo self.
You can watch what it’s all about here
Yes this is an exaggerated version of treating yourself, but the idea is important. To take care of yourself, not just on 1 day out of the year, but daily. Today, I am going to talk with you about ideas for a self care plan, along with a simple way to stick to your plan.
There are 5 aspects to self care: Mind, body, spirit, reflection, and connection.
This is definitely not an exhaustive list. This is to give you an idea and you can tailor it to meet your needs.
Mind
Take 3 deep breaths- breath in count to 4, hold for 4, breath out for 4
Read a book
Color
Paint or draw
Drink cocoa of coffee
Cozy up with a warm blanket and watch a movie or your favorite show
Paint your nails or go get a mani pedi
De-clutter a room in your home
Watch the snow or rain fall
Listen to classical or rock music
Body
Go for a walk
Yoga
10 minute stretch
Cut back on sugar
Eat more fruits and veggies
15-30 minute cardio workout
Go for a run
Run around outside with the kids
Dance your heart out
Deep pressure- using your hands to squeeze up and down your arms and legs
Get a massage
Have your hubby give you a massage
Spirit
Prayer time
Read your Bible
10 minute meditation
A 15-20 minute nap
10 minutes of lying down resting with your eyes closed
Tell yourself positive affirmations like “I am good enough” and “you can do this”
Laugh and laugh often
Smile
Reflection
Journal
Write down 1 thing you are thankful for daily
Use a planner to stay organized
Reflect on your daily goals
Blog or vlog
Connection
Call or text a friend
Call or text a close family member
Go out to lunch or coffee with someone special
Volunteer
Give or donate
Be intentional about treating others with kindness
Express gratitude
Spend quality time with your kids
Go on a date with your spouse
Goal Setting
In sticking to your plan it’s will be key to remember your why behind having a self care plan and why it's important to you. This way if you do get off track you can be reminded by why you started it in the first place. Consider the pros and cons for not taking care of yourself. A couple examples of the benefits for a self care plan for me are my mind will feel more clear and refreshed and I will have more energy. The cons could be that when I don't take care of myself I know this leads to burnout, not connecting with friends and family, and irritability.
If you want to stay consistent with your plan start with realistic goals for yourself. For instance if you don't workout regularly I wouldn't start with a goal of working out 4-5 days out of the week. The first week in, you may not meet this goal and you might be discouraged with the results. A realistic goal could be “okay this week I am going to work out 2 times for 15 minutes each”. Then over time you can build up and work towards your ultimate goal of working out 3-4 times a week.
Choose 1 or 2 self care ideas from each category that you would like to implement into your day or life more. Write them down and check in on your goals weekly. Pay attention to how you feel before and after you do a self care activity. This will help you recognize the benefits of taking care of yourself regularly and how much better you will feel. Most of these activities can be done in 10 minutes or less.
Small steps are important in this process and it's really about what works for you, your style, and your life.
Get started today and treat yo self!