Self-Care Ideas to Make Part of Your Daily Routine

Self-care is one of those words that you hear just about everywhere. In our culture, we’ve become cognizant of the fact that we do ourselves and our relationships a disservice if we don’t put a line under the things we get involved in. We are not machines, but flesh and blood. Even machines have their limits, and they need to be maintained so they continue to perform their function.

A Word of Caution Concerning Self-Care

Since we’re not machines, and since we can break down if we don’t take adequate care of ourselves, that’s why self-care is so important. We need to be able to take breaks, replenish our various reserves, do the things that bring us joy, and find ways to reconnect with our sense of purpose and meaning, so that we can be all that the Lord intends for us to be. Knowing our limits and nurturing our well-being is important.

While it’s true that we need to become more aware of our limits, it’s also true that we can become overly invested in ourselves, that we become hesitant to get stretched or stand outside of our comfort zones. Self-care needs to be finely balanced so that we can love ourselves well without falling into the idolatry of the self. One way to do this is to consider how much time, energy, and resources we spend on ourselves and how much we spend on others.

Some Self-Care Ideas That Can Benefit You

Self-care is an important part of life. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can open yourself up to illness, burnout, chronic stress, mood swings, and a whole host of other issues that can complicate your relationships, diminish your productivity, and affect your health. Taking the time to incorporate self-care into your daily routine can have a meaningful impact on your overall well-being. Here are some self-care ideas to get you started on your journey:

Practice gratitude The apostle Paul urged Jesus’ disciples to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV). Being grateful for the breath in your lungs, for the grass beneath your feet, for loved ones – whatever you focus on that you’re grateful for – can help elevate your mood.

Hydrate, refresh, and eat well In the morning and during the day, take the time to drink water and eat whole, unprocessed foods that make you feel good. Be sure to take care of your hygiene, too, through taking a bath or shower, brushing your teeth, and nourishing and protecting your skin.

Take breaks One of the reasons for the Sabbath is a reminder that our lives don’t revolve around our work. It’s a reminder that the Lord is the one who ultimately provides for us, and our trust should be in Him and not our efforts. After all, we get our capacity to work and the opportunity to work and flourish from Him (Deuteronomy 8). Take a break during the day, in the week, every month, and during your year.

Your daily break could consist of something as simple as stretching, moving around, and resting your eyes. This is especially pertinent to people with a more sedentary lifestyle. At night, you can unwind with a bath, a good book that relaxes you, or go for a run.

Do things you love It’s important that you make time for play, to just enjoy your hobbies, creative endeavors, or hang out with the people you care most about. These things are what you’ll remember most in life, so give them some priority in your life. You might enjoy being outside, walking, sitting in a park on a garden bench, or gardening. Doing what relaxes you and allows you to feel grounded.

Relax yourself Some people use progressive muscle relaxation, while others use deep breathing, and still others prefer mindfulness meditation to help them calm down and focus on the here and now. These are all great ways to relax, easing any tension that you might be carrying in your body. You can reduce stress and anxiety this way.

Set healthy boundaries You have limits, and it’s important for you to know them and to communicate them to your loved ones and the people in your life. One of the hardest but most helpful things to learn to say is “No.” Give some priority to your own needs so that you can recharge, rest, and have the strength and joy to be able to participate in the things that matter most to you.

Get good sleep Sleep is good for so many things. It helps you to rest, yes, but it also helps to reduce the levels of cortisol (stress hormone) in your body, improve emotional regulation, and control weight. Aim to get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night.

Stay connected to the Lord Some practices are best implemented in the morning or toward the end of the day. Practicing gentle stretches to loosen your muscles, for instance, can help get you ready for bed. Staying connected with the Lord is something you can do at all hours. You can pray, read Scripture, have nourishing conversations with others, or encourage others throughout your day.

The Psalms start by saying, “Blessed is the one…whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2, NIV). To understand who you are and what the Lord intends for your life, you need to remain connected to Him (John 15:1-17).

Creating Your Own Self-Care Routine

Whatever your self-care routine, it’s important to remember that it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. As you set out to craft your self-care routine, be willing to experiment with different activities and find what works best for you.

Your self-care routine is whatever helps you relax, prepares you to tackle your daily tasks, and enables you to love the people in your life well. Your self-care routine should also be affordable and within your means.

Some other considerations to make concerning your self-care routine include starting small instead of attempting sweeping changes. There’s no use in trying to make a complete overhaul to your life and then failing to implement such changes. Rather, it’s better to make small and incremental changes to your routines, building up to your full-fledged self-care routine. Start small and work your way toward your goal.

In addition to starting small, remember to be consistent. Your self-care routine should be flexible and able to accommodate changing circumstances. However, having some consistency in your routine also makes a difference. For change and new habits to set in, you need to have a consistent track record, fitting in whatever new behavior you wish to integrate into your life through regular performance.

As you get going, don’t think that you must do it alone. Self-care doesn’t mean you can’t involve other people. It means you need to take the initiative and ownership of your routine, but it doesn’t exclude having a support network and accountability. Sometimes, having accountability is the difference between sticking to something and quietly giving up on what you began with high hopes. We need cheerleaders in our lives to get things done.

Once you get going, keep going. Of course, you’ll face setbacks, because they are part of life. Your self-care routines may undergo revision as you negotiate work deadlines, changes like getting married or having a baby, getting sick, and not having the bandwidth to do what you did before, or moving to a new location. Some things may become impractical or stop serving their original purpose. That’s okay. Adapt, rebuild, stay flexible, but keep going.

Your self-care routines matter because your well-being matters. Take the time to craft something that appeals to you and that works for you. If you need help with this, why not reach out and speak with a life coach? Your coach will help you distill what matters most to you, and can help you strategize and plan to come up with an effective self-care routine that meets your needs.