Self-care is an important part of being productive, healthy, and happy. Then why is it so difficult to take the time needed to support your well-being?
It almost feels counterintuitive that one must spend time to make time. But exercise, sleep, healthy meals, and keeping up with self-care appointments will help you feel more confident, calm, and energized.
"I don't have time" is a common excuse, but the truth is, you do have time! You just have to plan for it.
Here are six easy tips using the Day Designer Daily Planner to help you create a daily self-care routine.
1. Schedule Me Time
Many of us use the Daily Planner for meetings, appointments, to-do lists, and notes. In planning your day, make sure to add “me time?” Schedule time for a relaxing bath or an exercise class in your daily planner.
Schedule the things you want to do. Set a time to do something for yourself. Want a bath? Schedule it at 8:30 pm tonight! Want to just sit down and read? Schedule it in your Daily Planner the same way you would anything else. This holds you accountable and makes self-care a manageable habit.
2. Turn Your Wants Into To Dos
What do you want most for yourself today? Use the to-do list in your Daily Planner to create a self-care routine. List small things that make a major difference in your life. Want just 10 minutes to yourself. Add it to your list!
Stop wanting and start doing. It’s much easier to fit in the things you want to do if you see them listed in front of you!
3. Prioritize Yourself In Your Planner
What are the top three things you want to do for yourself by the end of the day? If you want to find more joy in your life, you have to start investing in yourself. You can use the “top 3” section of your daily planner to set these personal intentions!
Maybe you want to take a quick run during your lunch break or spend 15 minutes before bed meditating. Maybe it’s going to be a stressful day and the best way to unwind would be dinner with your best friend or spouse.
They don’t have to take long, but they should help you feel happier and less stressed. And honestly, who couldn’t use more of both of those?
4. Plan Dinner In Advance
Whether planning meals just for yourself, or for family and friends, write down your dinner plans for each day. Each Day Designer daily planner includes a “dinner” prompt for that very purpose!
Planning your meals ahead of time supports self-care. It's much easier to order healthy foods in advance or prepare a wholesome recipe when you have time. Waiting until the end of the day creates last-minute stress, especially if cooking for others, and increases the temptation to eat something unhealthy because it's easier or faster.
Don’t feel like cooking? Plan a fun meal out with a friend or family member!
5. Don’t Forget Self-Care Habits
Sometimes it’s hard to remember all of the things you want to do for yourself. Eventually, they just fall by the wayside. To create a self-care routine that you’ll stick with, jot down your daily self-care habits on your daily page. For instance, you might list reminders to drink a few extra glasses of water, pack comfortable clothes for the gym, take your multi-vitamin and even to set an alarm to ensure you leave work on time.
6. Add Some Self-Care Notes
Finally, use your daily page to jot down a notes about an upcoming vacation or a beauty product you want to remember or something that helps you take better care of yourself. Fill in your daily gratitude box to remind you of the joy you have in your life already.
Self-care is about taking time for you. When you schedule it in, you’ll be amazed at all the time you actually do have each day to spend on you.