Photo by Camille Brodard on Unsplash
We often forget to take care of ourselves until we become worn out, frustrated, unhappy, and incapable of fully showing up. How do we know that we need a self-care day? There are some signs to help you understand that you need some self-care. If you feel tired, frustrated, lacking in motivation and low in energy, unhappy without reason, and always procrastinating, then this is your body, your mind, and your emotions telling you that you are in need of some well-deserved self-care. Staying in touch with your own feelings and embracing them is the best you can do for yourself and for those in your care.
Don’t make this day too intense. This day is for you and only for you to unwind, relax and refresh your body, your soul, and your mind. Let go of the chaos around you and let the stillness give you the answer to all your questions. Do not feel guilty for taking this day. You are not lazy or selfish, and you don’t have to apologize for making yourself a priority. You deserve comfort and self-care. Focus your whole energy on yourself and your renewal. It’s your responsibility to take care of your body and treat it with ultimate respect. You have to make sure that you are nurturing yourself before you start nurturing others. Put your own oxygen mask first so you can then help others. If you don’t, you will be stuck in a dark place of illness and you won’t be able to offer any help or to spread happiness to the people you love. When you take care of yourself you build up your reserve of patience, sensitivity, strength, and energy.
The first step is to pick a day for your self-care day. It may be next week or next month, but you definitely have to write it down in your calendar. If you don’t schedule this day in the calendar and intentionally prepare for it, you will be tempted to push it to the back burner week after week and burn yourself out. If you have to, just take a day off from work.
[Tweet “How to plan a relaxing self-care day @celebratingsun #self-care”]
Think of this day as a reward you give to yourself. Try to resist the temptation to do laundry, clean the bathrooms, or organize the garage. Make a list ahead of time with the things you want to do so you are not tempted to watch Netflix for eight hours.
Here is a list of self-care activities you can do to recharge your batteries and feel refreshed and renewed:
- Watch the sunrise/sunset
- Treat yourself to a healthy breakfast, the one you never have time to prepare early in the morning
- Light a candle
- Take a long shower
- Use a face mask
- Listen to inspiring podcasts
- Try some yoga
- Get some sun.
- Drink heaps of water
- Take a nap
- Meditate
- Do your manicure or pedicure
- Smile
- Dance
- Journal
- Enjoy some dark chocolate and a glass of wine
- Turn off your phone
- Sit in the silence and enjoy solitude
- Take some fresh air
- Read a book
- Call your parents, siblings, or closest friend.
- Practice gratitude
At the end of your self-care day, you will feel positive, energetic, with a fresh, new perspective towards life. And when we feel happy, calm, good about our bodies, and with increased passion for life we can better take care of others with an open heart.
How do you take care of yourself? Add your own suggestion to the list in the comments below.
For more tools and resources on happiness check out my Resources page.
I was just saying that I need a down day! Just reading this post is relaxing. You always have the perfect photos!
Thank you, Julie! We all need a self-care day from time to time. We just have to do it! 🙂
We need to make time for ourselves from time to time. I’m glad you like my post and my pictures. Have a lovely weekend! 🙂
I don’t know if you get me newsletter Ana but I put a shout out to our blog in there. Hope a few new friends come your way.
Thank you so much, Julie – you are the best! I got your newsletter and I just answer to it with an email – I hope you get it. 🙂
I have off tomorrow so I am definitely going to make it a self-care today. On the agenda: A haircut and face masks at home!
Perfect timing! Thanks for reading and commenting, Sarah! I hope you have a relaxing self-care day and a lovely weekend! 🙂
We all need days like this occasionally. And might I add deserve them. I like how you gave a list of great ideas. 🙂
I’m glad you found my post useful. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Love what you said about not making the self-care day too intense. We put enough pressure on ourselves anyway and adding to it only defeats this purpose. Also, I love the suggestions and have scheduled it to share on my FB page as well as passing it along to a client of mine whose blog offers a curated self-care shop.
Thank you so much for the kind words. We need to start believing that we deserve self-care. Because we really do. 🙂
I’m so bad about taking time to practice self-care. I’ve always seemed to feel guilty about taking the time, but ultimately, I think making an effort to do so (and following through!) makes me better for both me and my daughter!
I know what you mean. We all fell guilty for taking the time to practice self-care, but that actually makes us better mothers and better companions. Tank you for reading and commenting. Have a lovely weekend! 🙂
I really, really needed a self-care day today. I took a bath and took a nap at least!
This list is great! Thanks for reminding me to self- care : )
I love going for a mani/pedi. And there are times I just want to block out the world so I’ll grab books and magazines that have been piling up, go into my bedroom and spend the day in bed just reading. Doesn’t happen often enough, though.
So many beautiful ways to spoil yourself and you’re right Ana we all deserve it.
Thank you, Michelle! Have a lovely day! 🙂
Firstly I love the name of your website. Secondly, I am a firm believer in self care days and love all of your ideas. Last Saturday, my friends and I attended a day retreat – yoga, meditation, massage it was heavenly and we stepped out of the world for a day. Bliss! Have a beautiful day.
Sue from Sizzling Towards Sixty & Beyond
Thank you so much for your kind words, Sue! I’m sure you had a lovely, relaxing day retreat. I definitely want to try it some day. 🙂
Finding the time for this is the challenge! Great ideas
I know what you mean Brianna, but we have to make time for a self-care day from time to time.
I feel more relaxed just from reading all of this, thank you so much, I would love to try it all out, being disabled I think it will help me get my mojo back again ❤️ xx