If you’ve been around social media, you’ve probably seen #selfcaresunday. I’m all for self care and the normalization of taking some time for yourself, but it isn’t just something you squeeze in on Sunday – or Saturday, or Wednesday, or whatever your favorite day of the week is. Maybe that’s obvious to you, but it just hit me during one of my middle-of-the-night awakenings.
See, I took Friday and Saturday almost entirely off of school. I did many of the things I love that I don’t take time for during the week, from shopping and running outside to yoga and experimenting in the kitchen. I watched Netflix and lounged in bed and made pancakes.
I never make pancakes. Anyway, those two days sound a lot like the epitome of self care, right?
Saturday night I woke up sometime around 2am and couldn’t go back to sleep. Typical. In the few hours I was awake, I criticized myself for taking two whole days off, quitting Whole30, not being prepared for my midterm in a week, not stretching for long enough after my run, and not being able to sleep.
And I promptly realized that my two days of self care were kind of like swiping a little concealer on the dark circles that are the result of months of too little sleep. It helps for about ten minutes and then it’s gone with the stress of the day. I ended up realizing that I am ordinarily not actually that nice to myself.
After an emotional-but-productive Sunday, I decided to change that.
See, self care doesn’t have to be taking an entire day to do whatever you want. It can be, and sometimes it is. But self care is really the result of liking yourself enough to make time for you every day. That’s what I don’t didn’t do.
My New Approach to Self Care
On Sunday night (after the Super Bowl), I opened up a new pretty journal and started to write. Some of what I wrote is here, some isn’t. My favorite part, though, is a list of the things I’m going to do to take better care of myself on a daily and weekly basis. Here are some of my must-dos:
- Journal daily. I’ve always said I’d do it, but I don’t. And then I end up with all these thoughts just stuck in my head. No good. Time to put my pretty journals to use.
- Drink water first. I drink a lot of water, really, but I’ve been slacking a little for me. If the first thing I have at a meal is Diet Coke or tea, that’s all I want. Water is good for you, and there’s nothing wrong with drinking more. I can drink whatever I want, as long as I have water first.
- Listen to a podcast a day. I love podcasts. I learn things from them, I use them to keep up with current events, and I love the time I get to spend absorbed in them. Alternatively, a chapter from an audiobook is a good idea.
- Create something new in the kitchen once a week. I often fall into the routine of eating the same meals and rushing through them. Making one new thing a week will mix it up and give me the relaxing benefits of being in the kitchen.
- Go out to eat once a week. I’m the first to admit that this is going to be Chipotle more often than not, because it’s close and easy. However, it will also give me the break I sometimes need from cooking for myself. I love it and vastly prefer it to the dining hall, but I occasionally let it stress me out. To save money, I don’t eat out, but this is me giving myself permission to do it.
- Go to yoga 4 times a week. I’m a nicer, saner, happier person when I do more yoga. I’ve been slacking since coming back to school because I’m busy, but I’m not too busy to make life more doable.
I tend to think I take pretty good care of myself. I eat a lot of healthy food, I work out regularly, and I try to sleep enough. This weekend, I just so happened to notice what was missing. Time to remedy that. I’ll be sure to check back in and let you know how it goes.
Self care isn't just for Sundays. #fituniversity #FitFluential #mentalhealth Share on XYour turn:
Do you take time out of your day for yourself? What do you do?
How was your weekend?
Just like Mother’s Day etc, (don’t just show your mom you love her one day a year), don’t show love for yourself one day a week! Spread the love around. PS I need to be another of those dates 😀
Yesssssss ❤️
Weekend was great! I always make time in my day for a little something – workout, read a few minutes. It’s a must when I spend so much of my day taking care of others needs.
Good for you for taking care of yourself! You’re ahead of so many of us!
If you never make pancakes, I’m impressed with THOSE yummy looking ones! My self care on Wednesdays is the “coffee and just sit time” I have after I have to wake up extra early to drop of my son for an before school activity and then head downtown for a weekly activity I have. It’s too early to run errands during this hour and I used to bring my computer to work or figure out how I could sneak it more “workout” without getting sweaty — now I just sit and drink coffee and reflect 🙂
The pancakes only look so pretty because of the toppings 😉 They were kind of a mess when I flipped them!
I’m just saying, ‘Yes. Yes. A million times Yes!’ I think I had this mindset for too long that i couldn’t rest until the weekend, but that leaves us feeling so drained by the weekend. Sunday is a really spiritually refreshing day, and I love to carry that into every single day. I love journaling my thoughts too, because it seems like they just pile up if you don’t journal everyday.
And all these other things I can fully agree with too! I love that you’re writing about this Ellen, because I think this mindset really helps us not get stressed during the week.
Rest should be part of every day – not just the weekends! Thanks, Emily!
Absolutely. It’s oftentimes so difficult to reconcile taking time off to just focus on yourself and what you need to stay sane and healthy/happy, even though really those are the things that keep us going every day. I also struggle with following through on things like consistent journalling, and find that the thoughts just build up until, if I’ve waited too long, I end up with a headache and inability to focus on what’s important.
I hope it goes well for you!
Thanks so much, Sara! I hope you take some time for yourself today!
Life is about doing things everyday that you enjoy. Our days are often filled with so many responsibilities that we forget to live. Don’t forget to live! You’re young, start building those habits now so you take them with you as you get older.
I love this perspective. Thanks so much, Megan!
Yes times a MILLION to this, Ellen. I’m the same way, I might think I’m practicing self-care, but I often am not that nice to myself either. Adopting this new routine!!!
I hope you do! You deserve your own niceness 🙂
Girl, this is so true. I can relate 100%. At first glance, it may look like I do everything “right” in terms of eating my veggies, going to sleep (decently) early and moving my body. But I definitely need to work on my negative self talk and criticism – and I’m always struggling to get out of a food rut! It’s amazing how many recipes I have bookmarked but how few I actually try…
I’m the same way! I bookmark and pin so many recipes, but I make the same things over and over!
yesss I love this ellen!! I love the idea of listening to a podcast once a week. and you know how I feel about yoga- it keeps me sane too! hope you’re having a great day love
Yoga is the best for some self care 🙂
Love your ways you’re planning to start taking more time for yourself! Giving yourself permission to go out to eat sounds like a great way to take some of the pressure off of yourself to cook every single meal.
My biggest ways lately have been trying to go to bed early to get my 8 hours and also incorporating more strength training versus only running which is just quick and easy. I’ve actually started to enjoy strength training lately!
More sleep is so nice. I’ve been letting myself sleep in a little more and it’s been great. And YES to strength training. I swear it makes me a better runner, and it feels so good to be stronger 🙂
I need to be more intentional about taking time for myself EVERY day not just some – as often times I get so busy with work I forget all about looking after myself (as I’m trying to juggle work with the blog and feeding my husband and looking after my family and yadayada) and end up so much more stressed!
Yes! Take some time for you! You deserve it 🙂