In our busy college lives– and life in general, having time to indulge in moments of calm, meditative self-care makes all the difference between feeling frazzled and out of control versus confident and put together. Over the past few weeks, I have been finding such joy in any small moment of self-care I can get and the impact is so noticeable to me. I’ve always loved self-care. Whether it’s facemasks, bath bombs, painting my nails or having a movie night, I’m all in. The thing is, I used to be so bent on making self-care an involved process that took so much time and energy that it lost its effect! I’m coming to realize that true self-care can be a part of your everyday routine because self-care is just that: caring for yourself! All you have to do is put a little self-love into everyday normal self-care activities! Day to day life changes so much, but here’s how I usually incorporate self-care into my daily routine:
9:00 a.m. Wake up, make coffee, don’t get on electronics right away!
First of all, I like to wake up with just enough time to enjoy a slow morning, but still get where I need to be on time. For me, that looks like waking up about an hour and a half before I need to be out the door (which doesn’t always happen and that’s okay). I’m a big proponent of getting as much sleep as you need, so I don’t force myself to wake up too early. This way, I can plan an outfit, pop on some mascara, make a cup of coffee and some breakfast that isn’t just a granola bar, plus have a few minutes to myself. I make it a point not to watch Netflix or go on Insta right away because I’d get caught up in them and end up being rushed. My favorite ways to have a few self-care moments in the morning are to do some prompted journaling, meditation, prayer, or leisure reading.
12:30 p.m. Lunch and recharge
I like to do something while I eat that isn’t homework, so usually, I’ll pick an episode of my favorite show to watch and gear up for the rest of my day. I also keep my favorite sparkling water on hand which makes lunch something to look forward to!
1:30 p.m. Homework w/ music
I have a tough time motivating myself to start homework and keep working until it’s done, so I find ways to make it fun. I settle down somewhere comfortable, light a candle/use essential oils, and play my favorite playlist. Keeping up with new music makes me happy, so I’m constantly updating my playlist. Having it on while I do my work helps me stay focused and feel good at the same time.
5:30 p.m. Dinner and whatever needs to be done
Making my meals (even just microwave mac n cheese) makes me feel accomplished, so I usually try to do that. When I can, I save the evening to get things done around my apartment. I have a few favorite podcasts I like to listen to while I do this that make it more like time spent on myself. Plus, when my apartment is clean, I work so much better, so it is time spent doing something I’ll enjoy later!
8:00 p.m. More homework or winding down
At this point, I finish up whatever needs to be done for the next day and schedule out my week in my planner. If I have a light load, I just hang out and do something I love (or call my mom because that always makes my day better)!
9:30 p.m. Shower, skincare, journal
This is my favorite part of the day for sure. I have found that my favorite way to incorporate self-care into every day is to make showering and skincare a ritual. I play my fav music, use new and exciting products, and don’t rush through time spent taking care of myself! Even if it’s later than this– which it usually is, I make time to have a good wind-down routine. After skincare, I sit down with no music or anything distracting and journal/read my Bible. Having this be the last bit of my day always leaves me feeling refreshed and ready for the next day.