I got up on a Monday morning to get ready for work. Instead, I sat frozen on the toilet, just staring at the shower, watching the water run down.

I knew I needed to get in if I was going to get to work on time. But, I literally could not move from that toilet. When I did get up, I walked into the living room, opened my laptop, filled out an official resignation form and pressed send.

That was the beginning of my wellness journey. 

I spent the next few years unraveling the events that led to that day. What I discovered is I had been ignoring all the warning signs: overwhelm at work, sleepless nights, using up all ten of my sick days, a flailing marriage, high anxiety and extreme stress, all blaring sirens of distress.

I’m sharing my story because I want you believe it when I say you cannot serve your family, contribute to your household, or be a good employee when you’re running on empty. 

So, I’m asking you to join me on this wellness journey. We’ll start with some ideas on how to start a self-care routine. 

How to Start a Self-Care Routine

Developing a self-care routine takes time, trial and error. You may even fall off the wagon a few times, but the point is to implement change and make progress. 

9 Tips for Starting a Self-Care Routine

• Consider how you neglect yourself and make a list of the changes you’d like to make.
• Consider what brings you joy and fills your cup and make room for those activities on your schedule. ex. hobbies, outings, activities
• Take it slowly. A big overhaul all at once almost always results in failure. (Think New Year’s Resolutions.) So, add one change at a time until it becomes habit. Then introduce another change into your routine.
• Have everything you need to implement change on hand. ex. exercise equipment, skin care products
• By the same token, identify and get rid of anything that is keeping you from making a change. ex. junk food, excuses, poor habits
• Let your family in on your plans, explaining how important this change is to you and offering ideas for how they can help.
• Protect your time. If you get asked to do something or be somewhere when you’re planning on going for a jog, getting a haircut, meeting a friend for lunch, taking a long bath, or going on a Netflix binge, say no.
• Get over the guilt. Taking care of yourself is the most selfless thing you can do.
• Just add you. Schedule your self-care time into your week just like you would any other plans.

How to Make Time for Self-Care

There’s a misconception that self-care is synonymous with pampering. Self-care can include pampering, but true self care is anything that nurtures your soul, renews your mind and fills your cup. 

If you need some ideas, I created a list of 31 ways to practice self-care. Get your list here. Many of them take just a few minutes and are easy to incorporate into your day. 

I think that is key to creating a self-care routine you can stick to.  

For more on self-care tips, read:

3 Simple Ways to Calm the Chaos in Your Life

How to Create an at Home Spa Day

Overcoming Negative Self-Talk

You deserve it!