Self-care looks different to everyone.  

One commonality is that self-care is often added to the list of “luxury” things when it comes to prioritizing our own time. But the truth is, you don’t need lavish, expensive or extended “me time” in order to practice self-care. 

In fact, there are a number of super simple – and FREE – things that you can do each day to care for yourself. 

💖 Add at least one area of joy to your day  

Whether it is lighting your favorite candle, savoring your cup of coffee, yoga, stretching, reading, blasting your fav music and dancing – whatever! Identify one thing that truly and easily brings you joy and comfort and consciously incorporate it into your daily routine. Even for just  a few minutes! 

Bonus if it’s at the start of your day – studies show that starting the day with something that brings you pleasure can set you up for success in battling the stressors of the day. 

💖 Mindful and healthy eating and drinking

A large part of self-care is caring for your physical body. Pay attention to what you eat, make conscious healthy choices and drink lots of water. Meal planning and mindfulness can help you to avoid unhealthy diet choices. 

💖 Keep track of your accomplishments and/or the positives. 

We often get caught up in the negatives of our days and focus on the things that didn’t go according to plan. But even accidental negativity is detrimental to your mental and emotional well being. Take a few minutes each day to think of – or even better, write down – some of the things that went RIGHT each day. Be aware of and grateful for your accomplishments, positive moments and small victories.

💖 Decompress and BREATHE at the end of the day. 

Put your phone down. Breathe in and out. And just spend a few minutes with your own thoughts. Quiet reflection – unplugged and free of distractions – is a powerful and easy way to decompress at the end of your busy day. 

My favorite small joy is making a bedtime tea. I make it a point to spend at least 15 minutes each day enjoying time outside. What is one area of joy in your day?