Watching my two cats practice self-care; they are the true masters of the art. All day long, they sleep, clean, and groom themselves. They play, seek the sun, stretch, purr, and demand cuddles whenever they feel like it. Neff, K. (2004). Self-compassion and psychological well-being. Constructivism in the human sciences, 9(2), 27-37. But small everyday things, such as taking a shower and getting fully dressed, can make a big difference to how you feel. Eat healthily

One of the best ways to make yourself a priority is by actually PLANNING to do so, and my go-to tactic is by writing it all down in a planner. I decided to round up a list of some of the best (and cutest!) self care planners that will make it a breeze to schedule time to look after yourself and your well-being. If these work well for you then you may find you don't need any formal treatment. However, it's important to remember that there is unlikely to be an instant solution. Recovering from a mental health problem is likely to take time, energy and work.But how can you fill others’ cups when yours is empty? Finding time to show yourself kindness isn’t selfish at all. It makes you a better friend, caregiver, work colleague, or romantic partner. Bringing your best self to a relationship strengthens your connection with those around you. Instead of jamming all sorts of activities into your day, start small. Making a drastic change may feel overwhelming, causing you to give up on your plan. Instead, add one to two activities into your routine each week.

My Self-Care Promise invites the reader to consider times they may be vulnerable to waning self-care. It includes space for a re-affirming mantra to remind them to treat themselves compassionately and invites some ‘if–then’ thinking for when obstacles arise. Nurturing vs. Depleting Activities Introverts will cherish alone-time activities, while extroverts may reenergize by being with others. So let us not recommend that people light scented candles or take bubble baths, but rather encourage them instead to understand their unique needs and how to meet them – whatever these may be. Art and crafts can be a wonderful way to release your creative energy while also putting you in a calm frame of mind. The benefit of including arts and crafts in your self-care routine is that it doesn’t require any creative aptitude or skill level. You can relax your mind by falling into a creative trance while painting, drawing, making origami, knitting, or even coloring. 3. Get outside First, create an activity list organized around different parts of your life: I’ve found that the easiest way to start is by breaking up this daunting task into several categories, for example: You can also include your loved ones in your self-care plan. Going for a daily walk with your friend, for example, is a great opportunity to bond and practice self-care together.Some examples we’ve discussed over the past weeks include spending time with friends, eating healthy, being active, mindfulnessmeditation, and finding the confidence to create healthy boundaries(here’sa template). Have fun, be creative, and most importantly, be real with yourself about what works for you and what doesn’t. Singing along at the top of my voice to songs I used to love as a teenager (I won’t tell which ones 😉 ). Working is something we spend most of our days and lives doing, so even if you’re not at your dream job yet, you can still practice self-care at work. This makes for a healthier and more productive environment for yourself. Unsure of where your spirituality lies? Think of your belief system and what is most important to you. Do your best to live well within that framework.

Feeling connected to other people is important. It can help you to feel valued and confident about yourself, and can give you a different perspective on things. If you can, try to spend some time connecting with friends and family – even a text or phone call can make a difference. Adolescents and young adults benefit greatly by learning to use self-care as a coping strategy for life. Self-care will be a lot easier now that you have these printable self-care planner to help you with it. Once you start practicing self-care regularly, it will become a habit that will improve your happiness and mental health. Do something that brings you joy (Go to the movies, sit in a café, hit the beach, or set off on a hike). The Emotional Expression exercise helps clients to walk through their emotional responses to imagined experiences. It gives clients a helpful and practical way to practice expressing their feelings to others, which is a helpful strategy for coping with stress.

How to stick to your self-care plan 

Good self-care planning helps us avoid these unhealthy habits by paying attention to the five key areas of self-care: Keep collections to yourself or inspire other shoppers! Keep in mind that anyone can view public collections - they may also appear in recommendations and other places. Close your eyes and pay attention to your breath. Take three deep breaths. Make each one deeper than the previous one. For the “ inability to notice our true feelings leaves us at their mercy,” Goleman writes (1995, p. 43). Those of us who know our feelings are generally better pilots of our lives. There is a crucial difference between simply being caught up in a feeling and developing a metacognitive awareness that we are being submerged by this feeling. If we do not practice basic self-care, we may quite simply burn out. We will be unable to decompress or find outlets for our stressors. The worse we take care of ourselves, the less we will have to give. As the saying goes: ‘from an empty cup, we cannot pour.’