Self care has become a huge buzz phrase, everyone is talking about it, posting about it, snapping pictures of decadent baths, or weekly mani/pedi’s. It’s become so big that I remember discussing self care in grad school. Since its been a part of the work life discussions I’ve had with other young colleagues.

There are lists all over with suggestions. While bubble baths, (always lovely) and guilt free naps, (Who wouldn’t love one of those?) a mental health day to extend the weekend, (personally I think there should be a long weekend every month) are all wonderfully additions to a self care routine they don’t get to the true fundaments of what a self care plan is.

A self care plan is about the steps you take to reduce the negative stress and chaos that living brings to everyone. Self care isn’t just baths, and pedicures, sometimes self care feels a lot like chores.

Step One: Routinize
One of the kindest acts of self care you can offer yourself is a routine. Before you imagine a life without spontaneity, brush that thought away. A routine helps create free time for grand acts of spontaneity.

Take some time to think about all of the responsibilities you have, bills that are due, house work that needs to be done, familial responsibilities. Knowing everything that needs to be done, and having time set aside for it to be done means there will be no more last minute rushes to have bills paid on time, or impulses to go out to eat, instead of tiredly trudging through the grocery looking for something that can be quickly fixed for dinner.

A good routine can help you keep control of your budget, diet, and housework while allowing space to enjoy weekends, and have more relaxed evenings after work.

Step Two: Sleep Schedule
A routine for your sleep too? Absolutely. Sleep is one of the most important factors in health. Getting good sleep improves your immunity, and mental acuity.

A sleep schedule, going to bed and getting up at the same time everyday, doing your best to keep the difference between weekdays and weekends limited, allows your body to establish a consistent sleep-wake cycle. Having a consistent sleep-wake cycle allows for more restful sleep.

Monday morning wake up will be a lot easier when you aren’t recovering from sleep deprivation. In fact every day will be easier to wake up.
If you find consistent sleep time difficult as you get started try creating a bedtime ritual for yourself. Dry brushing, a lotion with a soothing scent, a decaffeinated tea, go to bed with a book. Leave the phone, and the television out of the bedroom.

Step Three: Plan Your Meals
Take some time at the beginning of your week to look at you calendar to decide what meals you’ll be eating at home, what lunches you will be taking to work, will friends be coming over? Planning and stocking up for the week ahead eliminates those after work trips to the grocery, when your both tired and probably hungry and more likely to make impulsive purchases. Make a list, take a drink, pull up your favorite podcast, make the trip to the grocery store thirty minutes for yourself. Keep the podcast going when you get home. If you need onions diced during the week, or sweet potatoes peeled, get those done, reduce the amount of prep time you’ll need to do during the week.

Step Four: Don’t Put Off the Housework
I’ve been guilty of this, busy weeks with late nights, all I want to do is curl up on the sofa with some chocolate, and a pot of tea. Then after a lie in on Saturday, there’s dishes to be done, dusting, hoovering, laundry, and bathrooms, not to mention the work out in the garden. By the time that’s all done Saturdays half gone, and I feel like I’ve cheated myself.
So don’t keep the house work to the weekend. Take time on the weekend to look at the coming week, plan the tidying up around your long nights.
Find a podcast that you like, or an audio book, if you can, make it the first thing you do when you get home. Keeping up with the house work, makes way for spontaneous evenings with friends, or a day trips, or learning how to refinish furniture. It has the further benefit of reducing the stress you feel during the week.

Step Five: Make Time for Loved Ones
Spending time with the people that are most important to us can have a big impact on not only our happiness, but also our overall health. If you find it difficult to find time for loved ones mark off an hour or two each week to make phone calls, or meat up for breakfast. Even if it has to be scheduled in during your busiest weeks being able to share what’s happening in our lives, and listen to our loved ones can help cope with stress. The emotional support we both give and receive has a profound effect on our mental health, improved memory, and cognitive functions, even a greater sense of meaning in our lives.

Step Six: Journal
Journals are a great way to be creative, whether you chose to have a traditional journal, a bullet journal, or combination of both. Having a space to place pictures, brochures from trips, play bills, new friends you’ve made, the first time your niece sat up, a funny anecdote your grandfather told at Sunday supper can be beneficial. A journal isn’t just a place for secret loves, but a record of your life. Sometimes we’re to busy with the process of living to make note of the content. Even if you take ten minutes before bed, having the ability to look at last May, and know that you planted sage and lemon balm, or went with a dear friend to the new Thai Restaurant. Your life is important, even if the lemon balm didn’t grow or you spilled jasmine tea in you lap. These are moments you’ve lived, and you should remember them.

Step Seven Treat Yourself:
While routines, and sleep schedules help us keep up with the day to day tasks, fill us with energy, make the process of living more … livable. Life isn’t just about getting through. A treat doesn’t have to be a huge expenditure. A new oil for the bath, a new pastry at the bakery, a walk in the sunshine. Make note of the seasons, the crunch of an icy ground in winter, the tiny fronds of new growth in spring, the screaming cicadas in the mugginess of summer, that musty briskness that twinges the air of fall. 

What a self care plan should do is make the process of living life easier. These are seven self care steps that make life more like living than just surviving. Do you have a favorite self care reward?