Self-care is more than doing what is necessary to survive and live. While going to the grocery store alone or even attending a doctor’s appointment might feel like a nice break, these essential activities shouldn’t count as your “you time” during the day. Implementing self-care practices that bring you joy, peace, and relaxation throughout your week is crucial to your mental well-being and your physical well-being. Take time to take care of yourself.

Having so many people depend on you can feel daunting and overwhelming. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you take care of yourself, too! If you feel like you could benefit from more intentional time for your mental well-being and your physical well-being, try implementing some of these 10 self-care practices into your weekly routine!

“It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.” – Mandy Hale, Author

If you don’t already have a bucket list, take the time to sit down and physically make a bucket list. Create a list of places you want to travel to and things you want to learn or accomplish. Keep the list in your planner or on your phone to make it easy to add to it as you think of new things. If your list seems overwhelming, select something that seems more manageable to start with, and take time to plan for the bigger things! Just having a plan in place to accomplish something meaningful and exciting to you will make such a difference in your mindset and well-being.

Do you find yourself living through travel photos on Instagram? While it isn’t always possible to just pack up and go on a bucket-list travel adventure, it’s never too early to start planning! Make a budget, pick your location and travel dates, and go! Even if it’s a year from now, you will be so thankful you made it happen!

Or, if a bigger trip overwhelms you, pick a weekend getaway a little closer to home. Take a road trip to the Grand Canyon, visit a new state, or choose a city in your state that you’ve always wanted to visit and explore for the weekend!

Have you ever wished you had taken French in high school or stuck to those piano lessons your parents forced you to take as a kid? It’s never too late to start! Make time now to learn the things you have always wanted to do. Get up an hour earlier each morning to finally use the app you downloaded to train for a marathon, take martial arts, or learn how to sew!

Finally, take the leap of faith and experience something new and exciting! Go bungee jumping, ride in a hot air balloon, or swim with dolphins! Whatever your passion may be, take steps to experience something new and cross something off of your bucket list while doing something for you!

Spend more time outside this year! It’s amazing how much fresh air and sunshine can lift your mood and clear your head! According to Healthline, “Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain’s release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with boosting mood and helping a person feel calm and focused.” While spending time outside is important to your overall health, it’s also important to remember to apply sunscreen if you spend an extended amount of time out in the sun!  So, as you go about your week, try implementing some of these outdoor activities into your schedule!

Instead of eating lunch in your car or at your desk, take your lunch outside! Even if it’s just on a bench outside your office, take time to soak in some sunlight and enjoy the fresh air during your lunch. Even just a quick lunch break outside can help you feel refreshed.

Take a walk by the river or through the park. Even if it’s a short walk, enjoy the fresh air while getting some exercise. Listen to a podcast, blast your favorite music, or invite a friend and catch up while you walk together.

If you enjoy playing sports, organize a volleyball game with your friends or play a round of golf. Throw a frisbee in the park or play tennis with a friend. Whatever sport you enjoy, make time to do something you want while getting a little extra exercise, sunlight, and fresh air!

When was the last time you took a nap in the middle of the day just because you wanted to? Taking a nap isn’t being lazy; it’s one of the best forms of self-care. Getting enough sleep can make such a difference in your overall mood and health.  Sometimes sleep really is the best medicine. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed or exhausted, take a nap! Even if it’s just a 15-minute power nap, turn off the lights, snuggle up under a blanket, and just sleep. You will be much more productive and energized after a good rest.

Getting enough exercise isn’t just beneficial to your physical well-being, but it is also extremely important for your mental well-being. Taking time to exercise throughout your week is a necessary form of self-care. If you are new to exercising, start slow. Find an exercise routine that you enjoy doing so that it’s something you look forward to doing instead of dreading. As a bonus, it gives you an excuse to purchase the workout gear you’ve been eyeing!

Grab your ear pods and listen to your favorite music, podcast, or audiobook as you hit the trails for a nice jog or run. Or, if you don’t enjoy jogging or running, taking a brisk walk is a great form of exercise. If your schedule won’t allow for a walk through the park, jump on the treadmill while watching the news or catch up on your favorite show.

If running isn’t your thing, sign-up for an aerobics class with your best friend or enjoy a class from home on your television or computer. Aerobics classes are a fun way to exercise while letting loose and having fun! There are many different types of aerobics classes to help you find the best fit for you!

Running, jogging, walking, and aerobics are just a few suggestions for exercising. There are so many options when it comes to taking care of your physical health. Weight training, yoga, swimming, dancing, whatever you enjoy doing, just do it! Prioritizing your self-care is necessary and will make a difference in your overall well-being. Incorporate the necessary steps to take care of yourself physically and mentally.

Planning what you eat each day may be the last thing on your mind between work, kids, and life. If you don’t have a meal plan in place, it can lead to unhealthy eating and spending extra money. Taking time to meal plan each week can save you a lot of time and money and prevent unnecessary stress.

Meal planning looks different for everyone based on their needs and schedule. It may be grocery shopping and meal prepping for every meal each day for some. For others, it might be using a meal delivery service like Marley Spoon in addition to some grocery shopping and takeout. Taking even just 30 minutes at the beginning of the week to make a meal plan can save you time in the long run and help take the stress and frustration out of feeding yourself and your family each week.

While proper hygiene is a daily necessity, it can also be a form of relaxation and self-care. Taking a hot bath can be highly beneficial to your physical well-being and your mental well-being. If you find yourself rushing through a shower each morning before work, try setting aside some time to take a hot bubble bath or a long hot shower. Incorporate bath salts, bath bombs, or shower steamers to add aromatherapy and relaxation. Dim the lights, light a candle and turn on relaxing music. If you take a bubble bath, grab your favorite book, a cup of hot tea, or a glass of wine, and just enjoy some much-needed and well-deserved self-care. Here are a few of our favorite bath and shower products!

• Luxury Bathtub Caddy Tray
• Dual Hand Held Shower Head
• Cotton Hotel Quality Bath Towel Set
• Himalayan Salt Body Scrub
• Lavender Bath Bombs
• Soaking Epsom Salt
• Shower Steamers

It’s easy to let life’s constant demands and changes get you down. That’s why it’s so important to reflect on what is really important and recognize all of the good things in your life. If you don’t already have one, buy a journal and make a habit of taking ten minutes each day to write down your thoughts and feelings. Make a list of things you are thankful for, or write down different goals or dreams that you have for yourself or your family. Journal your accomplishments, personally and professionally, and celebrate achievements in your life. Check out this 5 minute Daily Gratitude Journal for Happiness, Mindfulness, and Reflection. Write down specific memories that you don’t want to forget. Whatever you are feeling at that moment, write it down! Expressing your feelings and dreams is an essential self-care practice and can be a great form of stress release and encouragement.

Take time to enjoy things that bring you joy and encourage your creativity! Sign-up for cooking classes, art classes, or take dance lessons. Join a volleyball team, take horseback riding lessons, or start a book club. Whatever it is that brings you joy, do it! Taking time to do things that YOU love is always an important self-care practice.

Having a community of friends and family who love and support you is life-giving. While it’s easy to let life get in the way, plan quality time with the people you love most. Make plans to enjoy weekly or monthly dinners and frequent outings with friends. Have family game nights and schedule regular date nights with your significant other. It’s amazing how quality conversations and endless laughter can help stress and worries just melt away.

And last but certainly not least, take a well-deserved day off from your responsibilities. Take a day to sleep in, relax, and have fun. If possible, ignore your email, forget the laundry, and just have your perfect self-care day. Your mental well-being and your physical well-being are always a top priority and shouldn’t be something you ignore. You take care of everyone else, so don’t forget to take care of yourself. You will thank yourself tomorrow for taking care of yourself today.

What are some self-care practices you want to implement in 2022? Did any from our list stand out to you? Comment below!