As women in our 50s and beyond, it’s critically important to prioritize self-care so that we can maintain (and improve) our level of well-being. Explore these self-care habits that you can practice on a daily basis, and some that will only take 10 minutes – shake up your routine and revitalize your sense of self, starting today!
Self-Care Habits Can Be Practiced Daily
Part of your daily routine probably includes a few self-care habits that you don’t consciously realize you’ve made time for because they’ve become a normal part of your day. Do you take a daily multivitamin? Read a daily devotional or inspirational text, practice a mindfulness technique to get your mind, body, and spirit, or complete a morning journal entry to set the tone for your day?
Anything beneficial you do for you could be considered a self-care tactic. The problem is that we often don’t take intentional time to participate fully in self-care routines or even notice the ones we’re already using precisely because they’ve become a habit – outside of our attention span.
Somehow our priority lists include everyone but ourselves. But think of it this way – by neglecting self-care, you also neglect the others who depend on you if you’re so depleted mentally, physically, or emotionally that you can’t put your best foot forward.
Self-Care is Necessary
First, we need to reject and discard the idea that self-care is indulgent or selfish. When you purchase something new that means a lot to you, you’re likely to pay special attention to taking proper care of it so it will last and remain in the best shape possible.
We need to shift the way we think and start taking better care of ourselves so that WE can last and remain in the best shape possible.
Certainly, proper nutrition and exercise, along with enough quality sleep, are at the top of the list of things we can and should do to take better care of ourselves.
But what are we feeding our souls? Our minds? It’s important to partake in a daily self-care routine; it’s just like performing routine maintenance on a vehicle.
If you don’t take care of the” little” signs of normal wear and tear, they’ll eventually turn into bigger and more costly issues. Intentional and consistent self-care can be the difference between constantly feeling exhausted and overwhelmed and feeling refreshed and revived.
Self-Care Habits You Can Start Today
When referring to a self-care “routine,” it doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing, day in and day out. That might work for some, but others will feel the monotony and get bored. If you need to switch things up, go for it. This is all about you taking care of you.
No one else can dictate how you should serve your own needs. You are the only one in control of your self-care habits and routine.
Let’s look at some suggestions to help you jumpstart daily self-care habits that will stick!
10-Minute Self-Care Ideas
Any of these can be completed in 10 minutes or less.
- Meditate first thing in the morning
- Watch the sunrise
- Create a plan for your day in your personal journal
- Sit still; no phone, no people – just sit
- Declutter one area of your house or office that’s been bugging you: a junk drawer, medicine cabinet, under the sink, etc.
- Fix something that’s been neglected; sew on that button, change the dead light bulb, etc.
- Practice mindfulness during a simple task: brushing your teeth, eating a meal, etc.
- Stretching exercises performed to soothing music
- Take a walk
- Feed birds at a park
- Catch up on your favorite blog
On-The-Go Self-Care Ideas
These self-care habits can be done while on the go. Time is an issue for many of us, but these ideas make it virtually impossible to use “time” as an excuse when it comes to self-care.
- Strike up a short conversation with someone new; a cashier, a barista, the person in line ahead of you, a coworker in another department, etc.
- Notice 5 things of beauty on your way to work instead of being on autopilot.
- Crank up your favorite playlist during your commute and sing loudly without a care in the world.
- Take a different route and take notice of your surroundings
- Refuse to rush – give yourself the gift of an early start if needed.
- Make a stranger’s day; help carry groceries to their car, hold a door open, a random compliment, etc.
- Make use of public transportation and use that time to read a book or listen to a podcast.
- Tell yourself three things you love about yourself and three things you’d like to improve on – realize you have the power to accomplish these things and note them in your journal.
Pampering yourself isn’t just for aesthetics; it’s part of self-care. It feels good on the inside when our toes are painted and our feet don’t snag the sheets or our stockings, right? Personal grooming doesn’t have to be a big to-do either.
It takes a few minutes to pluck away at some stray eyebrows or wax that upper lip. Check out a video tutorial on quick hairstyles and try a new one out. Dress up for the day, just because it feels good to feel beautiful!
Don’t let self-care be intimidating or allow time constraints to fool you into thinking adopting regular self-care habits is impossible. Again, you should be a top priority or nothing else is going to get your best efforts.
It’s a domino effect and the sooner we start taking better care of ourselves, inside and out, the sooner we will enjoy richer, fuller lives with more zest and zeal.
