Self care never used to be something i thought about until i turned 35. Now, i am obsessed with making myself feels cared for 🖤
As i age i realize the importance of investing in yourself.
When i was in my 20’s i had no idea what self care of self love was. I thought that showering and sleeping was me taking care of myself and as i got older i started to feel the affects of that neglect. My skin, to my energy, and even my hair, was all working against me and i knew that something needed to change.
As a 39 year old women, i can proudly say that i am obsessed with caring for myself. Even more so as a wife, a homemaker, and a mom of three homeschooled children. I love all of the new tools and gadgets and will try almost anything in the name of wellness.
Now, i have a confession, i don’t actually leave the house for any of my self care rituals. There are no spa days, no gym classes, and no babysitter.
As a mom, a wife, and the one that keeps out home running, my self care rituals happen in the little pockets of my day, and this usually starts at 6am.
If you have ever though that self care just isn’t something that is realistic for your schedule, pull up a chair and grab a cup of tea. I am going to share with you exactly how i fit self care into my week, right from my home.
What self care actually means to me
For a long time, just like many of you, i thought self care was bubble baths, weekends away, and a perfectly curated evening off. Then i started to think about how, in my reality, these things happen once in a while and with three kids, a full house, and a to do list that never ends, there must be another way to fit self care into my week.
Now, self care is pretty simple. It is small repeatable habits that make me feel taken care of, and like me again. Nothing fancy, nothing that needs a babysitter or another person to rely on. Just small commitments and promises i make to myself.
My 6am Morning Ritual
This is the part of my day that i protect the most. I get up at 6am Monday - Friday, and i know that i have until 8:30am before the kids wake up. That is two and a half hours at the start of my day, that are completely mine.
Here is how i use them:
Journaling. I like to get my thoughts out of my head first thing in the morning. I clear the clutter before my day starts. I like to write down things like: Things that are on my mind that i don’t want to think about today, any bills that need to be paid today so i don’t forget, the tasks in my home that need to be completed, a gratitude list to help me stay grounded.
Meditation. A few minutes of stillness and quiet always helps me start my day in calm, instead of chaos.
Working on my blog. This is my creative time. I also find that after clearing my mind, the best ideas come to me! This is also my creative outlet and that is so important as a woman to have.
Read or work on a hobby. Sometimes i have a good book going and i like to squeeze in 20 minutes of reading. Sometimes i like to work on a hobby, lately it has been drawing. Pictured below is one of my recent doodles.
Is waking up at 6am hard? Umm yes, but it is worth it. Do you need to wake up at 6am? No. You can find even one hour in the morning just before your children wake up.
Healthy hair, one step at a time
I am on a mission to get my hair as healthy as possible. Since it is important to me right now, i fit this into my self care rituals. It has been a slow but consistent journey so far.
Hair oiling once a week has been a ritual for me. I have been using a scalp stimulator, and then massaging in hair oil from scalp to ends the night before hair washing day.
I am also working on repairing hair bonds with some new products, like L’oreal’s hair bond collection.
I will share how my hair is coming along in a future post, but here is my guide for taking care of your hair in the winter months.
Skincare and body care (my everyday)
Skincare and body care rituals are my non negotiables everyday. They don’t take long and they help me to feel taken care of and put together.
Even on the days i don’t feel like putting on make up, i know that my skin and body are still taken care of and glowing.
My daily skincare non negotiables AM and PM :
A gentle facewash.
Eye cream.
Serum.
Moisturizer.
My evening skin care:
Make up removed every night.
Nourishing face oil and gua sha face routine.
Once a week:
Face mask and steam.
Eye gels.
Face scrub instead of cleanser.
I bought the facial steamer, pictured above, last year and it has changed my skincare game.
I use it mainly in the winter months to help put the moisture back into my skin and help clear my pores. It is so simple to use and has become a staple in my weekly face mask regime.
I usually apply a face mask like the clay mask pictured and then sit and let the steam activate it. You can also use a sheet mask if that is your thing. Then turn on the steamer and relax for 15 minutes. If you can carve out 15 minutes once a week for an at home facial, it will change your life!
My favorite habit stack: Lymphatic drainage while brushing my teeth
A few months ago i bought one of those vibration plates for lymphatic drainage and i couldn’t find the time to use it. I was scrolling online one day and i saw a video of a busy mom brushing her teeth while standing on hers. This has to be my favorite trick for busy moms.
This is called habit stacking, pairing something you want to get done while doing something you are already doing. It means i am not finding 20 minutes in my day to use my vibration plate, but i am actually using it twice a day while doing a task that already needs to be done.
Below is the vibration plate that i have, grab yours here.
My sleep routine
None of anything that i do would be possible without sleep.
Every night, even though it seems early, i am in bed by 9:30pm. A consistent bedtime makes my 6am mornings possible. Honestly, it may be the most important self care habit on this list. When i protect my sleep, everything else just seems to just fall into place. My mood, my patience, and my energy for the day, all depends on how well i slept.
The trick to good sleep is a clutter free, and calm bedroom. I also sleep on bedsheets that are in neutral and calm colors like beige, or soft white. I also change my sheets every Sunday without fail.
How i make it work (most days)
Let’s be real, with all three of my children in sports, getting sick, and things that happen in the real world, sometimes my self care gets cut short or may not happen at all.
Here is what i do to keep going:
Keep it small. If i only have 5 minutes, i make the most of that 5 minutes.
Stack habits. Pair self care with something i am already doing. For example; put on some eye gels while cleaning the fridge.
Be kind to my self. Missing a day doesn’t mean failure, it just means i try again tomorrow.
Where to start
You don’t need to copy my whole routine, just take what feels good.
Wake up 15 minutes earlier for quiet time.
Stack one habit onto something you already do daily.
Set a consistent bedtime for one week and see how you feel.
Do one thing a week for your skin or hair.
Small steps add up.
Other things is do (that may not seem like self care)
These things may not seem like self care but actually are things i do that feel like i have my own back!
Meal planning and prepping for my my week on Sunday. This means i am not scrambling each day thinking about what to make for dinner.
Keeping to a cleaning schedule.
Two loads or laundry every day to keep it from piling up.
Taking my laptop to my kids sports activities so that i can work on my blog while they are busy.
Your turn
I would love to hear from you! What is one thing that you do for self care that you fit into your busy week? Tell me in the comments, and if you try something from my routine, let me know how it goes. X
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