I use to not really be that into the whole self-care movement. I know, bad way to start a post on self-care. It wasn’t that I hated those who are always espousing the benefits of self-care, it’s just that I was so busy working a full-time job that was unforgiving in its schedule, that I rarely had time to “self-care.”

I would read post after post about all types of different self-care ideas and practices. From making yourself a bubble bath, painting your nails your favorite color, and reading your favorite book, the lists are endless. While most of the self-care ideas I came across did sound quite relaxing, I always read them with a sigh of disappointment because they sounded relaxing for someone else, not for me and my busy lifestyle. 

Yes, a bubble bath after a long day would be wonderful, but I hardly have the energy to clean the tub after a long day at work. Painting my nails does sound nice, but it usually takes me two or three tries before I’m able to get the final coat just right. I could sit and read my favorite book, but I’m sometimes so tired from the day, that I start dosing between paragraphs. Self-care always felt like a chore to me, just one more thing I had to add to my already busy day.

It wasn’t until I stopped treating self-care as a piece in my day, and started to make it a part of my day, that I began to fully understand its purpose and its many benefits. Self-care is about restoring your mind, body, and soul. It’s a very practical, yet personal act of intentionally nurturing yourself. Self-care is more than relaxation, it is a form of subtle sustenance that provides our heart and mind with much-needed support and strength.

Instead of leaving self-care as one giant task on my feel-good to-do list at the end of a really stressful day, I started breaking it up and scattering little pieces of self-care throughout my day to help keep me going.  

Here are a few simple things I learned over the years to help make self-care a part of my hectic day-to-day routine. Some of the things I listed I was always doing, but didn’t realize until I started to get serious about feeling better, that it was a form of self- care and self-appreciation.

1. Morning Coffee Break

In the past, my mornings consisted of my getting up, making my coffee, and sipping on it as I got dresses and put on my make-up. This routine didn’t exactly make for a smooth or enjoyable start to my day. After hearing a colleague talk about how she would meditate and drink tea for at least one hour every morning before heading to work, I was intrigued by the idea of turning my morning coffee habit into a peaceful morning routine.

I decided to give it a try, and started with small increments. Instead of pouring my cup of coffee and then heading back to the bedroom to pick out my clothes, I would stand in the kitchen for a couple of minutes and enjoy my first few sips of coffee. With practice, I was eventually able to push this time back more and more until I was able to spend anywhere from thirty minutes to upwards of an hour enjoying my morning coffee.

While getting to work on time is a major morning priority, so is how you feel. When I began to make how I felt in the morning a priority, I experienced much smoother and more peaceful mornings. Having a morning coffee break is a great opportunity for meditation, or visualization–the practice of mentally walking through the many tasks you have to complete that day, and envisioning the outcome. It’s a simple, yet effective form of mindfulness in the morning that can help you prepare for the challenges in your day so that you are able to meet them with calm and confidence.  

2. Audiobook for the Morning Commute

I use to spend my morning drive to the office thinking (or worrying) about all the demands I had to meet. From meetings that always lasted too long, staff members who needed daily assignments, and a never-ending stream of customer and client requests, maneuvering all the different obstacles that got thrown my way became a daily office dance.

A family member suggested I listen to an audiobook on the way into the office as a way of freeing up some mental space. I decided to give it a try, and picked out a few books I had always been interested in, but never had the time to read.

One of my favorite morning listen to’s was the The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I literally found myself laughing out loud at some of the many things she tried on her pursuit to find happiness, or cheering along as she hit one more monumental milestone on the road to self-discovery. It truly brightened up my mornings.

Instead of spending your morning commute over-thinking about work, begin your morning journey with a book. It’s a great way to take your mind off of stress, while at the same time indulging in something you enjoy.  

3. Send Self-Love to Someone Else

Despite my best efforts, sometimes my mornings can still get the better of me. Whether I didn’t get enough sleep the night before, traffic was bad, or I am not looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead; it’s easy to pull up to the office, jump head first into my work day, and forget about all the people I love who are going through their day as well.

Several times I’ve gotten so absorbed in my work, that I didn’t even realize I was more than half-way through my day and hadn’t even called or texted my husband just to say, “hi, how’s your day going?” He could be having his own ups and downs at work, I would be clueless because I’m so wrapped up in my own stress.

Giving love is a very powerful form of self-care. When you pull up to the office, and before you get out the car, send an affectionate text to someone you care about. It can say something like, “hey, I love you, I think you’re great and I know whatever challenges that come up in your day, you’re smart enough to face them.”

Just like you, other people in your life may also be long overdue for some much-needed self-care. Sending a self-love text is an easy way to give someone you care about a little extra boost, and a great way of grounding your own self. 

4. Take a Lunch Break

One thing I’ve noticed is that on my really busy and bad days, not only am I not eating, I’m not even taking a break. Work can get crazy, and I’ll realize that although I’ve been snacking between several cups of coffee, I actually haven’t sat down to eat a full meal.

Low energy from low food can leave you feeling drained, something you don’t want when trying to make decisions and face the remaining challenges of the day with a clear-head.  Lunch breaks are for a reason, so you can recharge and refuel. It may sound silly, but one of the easiest and most overlooked forms of self-care is the act of taking a simple break.

Whether it’s having lunch with a colleague to share a few jokes, or alone at your desk to take a few deep breaths, a break can help you reconnect with others and with yourself. The purpose of a break is to refresh your body and your thoughts. It serves to set the tone for the second half of your day so you can meet your next set of challenges with renewed energy.

5. Background Noise for House Chores

Because I hate feeling like I need to stop and do self-care, background noise has become an essential part of my personal self-care movement. It’s a great way to transition from the chaos of work into the peace and calm of home life.

Whether I’m feeling down and want to listen to music that expresses that sadness, or creative and want to watch a few interesting videos on YouTube, background noise helps to take my mind off of the task at hand (like washing dishes or cooking dinner), and just enjoy the moment it’s held within. It’s really helps to set the tone and atmosphere in the house after a long day.

Background noise is an effortless way to tune out all the negative thoughts from your day by refocusing your energy into the moment. It can help to elevate your mood, and keep your heart and mind focused on what really matters.

6. Gratitude in the PM 

One of the most influential, and perhaps most overlooked, forms of self-care is recognizing the good in your day. I for one am super guilty of overlooking the good, and skipping straight to the bad, especially on days when I feel completely defeated and let down by the people and things around me.

I’ve received plenty of people’s advice for practicing gratitude like keeping a daily journal, meditating, and reading affirmations. But in my quest to integrate self-care into my already hectic schedule, practicing gratitude had to become a part of an already existing routine of mine, going to bed.

At the end of the day, after you’ve turned out the light, gotten into the bed, and within the first few minutes of closing your eyes, come up with a few things you are grateful for before drifting off to sleep. It can be something like you’re glad your family is all home and safe, or you’re glad that meeting went really well today. It can be as simple or as abstract as you want it to be.

You know yourself the best, and know in your heart what is truly hard for you and what you are struggling with, use the few minutes before you fall asleep to give yourself a silent shout out for making it through another day.

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Self-care isn’t just for bad days, it’s for every day.

Don’t leave self-care to the end of a long and stressful day, sprinkle it throughout. Leave little pieces of good feelings for yourself that you can find throughout your day. As a busy woman, with a demanding career, I’ve found making self-care a part of my day-to-day is a powerful, yet peaceful way of regaining my inner balance, and outer composure.

I hope you found some of these self-care tips helpful. Let me know in the comments below what career field you’re in, and how you make self-care a part of your day?