Last updated on December 28th, 2022 at 09:27 am
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You hear people talking about a self-love routine left and right but there’s a good reason for it.
People often talk about the importance of taking care of yourself physically but taking care of yourself mentally is equally as important.
In a fast-paced society that’s always encouraging people to be on the go, you need to find ways to wind down and take care of yourself.
There’s also a misconception that treating yourself has to be these grand gestures but it’s simply not true. It can be doing the small things in life.
You don’t do that and you will burn out eventually.
No matter how busy you are, carve out some time in your schedule every day to incorporate these following activities.
For most of you, having solo time is most likely to happen at night, before bed.
The following activities are simple, practical, and doable.
Self-Love Routine #1 – Take a Warm Shower/Bubble Bath
How does being in a warm bubble bath and the lights off in your bathroom sound?
Amazing, right?
You can even go one step further by lighting some scented candles (lavender is known to be a relaxing scent).
Take in some deep breaths and a good whiff of the candles.
Not everyone will have the luxury to have a bathtub in their bathroom. If that’s the case, you can opt for a nice shower.
Taking a warm shower will help you loosen your muscles. Most importantly, you’ll feel clean.
Be sure to moisturize your body after you come out of the shower though. You don’t want your skin to feel dry and tight after being in the shower for 15+ minutes.
Why not have soft and smooth skin all the time?
2) Wear Comfortable Clothing
Changing into your home clothes is probably the quickest self-care activity. It takes one minute or less.
Everyone is going to have different preferences on what’s the most comfortable thing to wear to bed.
Whatever nighty you like, the one thing in common is that your clothes should allow you to be in your most cozy state.
So grab that snuggly matching pair of PJs or your oversized shirt.
Because you deserve to wear your most comfortable outfit to bed.
3) Home Facial
Another idea is to pamper yourself with a nice home facial.
After a full day, your face can feel pretty disgusting when you come home.
For oily skin folks out there, you’ll understand my pain of struggling with shiny skin and clogged pores. It’s pretty icky.
Be sure to take off your makeup (if you wear any) and wash your face.
Although washing your face can be a hassle, you’ll be happy about how your pores feel after. It will feel much cleaner.
Of course, you can’t miss using a face mask when it comes to a home facial.
After the skincare routine basics, you can use a face mask. People tend to either use a sheet or a clay mask (I tend to choose brightening ones for my stubborn pimple marks).
It’s something that can be easily added to your routine. And you don’t have to do much either.
Sit back and relax while your face mask does its job.
You can even lie down in bed for 15- 30 minutes (or however long you need to keep your face mask on).
4) Adjust Room Temperature
Again, I acknowledge that not everyone is going to have this luxury but for those who do, adjust the room temperature to your liking.
Many people are sensitive to temperature.
Some people prefer a colder room whereas others prefer a hotter room.
I find that I can’t sleep well when the room is too warm.
If it’s cold, I can always add another piece of clothing or grab another blanket. When it’s hot, I just find myself sweating. It’s pretty gross.
If you live in Asia, you’re more likely to want to turn on the AC, especially in the summer. It gets really hot over here.
5) Declutter
Being in a messy space can affect your mental health.
When there’s too much clutter around you, it can make you feel out of control. It’s hard to truly relax when everything is everywhere.
Spend a little bit of time every day to clear your space.
Throw things away instead of letting them pile up.
Put things where you can find them easily.
If you tidy up your space a little every day, it’s less work than doing one big clean-up.
I find that I procrastinate more when there’s one huge thing I have to do instead of breaking it down.
Decluttering is freeing. It makes you feel productive and more at peace. So don’t forget to clear your space.
6) Journal
People journal for many reasons. While I don’t do it as often (I have my blog), I have people in my life that swear by it.
Journaling is a reliable way to help you destress and work out your emotions.
There’s also no way of journaling wrong. You can use journal prompts or use your diary to recap your day.
It’s a notebook where you express your feelings however and whenever you want to.
Journaling allows you to have some quiet time for some self-reflection as well as discover more about yourself.
Self-Love Routine #7 – Plan Your Day
During the day, things can get quite hectic. Especially in the morning when you wake up and you’re rushing to get ready for work or school.
Make your day easier tomorrow by putting your outfit together for the next day.
You should also plan out tomorrow’s schedule to increase productivity.
Think about it.
You need time to think about what tasks to complete on your to-do list. Since you used that time at night, you can get straight to work tomorrow.
You’ll know what you should finish for the day as well as set up some expectations for yourself.
I have created a daily planner FOR FREE that you can download to help you get more organized. Sign up below. It’s that easy!
There’s also a weekly planner and a yearly planner if you are interested.
I use these in my life all the time and would be totally lost without them.
8) Read
Reading before bed can be a relaxing way to sleep better. It’s a way of unplugging from the real world and going into the fantasy world.
Reading can be a stress reliever. For some people, reading can even make them fall asleep faster.
If this is you too, then it’s an even better reason why you should read.
You can sleep better instead of tossing and turning around in bed at night.
Start by grabbing yourself a warm drink during your quiet reading time. It can warm your stomach and heart.
Sip on your beverage while reading under the covers will eventually make you sleepy. Then, you’ll feel really nice and cozy.
9) Bake Desserts
Baking at night might sound strange but in a way, it’s the perfect time. While you’re baking desserts at night, it’s quiet in the house. That means no one is walking in and out of the kitchen.
It’s another way to get your mind off your life temporarily. You’re so focused on reading the recipe and measuring the ingredients that you’re not overthinking.
You can even reward yourself by sneaking in a bite or two before bed.
Even if you leave the treats for tomorrow, it’s something to look forward to. It will make your day a little brighter because you get to enjoy some nice snacks.
Portion them out carefully and this batch can even last you for the next few months (gotta put them in the freezer though).
10) Watch Something
After a long and hard day, watching a show is always comforting.
There are some classic dramas you can always turn to like Palace and Hi My Sweetheart.
Then, there are also some newer dramas to enjoy such as The Oath of Love and My Sassy Princess.
The great thing about entertainment shows is that they have all kinds of genres.
You feel like watching a sad movie? A ton of good ones out there.
You want to watch a comedy series? There are plenty of options as well.
Watching TV allows you to have a quick escape from your life.
It’s a way to turn off your brain so it’s a common reason why people like to add this activity to their self-love routine.
11) Listen to Your Favourite Music
There will be days when your eyes get extremely tired. That’s when you should be extra mindful of how much screen time you’re getting.
We spend the majority of our day using our devices, especially our phones and computers. It’s very straining for our eyes.
As someone who got LASIK, I try to reduce my screen time. The last thing I want is to wear prescription glasses again.
When I got my LASIK surgery, I had to find ways to keep myself from boredom. I couldn’t use my eyes because I was in the LASIK recovery period.
So I spent a good chunk of that time listening to music.
Listening to music is one of the easiest activities to add to your self-love routine. It also doesn’t require straining your eyes.
Scroll to find your favourite playlist.
Block out the world by putting in your earphones.
Jam out to the music you love.
Or you can blast the song out loud and sing along (my preference).
Ballads are suitable for nighttime because the lyrics are all sad and depressing. Listening to fast music might be too energizing right before bed.
But if that’s what you prefer, go right ahead!
12) DIY Mani-Pedi
You might prefer to get your nails done professionally at a nail salon but it also means it costs $$$.
Doing a manicure-pedicure yourself in the comfort of your house has its benefits. You can do your nails whenever you feel like it. There’s no need to book an appointment or drive to a salon.
It’s an activity where you have to concentrate hard but it’s not putting your brain into overdrive. I think of a mani-pedi similar to a colouring book except it’s on your own body
You might not be very good at it at first but practice does make perfect.
You can appreciate your artwork and feel pretty about yourself (a self-confidence booster).
Self-Love Routine #13 – Spray On Some Fragrance
You can easily add this to your self-love routine – spray on your signature scent (mine are light floral perfumes). It’s an instant pick-me-up that helps you feel good.
People might think spraying on some fragrance before bed is strange. It’s something they usually do before they head out for the day.
But who says you can’t spritz on some perfume at night?
I do it when I’m feeling meh. Smelling nice can help you lift your mood quickly.
You can even spray some perfume on your pillowcase and covers. The scent will last longer but you have to be careful. Spraying some fragrance directly on those might stain the fabric.
Final Thoughts – Self-love Routine
As you can see, having a self-love routine doesn’t have to be extravagant and time-consuming.
It would be nice to have an hour or two of a self-care routine every day. However, many of us are too busy nowadays. Having that much alone time is not realistic for a lot of people.
Try your best to block out at least 15 minutes of your time every night to help you recharge with the following activities.
If 15 minutes is all you have, then you have to make do with the time you’ve got.
It’s essential and healthy to spend time with yourself.
These habits will help you feel better in the short AND long term.
Now to You – Self-Love Routine
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Xoxo,
Nicole