Navigating the maze of self-care often feels like a challenge amidst the chaos of modern life. From scheduling your waxing and laser appointments to staying on top of daily check-ins, mental health, nutrition, and fitness routines, the list seems endless. Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks, unsure how to fit them all in or where to even start? We understand because on most days we struggle with that too.
So, on this World Health Day, we decided to put together a comprehensive wellness guide that takes care of your daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance. Gone are the days of feeling lost amidst a sea of to-dos; we’ve condensed everything into easy-to-follow checklists, ensuring that you can prioritise self-care without stressing out. As someone who once grappled with the same frustrations, I understand the feeling of being overwhelmed with things to do. But with our guide, you’ll reclaim control over your wellness journey, one step at a time. This will not only help you fit in all of your appointments, but it will also help you complete tasks to uplift yourself. Stick around for easy-to-follow checklists available for download at the end.
Daily Self-Care Guide:
Ever since wellness culture took off, we’ve realised that leading a balanced and uplifting life requires three daily wins: mental, physical and spiritual. Here are a few suggestions for things you can do for these specific wins.
1. For a mental win
Read a comforting book with a scented candle that soothes your senses. Enjoy your favourite ice cream while you listen to music. Focus on deep breathing and engage in mindfulness. Speak to your therapist and journal about your emotions and thoughts.
2. Physical win
Choose to workout in the comfort of your home or at the gym. If you like company, get a friend to workout with you or go for an outdoor walk. Sometimes, even stretching under the sun can prove to be extremely rewarding.
3. Spiritual Win
Meditation is an activity that has the power to ground you, incorporate a few minutes of meditation and practice gratitude towards the important elements of your life. If praying is an activity that gives you solace, engage in it.
Other Daily Wellness Practices To Include:
1. Ice facials instantly rejuvenate and also benefit your skin. Choose to do this either in the mornings when you wake up as a refreshing start to your day or after work to help you unwind.
2. Incorporate daily showers into your routine, aiming for twice a day, especially in hotter weather, to effectively cleanse and energise your body.
3. It’s crucial to care for your skin too, and following a simple, consistent skincare routine with three to five steps can really help your skin and its health.
4. Ensure you’re consuming a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, carbs, healthy fats, and grains. Also, make sure to take your supplements as recommended by your doctor. Some good supplements to include would be Vitamin C, Zinc, and Omega-3.
5. As cliched as it sounds, staying hydrated throughout the day is a habit that will benefit you in more ways than one. Drink 8 to 12 cups of water daily.
6. Rewatching your favourite TV show is an activity that is guaranteed to bring you comfort. Add some delicious gelato or pasta to this and you’re all set.
7. Sleeping for 8 hours minimum is a must for everyone. A new study revealed that women need 9 hours a day and 1 extra hour during menstruation. Never feel guilty about rest. (The previous studies were all done on men).
Weekly Self-Care Guide:
1. Indulge in a long, relaxing bath or a 5-10 minute cold shower to calm your senses and any muscle soreness.
2. Facial massages not only have long-term benefits, but they also improve the way you feel from within. Take a soothing facial oil and massage your face with a gua sha or any other tool.
3. We can’t always run to the spa when we require a quick pick-me-up. Indulge in an effective face mask that will detox your face.
4. Dedicate a day to yourself, buy some flowers, and do activities you love— Paint, hike, read, or clean and reset your space.
5. Prioritise a day for relaxation to unwind your mind. Whether this means just laying on your bed and doing absolutely nothing or reading your favourite book.
6. Spending quality time with your friends and family always brings joy. You can either watch a movie together, have a meal, engage in hobbies or even perform mundane activities.
Bi-weekly Self-Care Guide:
1. Nothing feels better than freshly done nails, so treat yourself to a manicure.
2. Get your eyebrows done for a polished look. You could shape them or just pluck the extra hairs but don’t forget to schedule that appointment.
3. Take one “everything shower”. Girls, you know what I’m talking about. Include every step of your bathing routine, from body exfoliation to thorough hair conditioning, in a single session under the scalding hot water. Get out your most luxurious bathing goods and feel great about yourself.
4. Spend time outdoors touching some grass, quite literally. You can choose to camp, hike, stroll or even swim. You’ll find your energy levels at an all-time high. (Humans are meant to live in sync with nature).
Monthly Self-Care Guide:
1. Don’t neglect your toes and schedule a pedicure appointment to keep your feet looking and feeling their best.
2. Invest in skincare treatments such as a chemical peel or a hydra-facial that promote a healthy skin barrier. These treatments penetrate deeper into your skin than usual skincare products and at-home facials.
3. Prioritise body care with options like waxing, laser appointments or shaving. Whether it’s DIY or at a salon, make sure you schedule a specific day for it.
4. Indulge in a full body massage that promotes lymphatic drainage along with relief from pent-up muscle tension, leaving you feeling extremely relaxed.
5. Head massages and hair spa treatments contribute to maintaining the health of your hair and ensure it’s vitality.
Every 3-6 Months Self-Care Guide:
1. Schedule a hair trim to keep your locks healthy and free from split ends.
2. Book a dental appointment for a routine check-up, prioritising your oral health to ensure overall well-being and a confident smile.
3. Consider undergoing a blood test to ensure your body’s nutritional needs are met. It’s important to check our vitamin levels and cholesterol levels yearly.
4. Arrange a health check-up with your general physician for an overall health assessment.
Now that we’ve broken it down for you, here is your downloadable and easy self-care checklist (Long press the image and save to photos):
