Little rituals you do for yourself that have big rewards

[Cazzovuoi]

i have Complex-PTSD after a horrific childhood thanks to my narc mother. It’s taken me a long time to learn how to take care of myself. I’m not looking for sympathy, just giving some context.

Part of my recovery has been to create self care habits for myself that include washing my teeth every night and putting on lip balm etc.

I’d love to know what little rituals you do for yourself. Like moisturising your whole body after a shower or putting on face cream and settling in bed with a book.

I’m looking for inspiration, for little things because Google gives insipid shite like get a manicure or light a scented candle (I loathe scented candles). I need inspiration from real women!

Sometimes I buy a punnet of raspberries for myself. I'm not a massive fan of chocolate and can take it or leave it but fresh raspberries are heaven.

Because it's fruit, I can convince myself it's good for me and I deserve to have healthy food. But I feel decadent. It's usually once a month after payday.

For me, a super hot and deep bath. Get in while it's still running, grab my book and relax. It's the only place I get and it's glorious

Thanks for replying @muchalover

I love that, it’s healthy but also a treat. Do you eat them after tea or later as a treat in front of the tv?

I feel like I have my life together if I cleanse, tone and moisturise every night. Get in my jammies and have a cup of tea and chocolate in bed and snuggle the dogs. It's the the only time I get to myself each day and it's bliss, feel cheated if I don't get it!

That sounds wonderful

I bring a cup of tea back to bed in the morning, open the curtains and enjoy the sky and treetops. (I also empty the dishwasher while the kettle boils so that the kitchen stays tidy all day).

Sometimes on a sunny morning I go and sit on my front doorstep (with the door closed behind me) and have a cup of hot coffee in silence where no-one can find me.

Comfort and solitude seem to be common themes 😁

I had some cheap noise cancelling headphones for Christmas last year and always listen to a podcast or music while cleaning or folding laundry.

I buy a newspaper the night before and a coffee from posh ish coffee shop take out. Then refrigerate it and heat it the next morning ( not as minging as it sounds!) get back in to bed with a posh coffee and paper

I second the bath option, that's my favourite thing.

Great treat is tea and toast in bed on weekend mornings.

I walk for miles with an audio book playing.

A nice thing to do is little bit of yoga in the mornings.

Sunday daytime I spend the day batch cooking to make lunch and evening meals easier.
Then in the early evening at about 7pm I organise crackers, cheese, chorizo, salami, pickles, chutney etc . A glass of wine , candles and a good book on Audible.
A couple of hrs and it resets me for the week.

I write a diary and sit with the cat. I play music on youtube premium so it has no ads and get into bed really early

Ooh i like this thread! Mine is a bath, big mug of tea..bed with new magazine or book. But…this is in the morning on a day off work! Knowing everyone else is trudging off o work but im all clean and warm and snuggly! Hot buttered toast and a chocolate biscuit at some point too

I have a really delicious loose leaf tea that I brew in a proper pot with a strainer and small jug of milk. I drink regular tea too, but the special tea makes me feel good, and a bit better than having a glass of wine.

I go to bed early with a cup of tea and watch a film on my phone.

It's only a small and simple thing but it's my time, on my own with no interruptions. I like it.

Hot cloth cleanser twice a day is a lovely step, really feels like you're looking after yourself a bit.

On hair washing days, I put on my conditioner and then do a whole body exfoliating scrub. Afterwards I rinse everything off and just feel so clean!

Love the thread thanks all. Mine are mornings when dry outside go in garden with Ddog and strong blackcoffee and sit meditate/notice nature. Before sleep do gratitude list for day so sleep with good thoughts. Have done this for decades and has helped me stay positive.

I put on headphones and tidy my kitchen every night so it's always sparkly every morning when I come down. It starts my day on a good note and every morning I feel glad I did it - so sad I know 😂😂

Blowing a hairdryer on my face even though my hair is dry. I don't know what it is, but it massively calms me. I obviously do it safely, although I do occasionally blow it under the cover with the end sticking out. It's one of the best feelings.

It is funny and actually quite lovely, how different we are as well.

I absolutely hate baths. As soon as I get in, I want to get out. Does not relax me at all.

Well done for taking care of yourself.
If I have a free morning off work I go and get a freshly baked baguette and some fresh fruit and have a leisurely breakfast.
I also moisturise my feet with beautiful smelling lotion before I hop into bed. It’s the small pleasures!

Another hot bath fan. I have candles, rum and chocolate and listen to something spooky on BBC sounds (like uncanny).

I bought this cuticle oil that smells of apricots. I keep it on my desk and rub it into my cuticles when I notice they're dry or I'm on a dull call. The smell is divine and it's a little 'extra' ; feels like something above and beyond on the self care front, but doesn't actually constitute a big ask in terms of time, energy, money or thought.

Really nice tea and coffee in the house and a set of really nice mugs is my other easy self care thing. Again, no big ask of me once I've bought them, but it adds a lot to my day and makes me feel like I'm worth the extra.