Self Care... What do you do?

[Explodingatomickittens]

I've basically been neglecting myself for far too long. Want to feel good about myself again.
Starting last Monday I have
-started moisturising face in morning
-cleansing, moisturising & using eye cream going to bed
-decided not to have a midweek alcholohic beverage
-daily beginners yoga with Adrienne
-brisk 30 min walk morning & evening
Hoping to add to this. Insight into others routines would be very beneficial. Thanks.

Coffee and people watching in a cafe

Yoga, walking with friends, herbal tea, baths, early nights with a good book.

30 min- 60 min daily walk
Beginners yoga about 3x a week

Always moisture and quick 5 mins make up

Always where silver earrings,watch and bangles.

I’ve made a number of changes since Christmas but to be honest I’m not feeling any better. I feel like an imposter in my life at the minute, like I’m faking everything and not really feeling. I’m hoping it passes soon.

Eat a whole food vegan diet.
Eat enough to maintain BMI of 21 and cut back if it creeps up.
Little to no alcohol.
Walk briskly for 30 minutes each day somewhere green.
Morning and evening skincare regime. Cheap products, but consistent.
Sleep 8/9 hours per night.
See friends and laugh a lot.
Spend most of my self care budget on hair. (Good body and good hair make even cheap clothes look good)
Do nothing that's not essential or enjoyable.
Rest without guilt.

At the moment - brush my hair, have a wash or a shower and brush my teeth. Currently caring for my very DH who almost died of septic shock last week.

Normally:-
Cleanse, retinol and moisturiser
Derma blading face at home once a week
Weekly peeling AHA/BHA face treatment - at home
6 weekly die my hair/roots at home
Weekly shave legs, under arms and bikini area
Foot cream regularly and file off hard skin
Do my own gel nails (hands and feet) every few weeks
Pluck and die my eyebrows every few weeks - at home
Occasional peel off face mask at home
Occasional deep conditioning hair treatment
Have a hairdresser trim my hair every 3 months
During summer apply gradual tanning moisturiser
Wear make up for work
I make time for myself to do yoga a few times a week

So apart from the hairdresser I do everything myself

Make sure you don't confuse self care with a long list of 'shoulds' or resolutions.

I look after my body with exercise and skincare etc....but isn't true self care trying to rest when you need it/be kind to yourself? Or are you just talking about body maintenance?

I lock myself in the bathroom a couple of times a week ( to discourage my husband suddenly deciding he needs an urgent shit, which always seems to happen).

I have a bath with essential oils, deep Condition my hair, shave everywhere, use body lotion, use a face mask or other skin treatment, dye my eyebrows, whiten my teeth, do facial massage- all while listening to a favourite podcast or music.

I make sure I make time for friends and family, I allow myself time to enjoy reading without guilt that I should be doing something else. I visit galleries, I walk in the park, I attend lectures...

I'm pretty happy as a result!

Self care - deep bath, gorgeous bubble and candles. This is how I help myself feel better on the rough days.

I would say the other aspects are a good skincare and haircare routine for me which I’ve developed over time. I wouldn’t say this is selfcare though?

Give myself lovely facial massages
Book in bed
Herbal teas
Don't drink alcohol
Eat 7-10 portions of fruit and veg
Restorative Yoga
Meditations
Lots of orgasms 😉

@Mitfordian I guess a combination of both. I've been neglecting myself physically & mentally

I used to wonder this too! A few thoughts..
for a while I dressed “ classically “ and to look professional but it just wasn’t me so back to casual but usually jigsaw whistles &other stories and m&s so last better
Improve one thing at a time
get rid of toxic people has been the single most effective one- your world will expand ! Read Nicole Le Pera the holistic psychotherapist @passportpondery to dig into why you’re feeling dissociated like that - she’s a genius
New Year’s resolution 2022 was get gel nails with builder gel every 4-6 weeks
Helped so much as always had flaky chipped frankly skanky nails despite onerous frequent home manicures for decades
highlights every 6-8 weeks (at a cheaper hair dresser ) and keratin treatment for menopausal frizz every 6 or more months - I’m ready in five minutes now!
I reduced exercise as I was over scheduling myself so just reintroducing now after 9 months as I can see it helps reduce stress!

Face mask, body scrub and moisturiser weekly. Clarins facial as a true treat.

Sitting quietly with a cup of coffee - no music, no tv, no phone .. pure bliss

Run 5k 3 times a week.
Walk on the beach with my dog every single day, treat myself to a nice coffee while out.
Yoga either a class or do at home.
No alcohol 5 out of 7 nights a week.
Swim in the sea every weekend early morning and at least once during the week (more in summer).
Just started getting regular manicures and gel polish.
Get my hair done (balayage) twice a year
Sunday afternoons spent reading on the sofa.
I really enjoy cooking really good food on the weekends, taking time over a new recipe.

I love self care. I do most of what's already been described. It took me 37 years to start caring loving and enjoying myself. If I can do anything I want to pass this onto my little girl. So she loves and appreciates herself in her youth and beauty. I spent my youth boozing doing drugs being in toxic relations and just generally self destructing and wasting my youth and beauty! But at least I'm there now.

Nails once a month
hair coloured and trimmed every 8 weeks at the hairdressers, every 4 weeks touch up my roots at home
spray tan every week in summer months
cleanse and apply tret or serums most nights
makeup most days

Yoga or stretch, the gym 3 or 4x a week, walks outside on the beach or somewhere green. A nice skincare routine, a bath, body moisturiser. I don't drink and I try to eat a healthy diet. A catch up with friends for breakfast or coffee.

Beauty wise..nails every 3 weeks (BIAB), eyebrows every month, Russian lashes every 3 weeks. Gel toes every 6 to 8 weeks.
Sometimes life gets on top of me and I can't quite make my timescales...but lots of things I do on lunch break from work 🙂

Nap on the sofa in my heated blanket.

As a single mum, I take self care seriously, particularly since my divorce. That was the first thing. Excellent decision.

I say no to people or hibernate when I don’t have the capacity or bandwidth to deal with requests.

I do 6 classes of hot yoga every week. It’s been my saviour as my body is at its strongest and most toned. I also made some really lovely friends there.

I sleep well, drink a lot of water, no alcohol, cigs, drugs, little junk.

I don’t do facials or nails but I have a basic skincare routine that works for my skin. I had baby Botox for the first time, which I love.

I live discovering new music on Spotify - music is such a great companion.

I love going to see independent movies and stand up.

Given up on dating apps and have learned to accept I may not meet someone again. That’s liberating.

Regular blow dry.
Good quality soft clean sheets.
Lots of water.
Multivitamins.

@Eatentoomanyroses could you tell me where you get your tret from please?

Vitamins and sleep. That's about all I get to do.

Missing the point but going to bed with a good book made me laugh because I imagined someone going to bed with a bad book, how awful that must be 😂

OP, I'm into fairy lights and I have them spotted about (live in a studio). I turn off the main lights and just lie in bed with the twinkle lights and a dehumidifier on while I do a favourite activity of choice (read, switch, TikTok).

Running a few times a week, always wear a little bit of makeup so I don’t look featureless (v pale eyelashes and eyebrows naturally) & painting my nails.