21+ Best Self Care Ideas For Creating A Daily Self-Care Routine

Self Care Ideas To Kickstart Your Self Care Routine

Getting healthy isn’t just about counting calories or getting in our 10,000 steps. As women, and as black women, we have to ensure that we implement Self-Care as part of our daily self-care routine. My grandmother once told me that you can’t pour from an empty cup. It’s that time of the year again when we all tell ourselves that we will do better in the upcoming year. We are busy putting together vision boards, picking our upcoming word for the year again, decluttering our homes as we go into the new year, and so much more. As women, we have to make ourselves a priority in our lives. If we don’t carve out time for ourselves then who will? Self-Care would not be complete without incorporating Healthy Lifestyle Habits as well.

Self-care should not make you feel guilty. It should make you feel empowered to accomplish more of what you desire. In order to get there, you have to retrain yourself into believing that it’s ok to take care of yourself first. No matter if you are a busy professional with a hectic job, or a stay-at-home mom with toddlers, carving out some time just for yourself is probably even more critical in this ever-present microaggression environment that we encounter daily.

Here is my list of 21+ Self Care Ideas To Kickstart Your Self Care Routine

1. Self-Care Sunday. Let’s start the week off right by carving out an hour of time on Sunday to simply do you. #SelfCareSunday is becoming a movement. During this simple hour, do what you want to do, or simply do nothing at all, but make it your time. My self-care Sunday changes from week to week, but I always make sure to put myself first. I make it a point to start my Sunday morning by taking a brisk walk through my neighborhood. I always feel energized and ready to conquer the world when I return.

Starting the day out right tends to ensure that I stay on track for the remainder of the day. As we move into the new year, focus on making every single day count. Each day improved, is a better day for you.

2. Declutter Your Space. I only spend 15 minutes per day decluttering which is not to be confused with cleaning. Go through the stack of mail that you have sitting by the door. Declutter a spot in your house that’s been bugging you. Clutter clouds your mind and your ability to function at optimal levels. Studies have linked clutter and disorganization to stress.

BGM Trick. Take a photo of the area that you want to focus on decluttering. After your 15 minutes is up take another photo. The before and after will provide your mind with a sense of accomplishment. Creating a timed session for decluttering makes the process feel less overwhelming.

3. Start a Herb Garden. Several studies have indicated that people who garden are more likely to eat healthily. Go figure! If I’m growing my own herbs, then the goal is to use my herbs in the food that I prepare. The chances of me using my herbs in something completely unhealthy are slim. You can do a countertop garden. I also grow peppers and collards in my indoor garden.

4. Pamper Yourself In The Shower One of my favorite products to use in the shower is Grapeseed Oil or Almond Oil from GNC. Do not skimp on hydrating your skin. Take the time to enjoy your shower and use the products that make you happy even if they cost a little bit more. I absolutely love FinchBerry Soaps, OMG!

BGM Trick. I mix 100% glycerin with my oils. They sell the big bottle at GNC as well.

5. Drink Water Every Hour This is probably a no-brainer, but it is one of the most overlooked things that people don’t do when it comes to self-care. Most adults are water deficient. We get so caught up in trying to get through the day, that we often forget to stop long enough to get a simple glass of water. Your body and your mind can not function without the H20, Lack of water leads to so many health issues that can simply be avoided by taking the time out to drink enough water.

BGM Trick I actually purchased a water bottle that has timelines on it, so that I am reminded to drink water at the top of the hour. You can also add alarms to your cell phone that will send your reminders to get up and move as well as drink water.

Elvira 32oz Motivational Fitness Sports Water Bottle

6. Sit On Your Deck Or Porch. Just take time to sit outside. Have a cup of warm tea, drink your favorite latte. I have the ultimate deck and lower deck. It’s swanky & chic. One of my favorite things to do is go and sit on my lower deck and read a book, especially if it’s raining. I will put on a big comfy sweater, make my favorite tea and read my favorite book or watch a movie.

7. Give Yourself A Facial We get so caught up in being in a rush that we forget to pamper ourselves on a daily basis. You don’t have to run out to the spa on a weekly basis. However, in between that, you can take the time to pamper yourself on a daily basis.
The Body Shop At Home has great products. Giving yourself a facial is a quick pick-me-up that will do wonders

PLUMPING & PURIFYING FACIAL MASK DUO

8. Read a magazine or book for an hour You can incorporate this with No. 7 above. I am currently reading Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile.

9. Take A Nap. A power nap will do the body good. Sometimes you just need to stop everything that you are doing and take a nap. As women, I don’t think that we give ourselves permission to just take a break during the day.

10. Buy The Fancy Duvet and Pillows. Ladies we spend 8 hours or more in our bedrooms. We should at least make sure that our surroundings provide us with the relaxation and spa-like feeling that we so deserve. I know firsthand that when I redid my bedroom and removed all the clutter, my entire mood changed for the better. You deserve to be surrounded by luxury. It’s ok to splurge on yourself.

BGM Tip: Invest in premium Duvets, this allows you to change out the look of your bedding without needing to find the additional storage space for bulky comforters. Layering your bedding will give it a more luxurious feel as well as all-white bedding. If you have ever spent time at a luxurious hotel such as the Ritz Carlton or The Four Seasons, then you already know that there is something magical about sleeping in the comfort of luxury.

11. 30 Minute Dance Party Put on your favorite headphones, add your favorite dance songs, and just dance for 30 solid minutes non-stop. The goal is to get you moving for 30 minutes. Exercise has to become an aspect of self-care. However, no one said that exercising couldn’t be good for the soul and be fun.

12. Engage in Stretching. I recently went to Kika Stretching in Atlanta, and left feeling brand new. I didn’t realize how stiff I was until I attended one of their sessions. Now I incorporate 15 minutes of stretching every morning. If you happen to be in the Atlanta Metro Area ( Atlanta or Vinings location), please tell them that marvette critney referred you. They currently have an intro-free 25 min session that you should take advantage of.

13. Watch The Stars. I recently purchase a telescope so I could gaze at the stars. As a child our museum in Harrisburg, PA had a planetarium and it was one of my favorite places to visit. Living in metro Atlanta with all the light pollution now makes it hard to remember what the night sky actually looks like. A second option is to purchase an Oculus Quest and stargaze in virtual reality. I have one and I promise you will feel like you are floating above the earth amongst the stars

The Best Places to Go Stargazing Around the World

The Atacama Desert, Chile
Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, United States
Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, Japan
Mauna Kea, Hawaii, United States
Kruger National Park, South Africa

14. Burn Your Favorite Candle. I am a true candle junkie. There is something about the flame of the candle that enables us to connect more deeply with our emotions. You automatically feel warmth, love, and even healing energies with candles. My favorite scents are Myrrh and Frankincense. I also love the 30 Montaigne from Christian Dior. Sometimes you want what you want.

BGM TIP: Light a new candle, a scent you have never used and place it in an enclosed space, and shut the door. Return about 10 minutes later and I guarantee the scent will change your mood. It’s hard to be angry when your space smells so good. Switch up your scents as you become used to the smell.

This fabulous candle is everything and it’s one of my favorite scents.

15. Plan A Picnic It doesn’t have to be a fancy picnic. You can do a picnic in your backyard. Invite a friend out to a day in the park. Just plan a day once a month. Set a time and a location, invite folks out to join you. If they show up then that is a bonus.

16. Wake up early and just watch a sunrise. When is the last time you got a chance to simply watch the sun come up over the horizon? There are so many small things that we take for granted and I think watching a sunrise is one of them. Don’t do it for the gram.

17. Pick 3 days a week to wake up early. You will be surprised at how much self-care you can get in before the remainder of the world wakes up. I can’t explain the sense of calmness and clarity that I seem to have at 430am. I can get on my treadmill or bike, and listen to a podcast, and know that no one is going to disturb me.

18. Do yoga. 5 minutes of Yoga will turn into 10 minutes, which will eventually get you to 30 minutes. Yoga’s origin can be traced to Northern India over 50,000 years ago. The word yoga was first mentioned in ancient sacred texts called the Rig Veda.

19. Get a massage. This should be a part of your monthly self-care routine if possible. Take the time to just relax and go and get a good massage.

20. Write letters to the ones you love. We are so caught up in technology that we are quick to send a text or an email. When is the last time you sat down and hand-wrote a letter or sent a card to someone? #100cards. Try and find a few minutes this year to write the ones that you love.

21. Take a Cooking Class. There are plenty of places that offer cooking classes. Learn how to make your favorite dish and learn to make your favorite dessert. We should all have that one signature dish that we know how to make.

22. Buy that expensive item that you really want. As women, we tend to put everything and everyone else before us. It’s ok to splurge and purchase that purse, or those shoes, or earrings that you really want. Stop convincing yourself that you can buy 10 items for what you are about to spend. Spend the money.

23. Open An Investment Account. If you have been putting it off because you keep saying you will get around to it, now is the time to open that account so you can gear up for 2022 and have money set aside to take that fabulous lifetime trip you want to take.

24. Say “no” to someone. No explanation is needed. Just say no. STOP making yourself available to everyone else and make yourself the priority in 2022.

25. Self Care Journal. Begin journaling

Take the time out to take care of yourself and begin journaling. Focus on yourself and your wellbeing. Khadijra Rorie has put together a sweet journal