What do you do to take care of you?
Self-care is something that many people want to do, but feel as if they can’t because it takes too much time, or they don’t have enough energy, or there are too many other things that need to be done.
But I’m going to challenge you to recognize that self-care is too important to let fall by the wayside. And I do understand that life has a way of getting in the way of the plans that you make for yourself. But the irony of the situation is that if you don’t make time for self-care, you won’t be able to do all those things that you want to.
Self-care is a way of managing your stress before your stress manages you.
Now, if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed with all of this, have no fear. Your self-care routine doesn’t have to be perfect and it doesn’t have to be a huge big thing or perfect. It just has to be. For some people, self-care is something incorporated into their daily routine. If that seems too much for you, you can start small by making sure that you engage in self-care just one day a week. And for that I recommend a self-care Sunday.
Why Self-Care Sunday?
Sunday is the perfect self-care day because it’s already a day of rest for many people. And using Sunday as your self-care day is a great way to start your new week with a calm, serene state of mind which sets a good intention for the way you want the rest of your week to go.
You have an entire day and plenty of activities that you can incorporate into your routine.
Setting Up Your Weekly Self-Care Routine
First let’s get down to the nitty gritty – you need to figure out what your routine is going to be on Sunday. Don’t forget that although it’s called self-care; that doesn’t mean that it has to be done alone, so if you have a busy, full house on Sundays, you can still do this!
In creating your routine, it’s important to keep yourself at the center of whatever activities are going on. So you want focus on your self-care on Sundays, whether that’s for an hour during the day or for the entire day.
It might be helpful to think of Sundays not only as a day of relaxation and rest, but also as a reset day. You can plan out your week, which may give you more spaces of free time during the week.
Additionally, by giving yourself some time to relax and unwind, reset your body and your mind, you’re ready to take on the challenges of the upcoming week.
How is it Different from Daily Self-Care?
You might be wondering to yourself, “Why self-care Sunday? Why not Saturday or any other day of the week?” Well, it’s all about making time. While the activities you choose should be those that help you to relax, are good for your body and mind, and overall wellness; the day of the week ultimately doesn’t matter. However, you might have some more free time on Sundays, so you won’t feel as pressured to fit it all in before or after work, or during your bedtime routine.
Sundays opens up new possibilities for self-care, whether you do it alone or with family.
Think About Your Current Sunday Routine
The first step in turning Sunday into your weekly self-care day, is to consider what you normally do on Sundays. This helps you determine if these are things that can only be done on Sundays or can be moved to another day to give you more time for yourself.
Make a list of things you do every Sunday first. Then look at your list, and cross off anything that isn’t really necessary or might no longer be serving you. With what is left, determine if any of those activities can be moved to Saturday.
For example, if you do a lot of your cleaning and errands on Sundays, could you move them to other days during the week, freeing up a bit more self-care time for you?
Ideas For Sunday Self-Care Activities
While you can do any activities on your self-care Sundays, the great thing about it being Sunday means that you can engage in longer activities that you might not have enough time for if your self-care day is during the week.
Here are some ideas for activities that are great to do on Sundays:
Let yourself sleep in – If you’re normally up at the crack of dawn during the week and don’t get to sleep in, at the very least give yourself this time on Sundays! Your body (and mind) needs the rest. And it’ll give you the energy to do all of the other self-care activities that you’ve planned.
Go to brunch with friends – Self-care can also mean doing something you enjoy with other people. Grab a group of friends on Sunday to go to brunch. In this time of Coronavirus, think in terms of a virtual brunch.
For your virtual brunch you can all make your favorite treats (don’t forget the adult beverages 😊) and have a Zoom call where you can laugh, drink and eat together even though you’re apart. If you don’t want to cook, consider ordering takeout.
Head to a park or the beach with your kids or significant other – You can also enjoy more time with your kids or significant other without cell phones and TV. Go outside to enjoy the fresh air and exercise. Ride bicycles around your neighborhood, have a beach day, or do a picnic at the park. Just feel the sun on your skin.
Have an hour of pampering – You might not be able to dedicate the entire day just to self-care, but at least fit in some pampering time. You could get your hair or nails done, take a bath or have a massage (even if you do it yourself).
Catch up on your reading or creative projects – This is one of my favorites and how the Making Time blog came about. Self-care Sunday is the perfect time to pick activities you enjoy, but rarely have time for. Maybe there is a book you have been wanting to finish or a creative project you would love to do. Hmmm, while writing this, I’m feeling the need to scrapbook 😊.
Get ready for the week – Self-care can also mean just giving yourself time to really reset and mentally prepare for the week ahead.
Self-Care For Introverts And Extroverts
Keep in mind that self-care is subjective, what’s soothing and relaxing for one, might be stressful for another. Particularly if you strongly identify as an introvert or an extrovert. Neither way is better than the other, they’re just different ways of being and require different ways of recharging to gain energy.
Self-Care for Introverts
If you’re an introvert, you’ll probably find that you’re the most relaxed when you are alone. This doesn’t mean you want to be or should be alone all the time, but that you often need a little bit of “me” time to yourself each day to recharge and gain your equilibrium.
Here are some ideas:
Sunday as Solitude Day – If you’re an introvert, your self-care routine can be as simple as just making sure you have some alone, quiet time on Sundays. Even if it’s just taking some time to meditate, breathe deeply or just be.
It’s important to have time to yourself to regroup and relax because it can be hard when you’re around other people all day and never give yourself this quite time that you need.
Find Nature-Inspired Activities - Introverts also tend to enjoy time outdoors, again in a quiet and peaceful environment. Try to find some activities you can participate in that will encourage you to spend more time outside. You could sit in your backyard, go to your local park or botanical garden.
Embrace Your Creative Side - An amazing way to practice self-care as an introvert is to do something creative. Learn how to crochet, scrapbook, write a poem or short story, bake, color in an adult coloring book, or start painting. If there’s a hobby you’ve always wanted to try, this is the time to go for it!
Self-Care For Extroverts
Extroverts generally crave socialization, getting their energy from being around other people. If you consider yourself an extrovert, you probably enjoy time with others more than time alone. But what does that mean for your self-care routine? Here are some tips for practicing self-care when you are an extrovert.
Enjoy Social Time with Friends - What might be a little more up your alley is scheduling in time with friends. What better way to practice self-care than spend time with those you love the most?
If you’re loved ones are far away, consider scheduling that time via Facetime or Zoom.
Volunteer Your Time - Looking for something more meaningful and fulfilling that aligns with your purpose? Then you might like to volunteer somewhere as your form of self-care.
If you decide to volunteer, consider who you’d like to work with and what you like to do. Then you can look into local community-based organizations, animal shelters or centers that are open on Sunday and see if they need any help.
Join a Local Club - Another social activity that helps with your self-care is joining a local club, like a book club. Not only will you be encouraged to read more, but you can get together once a week with your book club to chat and talk about the book.
3 Tips for Your Sunday Self-Care Routine
Here are a few more tips for making sure you enjoy your Sunday self-care routine, and really understand what self-care means in order to avoid a common mistake.
It Encompasses Emotional, Mental, and Physical Health
What makes self-care so wonderful, is that it doesn’t fulfill just one need in your life. Having a wide variety of self-care activities makes your life more well-rounded and gives you choices when it comes to stress management.
Self-care helps with your emotional, mental, and physical health.
What will work best for you is going to be something that helps you feel relaxed, de-stressed, improves your mood, and is something you absolutely love to do.
Your Self-Care Needs Can Change Regularly
Just because you’ve committed to writing in your journal and meditating every morning for an hour as your self-care routine, doesn’t mean you have to do this forever. Sometimes, what you choose as your self-care activity changes, or you need to make adjustments based on your schedule. And if that’s the case, it’s okay.
Revisit what you are doing for self-care often, perhaps once a month or at least every three months. As your life and the seasons change, so will your self-care needs which means what will benefit you the most may change as well.
A Common Mistake Is Forcing Your Self-Care
I can’t say this enough – your self-care routine shouldn’t make you feel more stressed! If that becomes your situation, then take it as a sign that you’re forcing yourself to do something you don’t want to do. And that my friend, does nothing for you.
For example, you might decide to try something because your friend is participating in a particular form of self-care, or you read that it’s a good idea. But what you need to do is remember everyone is different and therefore has different self-care needs.
So that’s it, the things that you should consider when you’re setting up a self-care Sunday routine for yourself to make it a success. And remember, as your needs change, your self-care Sunday routine can change as well because it’s all about you and your needs for a change!
Let’s talk, what is your favorite self-care activity? On Sunday or any other day. Let me know in the comments section.
Cassandra Martin-Himmons is a trainer, wellness coach and consultant who believes in empowering her clients and providing the tools that they need to make positive changes in their lives to manage their stress and increase their self-care. In her spare time, she enjoys papercrafting, volunteering and travel. Connect with her on Instagram or Linked/In