Build a self-care routine that works for you
Create daily care habits that feel doable and nourishing.
What if self-care didn’t feel like another chore?
You’ve tried the checklists, the bubble baths, the fancy journals. But self-care that doesn’t actually care for you? It just ends up gathering dust (or guilt).
You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect routine. You need one that works for your real life: your schedule, your needs, your energy.
This guide is designed to help you:
Reflect on what self-care means for you, not just what you’ve been told it is
Take small, consistent steps toward feeling better
Use tools to stay focused, not overwhelmed
Go deeper with support if you're ready for long-term change
Begin where you are.
Step 1: Reflect
When self-care feels like a luxury (or a joke)
Let’s be real. When life is full, self-care is usually the first thing to go. Maybe you’ve tried building routines in the past that fizzled out. Maybe you never really started because the whole idea felt out of reach. Or maybe, deep down, you’re just tired of trying so hard.
Sound familiar?
You might relate if:
You’re always putting others first, then running on empty
You tell yourself you’ll rest “after you get everything done”… but that never happens
You start new routines with excitement, then feel disappointed when they don’t stick
Here’s the truth: you don’t need more willpower. You need a different approach.
Let’s start by stripping away the noise and reconnecting with what self-care actually means for you.
Ask yourself these questions:
What activities leave me feeling calm, nourished, or recharged?
What parts of my routine deplete me, and where can I shift?
What’s one self-care habit I’ve tried to start before? What got in the way?
Read these articles for inspiration.
Step 2: Start to take action
How to make self-care part of your life (for real this time)
The key to consistent self-care isn’t more discipline, it’s building habits that fit your real life.
That means:
Choosing things that actually restore you (not just what Instagram says is “relaxing”)
Making it easy to do something, even when you’re tired
Having a plan that feels flexible, not rigid
To do
Start small. The goal isn’t to overhaul your life in a week, it’s to gently begin caring for yourself on purpose.
Try one of these:
Choose one self-care moment you can build into your day this week and protect it like an appointment.
Set a boundary around something that drains your energy.
Make a "self-care menu" of quick, nourishing things you can do when you feel off.
Book recommendations
*Self-Care Activities for Women: 101 Practical Ways to Slow Down and Reconnect With Yourself
by Cicely Horsham-Brathwaite PhD
*Listen Bitch Affirmation Journal | A Daily Journal To Help You Conquer The Sh*t Out of Every Day
by Listen Bitch TM
Self-Care for Autistic People: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Unmask!
by Dr. Megan Anna Neff
*This is an affiliate link, which means if you use my link and buy the thing, I get a tiny commission with no extra cost to you.
Neglecting self-care is not just a minor oversight; it's a missed opportunity to enhance our well-being and quality of life. Find out why.