One of the most difficult challenges a lot of people face with self-care, is finding the time to fit it in.
When you live a busy lifestyle, it can seem almost impossible to find extra time to care for yourself.
So, how can you balance practicing self-care with a busy lifestyle? Here are four ways to make it easier.
1. Schedule it in
A good tip you can follow to ensure you can fit self-care into your busy routine, is to schedule it in. Think about it, you schedule in everything else, so why not self-care? When you set a time to focus on yourself, you are much more likely to stick to it. No matter how busy you think you are, there will always be time for self-care somewhere in your schedule.
2. Establish a morning routine
If you are struggling to find the best time of day to practice self-care, you might find it easier in the morning. If you’re a busy parent, you might disagree here but think about it. In the morning, you could get up just 30 minutes earlier, or 15 minutes if you want. This can be the perfect opportunity to practice self-care.
Alternatively, if you are a parent you could focus on self-care in the evenings when the kids have gone to bed. It doesn’t take long to practice self-care so you should always be able to squeeze it in somewhere.
3. Look at automating daily tasks
There are all kinds of tools and gadgets that can automate various aspects of our lives. If you are constantly busy, you’ll find automating certain tasks can be a game changer.
For example, you could switch from going to the grocery store, to ordering groceries online. If you have items you frequently purchase, these can be added to your favorites list, making it easier to add them to your order next time. Doing your grocery shopping online can free up a lot of time during the week that can be used for your self-care.
4. Start small
You don’t have to start by completely overhauling your lifestyle. Instead, you can start small with self-care. Begin by taking just 10 minutes out of each day to focus on a self-care activity. Maybe it’s breathing exercises, walking around your neighborhood, reading a book, or listening to your favorite music. Focus on developing one positive self-care habit at a time. Once you have mastered that, you can move on to the next task.
By starting small, it makes it easier to fit self-care into your busy life. Many people mistakenly think they need to begin with at least 30 minutes a day. The truth is, however much time you can free up for self-care is enough. Once you get started, you’ll find it easier to start focusing more on self-care due to the benefits you experience.
The bottom line
While balancing self-care with a busy lifestyle may seem difficult, implementing the tips above will make it easier. Remember, self-care is essential to your health and well-being. So, no matter how busy you are, make yourself a priority and schedule time to do at least one thing daily that makes you happy and brings you joy.
Are you ready to prioritize your physical and mental health? My 1:1 coaching program may be a smart next step for you. Schedule a free strategy call to learn how you can go from stuck to unstoppable!