“How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live ’em.”
–Shel Silverstein
Being a first-time mom and working from home in a demanding HR position while caring for an infant, I am no stranger to stress! Which is all the reason I need to be VERY intentional with my self-care practices. But I am sure I am not the only one who feels like this, right? We ALL need to very intentional with our self-care practices to be the best version of ourselves- happy and thriving.
Whether you place self-care as a priority or feel there is not enough time in a day to schedule self-care (guilty), we could all benefit from exploring different options available for self-care. In my attempt of being intentional with my self-care practices, I have explored and attempted many different practices to see what sticks. Some are obvious and some are not so obvious. But no matter how you slice it, a self-care practice is the cake you can have and eat too. You literally cannot go wrong! So, without further ado, here are eight (8) self-care practices you should try:
Schedule self-care time.
I know what you’re thinking- self-care should not be stressful and scheduling stresses me out! I FEEL YOU. But scheduling self-care time can serve as a ‘call of action’ to complete a task you enjoy. It holds you accountable. It forces you to place your well-being to the front and center. And if you’re like me, someone who is achievement driven, completing a scheduled self-care practice can trick your mind into believing you have checked off another task from your long list of to-dos. Cue happy endorphins.
Start your morning right.
I know this sounds super obvious but how many of us reach for our phones the moment we wake up? To check our texts, emails, social media, bank accounts, etc. We start our day exposing ourselves to potential stress and toxicity. How about we not pick up our phones as soon as we open our eyes? How about we lay in bed an extra 5 minutes, reflecting and expressing gratitude for being alive? Or we meditate/pray? Or journal? Or read? Or cook ourselves a delicious breakfast with hot coffee and eat in utter and blissful peace (a big one for me lately)? Don’t just throw yourself into the hustle and bustle of the day. Slow it down. Relish in the silence. Take your time in nurturing the day ahead of you.
Scream into a pillow.
I’m serious. Do it. Why? Because it prevents you from ripping someone’s head off. Sometimes, the daily stressors of your life can catch up, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. When my daughter was first born, I was so overwhelmed by the adjustment of becoming a mother. I was most overwhelmed when she would be crying, and I had no idea how to comfort her. My sister would tell me to put my baby in a safe place, walk away, and scream into a pillow. “Take 5 minutes to yourself,” she would say, “Let it all out.” And so, I did. And besides the occasional scratchy throat and strained voice (because I would scream that hard and loud), it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my chest. I’ve made this into a practice for any super stressful days I have encountered.
Say your daily affirmations.
This has been the most fulfilling self-care practice so far. And I don’t mean just writing affirmations but looking at yourself in the mirror and saying the affirmations out loud. Most days I smile after practicing this. Then there are some days that I cry because certain affirmations trigger me. But regardless of my attempts to heal the broken parts of myself, the affirmations always serve their purpose. Affirmations are the kindest way to manifest the life you deserve. Words are like magic spells. You want to be very careful of what you are putting into the universe, especially when it involves you and your life! I suggest saying your affirmations first thing in the morning when you wake up. It truly helps set a positive tone for the day.
Change your narrative.
This has been a big one for me. I don’t want to say I complain a lot (maybe because sometimes I do) but I am very vocal about circumstances and situations that bother me. And when I am not being vocal about them, they consume my thoughts. The first step is admitting you have a problem, right? Any time I feel myself sinking into this habit, I stop myself and think, “Let go and let God.” I say this to myself multiple times a day, especially at night before going to bed. Your thoughts can serve as your most powerful tool or your deadliest weapon against yourself. Instead of focusing on what is bothering you, change the narrative and focus on the silver lining. For example, I am completely stressed out working from home while caring for my daughter. I try to change the narrative and express gratitude for having a well-paying job that believes in my capabilities soooo much that I’m highly depended on and entrusted with responsibilities. Or that I am grateful for having a job that allows me to care for my daughter with flexibility. See what I did there?
Listen to ASMR.
Ok, this a weird one. Half of you don’t even know what ASMR is, a quarter of you cringe at the idea of ASMR, and another quarter of you pride yourselves on being part of the ASMR community. For those of you who do not know what ASMR is, ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response which features stimulating videos on YouTube that can cause a physical sensation in your body, otherwise known as ‘tingles.’ Ok, that doesn’t sound perverted. I’ve been listening to ASMR for about 3 years now- it can be deeply relaxing! I listen to it while writing, working, and when I’m about to sleep. Curious and want to experience the ‘tingles’ for yourself? Some of my favorite ASMRtists are Frivolous Fox ASMR, Karuna Satori ASMR, Batala’s ASMR, and Telina Tingles ASMR. Check them out and see which population you fall in when it comes to your feelings of ASMR.
Social Media Detox.
Choose one day out of the week and challenge yourself to avoid social media platforms altogether. No scrolling for 24 hours! And on that day, focus on being present in your experience. How does it feel to unplug from social media? Are you anxious and suffering from FOMO? Are you bored? Are you loving the disconnect? Whether you are experiencing negative or positive feelings while doing this, it presents an opportunity for you to be intentional and seize the day.
Express Gratitude.
Despite how stressful life may be, we all have at least one thing we are grateful for. Think about that one thing and have that thought on a loop throughout the day. You’ll notice that after a while, you feel lighter, as if you are floating. And once you experience that, it’s hard to let that feeling go! You’ll be finding more reasons to be grateful just to keep the momentum going. So be generous with yourself and let the gratitude runneth over.
I hope you find my list of self-care practices helpful! You deserve to love on yourself a little, especially on the days you struggle with feelings of defeat. Here’s your reminder to be kind to yourself and become your own 1st priority.
What are some self-care practices you like to practice? Would love to hear from you all! ❤
Ang Meets Soul 
I know someone who relaxes by watching ASMR videos. Some of the ASMR stuff works for me, but videos and the likes don’t really work for me like it does in person. I could do with scheduling self-care time, but I have no idea what works for me as self-care that I’m not already doing to strive off boredom and my inner critic
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ASMR is hit or Miss for a lot of people! Certain ASMR videos work for me and some drive me up the wall, so I can definitely understand that. I can also sympathize with not knowing what self care practice works for me. It’s a constant trial and error and then holding onto to dear life when a practice does stick. Thank you for reading and commenting!
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I definitely need to stop looking at my phone right away when I wake up. 🥴 lol ASMR definitely helps calm my nerves ☺️ These are great things to work on to help within & show ourselves a little more care. ♥️ Great read.
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Yeah, looking at the phone first thing in the morning can be so toxic 😩 I’m also guilty of doing it from time to time and I get so consumed with it. I have to literally remind myself to put the phone down lol. You already know how I feel about ASMR- my savior 😂 thank you for reading and commenting my love! ❤️
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I listen to/watch stuff on the free version of the Calm app (like nature sounds and scenes) — I find that relaxes me so much when I need to de-stress or do a bit of self-care. I definitely need to be better at taking time off social media as I find it can be quite a negative and/or time wasting experience. Thanks for the tips — great post!
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I have a sound machine and I love listening to the sounds of the ocean. Definitely agree- it’s super relaxing! When it comes to social media, I often find myself mindlessly scrolling and becoming consumed with it. It’s so easy to do so! I’m constantly reminding myself to get off it. Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Love this. Have to do these more often. Self care is a must.
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A MUST! Thank you for reading and commenting love! ❤️
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Great post, I love ASMR! I like ASMR Glow, Frivolous Fox, and TingTing ASMR… 🙂
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ASMR Glow is another good one! And I love my Frivi haha. Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Girl, the screaming on the pillow works! I used to do that too when I felt super stressed and cried hard. It always helped. I am going to look into ASMR, lol I was like wth is that 🙄. I agree with every single one you listed except I need to go back to scheduling my self cares because I do neglect myself at times due to always having my daughters and Jarel around me but this year I will make an effort. Lol today is actually my self care day because I am all alone at home (finally 🙌🏼) for a whole 8hrs lol.
Although I be forgetting at times, I always enjoy reading your blog! I love you, Angie! ♥️
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I never thought about screaming into a pillow until Sahara was born lol but whew, what a relief whenever I do. I can also understand neglecting yourself and failing to make self-care a priority. I often think that I just don’t have time and there are more important things I have to take care of. But it is so beneficial to make self-care a priority! I’m glad you are able to get some time to yourself! Let me know what you think of ASMR when you do check it out lol it’s hit or miss for people. Love you always ❤ thank you for reading and commenting!
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Loved all of this! It does seem hard to ‘schedule’ self-care into your day. It should be a natural part of your life, but we (moms) often put ourselves last. So many of the things you outlined resonated with me. I don’t listen to ASMR but I am going to look into it. I do listen to rain falling, if not outside of my window, then streaming over the computer. When I’m driving my daughter to school, we do affirmations together. I want her to head into her classroom with her head in a positive place. I also used to come home after work and sit in a dark room and just watch the flicker of a candle. I haven’t done that in ages, but think I will bring that back into my life.
So many great suggestions and long overdue reminders.
Best,
Cassie
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It is SO hard to think of ourselves sometimes! But we have to make it a priority to show up for ourselves in order to show up for our children, especially. I love that you do affirmations with your daughter before school. Such a sweet and loving gesture- good job momma! ASMR is hit or miss for a lot of people. When you do check it out, feel free to let me know your experience! I’m curious lol. As for sitting in a dark room and watching the flicker of a candle, I have never tried that but it sounds so relaxing. Think I’ll try that tonight. Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
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Gah, I REALLY need my social media detox, because that’s something that may seem like relaxing, but in reality I’m just getting even more frazzled. Anyway, thanks for this post and great suggestions!
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It happens to the best of us! Thank you for reading and commenting!
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These self care ideas are perfect. I like the idea of a social media break! Thanks so much for sharing all of them!
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The social media break is necessary! And I know it can be hard, especially for a blogger because we have to promote on social media but it is so worth it. Thank you for much for reading and commenting!
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This is a great list! I was thinking of starting a journal where I write down my daily, weekly, and monthly goals and i think it’ll help organize some necessary self-care for me. 🙂
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That is a great idea! I started regularly using a planner this year and it has truly helped in all aspects of my life. Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
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Ooh very lovely. 🙂 And it was my pleasure.
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Loving this post! You’ve shared some great self-care tips. I especially like the ‘screaming into a pillow’ I’ve done that a few times haha. Thank you so much for sharing this lovely Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
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Screaming into a pillow is such an underrated practice but so necessary! lol Thank you for reading and commenting!
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good post. I never heard of ASMR but sounds interesting & I can see how relaxing it can be.
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Looking forward to your thoughts! Thank you for reading and commenting!
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girl! i love asmr videos! they are so relaxing! i swear by them. loved this post and all your suggestions.
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I love finding other people who enjoy the ASMR community! Such an acquired taste. Haha. ASMR has truly helped my anxiety and I swear by it too. Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Such amazing tips!
I’ve just had a social media break over the weekend. It was needed.
Tomorrow morning, after the nursery drop, I’m checking out ASMR. Always on the lookout for new ways to relax.
Also love the tip about screaming into a pillow.
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Looking forward to your thoughts on ASMR. And yes, social media breaks (and screaming into a pillow) are soooo necessary. It’s borderline survival for us mommas! Thank you for reading and commenting!
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