From Chore to Ritual: Steps to Changing the Mindset Around Self-Care and Building a Routine You Love

---

Hitting an all-time productivity high and checking off goals can feel more than rewarding. After all, seeing our hard work materialize is undoubtedly special and motivating.

The truth is, while professional success is something we all want, the modern idealization of hectic schedules and endless to-do lists can often leave us feeling depleted and overwhelmed. 

The concept of self-care tends to join the conversation when work-life balance is being discussed.

Most popularly over the years, it has gained traction online as a movement fuelled by facemasks and bubble baths.

While there is certainly nothing wrong with treating yourself to a relaxing soak (I encourage it!), it is important to dive deeper into what it truly means to practice effective self-care. Changing the narrative around the true impact it can have on our lives.

What is Self-Care?

The definition of self-care can be quite a personal one; ultimately, it involves listening to your body and making sure you are taking the appropriate actions to promote your daily well-being.

While, yes, self-care can and should involve nights of pampering and special treats, it is also about prioritizing actions that will increase your quality of life on a far more structured, regular basis. 

For me, learning about and integrating the transformative power of skincare has always been a huge part of my self-care routine.

Having lived with acne for 20 years led me to the industry that I work in today, where I am able to help others find confidence and feel their best. 

Whether it’s minimizing screen time, taking the time to stretch and exercise every day, or eating healthy, nourishing foods, we all have specific ways in which we could improve our current routines.

Recognizing the value of intentionally designating effort and time towards looking after ourselves is an essential way to begin.

Changing the Mindset: From Chore to Ritual

I get it – adding yet another bullet point to your massive list of things to get done might not sound very appealing at first.

When it comes to seamlessly integrate self-care into your life, changing your mindset is step one.

Rather than thinking about your self-care routine as a chore, it’s time to think of it as an indispensable ritual that adds true, unmatched value to your life. 

For the many of us who are regularly consumed by work and the desire to achieve more, things like self-care might immediately raise a red flag.

After all, “that’s time that could be spent elsewhere!” In reality, a daily self-care ritual is the last thing hindering your ability to be great at your job.

Prioritizing your well-being means feeling refreshed, rested, and prepared to achieve more. 

The stereotype that ties the practice of self-care with selfish behavior is rooted in the idea that time spent working on ourselves is time wasted.

Accepting this misconception as true, whether you do so consciously or unconsciously, inevitably leads to the neglect of our personal needs.

It’s necessary to remind ourselves that our investment in self-care is an investment in every other important aspect of our lives, too – feeling good means doing better.

At the end of the day, our relationship with ourselves requires as much effort and attention as a healthy relationship with friends and romantic partners.

Appreciation is expressed through the small things we do for ourselves daily, reinforcing how we feel about ourselves throughout our lives.

To put it simply, it is crucial that we begin to love and treat ourselves in the same way we expect others to.

Okay, So… How Do I Begin?

Successfully implementing this routine isn’t necessarily easy.

“Forcing” a new daily ritual might not come naturally at first, but it is an essential step in reprogramming ourselves to do what’s best for our health, happiness, and overall well-being. 

In these modern home-office times, the lines between work and life can seem extra blurry.

Working to reinforce the separation between your professional and personal life – especially if they exist in the same physical space – can be a grounding way to begin building the perfect ritual.

Something as simple as playing music, lighting a candle, and pouring yourself a drink or a tea at the end of the workday will signal the transition between your work and your personal time.

Eventually, once the habit has officially been formed, these triggers will lead to a far more instinctual, automatic response from your body.

Just as important as implementing this ritual into your life is making sure that it is done so at a reasonable pace.

Avoid adding ten new steps to your winding-down routine at first, and remember that self-care is not meant to be an overwhelming or exhausting part of your day.

Integrating new routines and moments in your daily life can be done so slowly, as a way to make the experience pleasant and attainable instead of intimidating and taxing. Whether I’m working with clients in my studio or virtually, these are some of my favorite recommendations: 

Some Easy Tips to Get You Started

---

Schedule it in

Reserving time for the important tasks in our lives is part of our routine, and it’s time to add self-care to that calendar. For example, if you need to visit a trustworthy family dentist in Ballwin, put it on your calendar as soon as you can.

Having a set plan to look after your mind and body transforms it into a far more tangible priority, and can do wonders in ensuring you are present in the moment. 

Plan for self-appreciation moments and rewards

Take it one step further by planning out one day of the week to reward yourself for your hard work – whatever that may mean.

Be intentional about celebrating yourself, your achievements, and your progress.

Having this time for some well-deserved rest will keep you on top of your game when it’s time to jump back into productivity mode.

Start a self-care diary

Whenever you stumble upon a self-care ritual or step you would like to try, write it down in your diary.

By being proactive about the things that will contribute to your well-being, you can make the most out of your self-care days with zero stress and full enjoyment. 

From researching and investing in a skincare routine to committing to learning a new recipe every week, there is no limit to what your ritual ultimately includes.

Remember, this is all about you! Be ready to listen to what your body is craving and figure out how to best provide it for yourself.

Final Thoughts

Take your time.

As much as self-care can be about leaning into things that can feel inconvenient, it’s also about learning to take pleasure in your day-to-day life.

If you prefer, begin with more subtle changes that bring you joy – start small and focus on consistency.

Diving into self-care rituals requires effort, but it could not be a more worthy use of your time.

Stay grounded by reminding yourself of the goal behind your routine: feeling like your best self, showing up better than you did the day before, and giving yourself the opportunity to keep on growing. 

Good luck!