By Sakina Ghayyur
Self-care is hot right now. The term is everywhere. When you scroll on social media and you’ll find thousands of people sharing their routines. Skincare products, workout plans and the perfect mornings. But for most people, those much-touted routines are unrealistic, expensive and impossible to maintain. Instead of making your life better and reducing stress, the pursuit of self-care perfection can actually make you feel worse.
The truth is, self-care isn’t about what’s trending; it’s about building habits that help you in your everyday life.
A routine that actually works is simple, flexible, and designed around what YOU need, not someone else.
1. Start with your needs
The first step is to figure out how this routine will help you. Are you feeling burnt out? Struggling to focus? Not getting enough sleep? Need a healthier diet? Your routine should target the areas of your life that need the most attention. Just because something works for someone else, doesn’t always mean it will work for you
“The most important thing is figuring out what you want to change.” Shared Anaya Qureshi. “Just find some small things in your daily life that you might want to tweak and that’s how you start building a self-care routine.” Qureshi has a passion for trying new self-care products and routines and helping others do the same.
2. Keep it simple
One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to do too much at once. If your routine is long and complicated, it will be hard to stick to. What you need to do is start small. Pick two or three simple habits, like drinking more glasses of water, taking a short walk every morning, or setting aside time before bed to relax. These smaller habits are easier to maintain and build over time.
“To be consistent you really need to have some sort of interest or desire to change something,” explained Qureshi. “You’re definitely not going to be consistent with something that just feels like a chore. To be consistent, you have to enjoy taking care of yourself.”
3. Schedule it into your day
Self-care doesn’t just happen, it’s something you need to make time for. Whether it’s 10 minutes in the morning or 30 minutes before bed, scheduling your routine makes it more likely to become a habit. You need to prioritize it in order for it to happen.
4. Focus on different areas of wellness
A strong self-care routine should include supporting your physical, mental and emotional health. That could mean getting enough sleep, getting physical activity, journaling your thoughts or spending time with the right people. Balance is key.
5. Be flexible
As your life changes, your routine should too. If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change things up. The goal is to create a routine that fits into your life and that improves it, not controls it.
Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming to be effective. The best routine is one that is manageable, realistic, and supportive of your daily life. When done right, self-care becomes less about checking boxes and more about taking care of yourself in a way that truly makes you feel good.
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