What Does Self-Care Look Like?
Self-care looks different for each person, but we've put together a few ideas if you're struggling with where to start.
Look at Self-Care in Two Buckets
Sekine says she likes to think about self-care in two buckets: body and mind. "To care for my body, I love things like restorative yoga, massage and getting plenty of sleep–for me, that's eight to nine hours each night," she says. "To care for my mind, I incorporate meditation into my morning routine and throughout the day by carving out time for intentional breath work (about one minute three times per day), especially during stressful situations." Try different ways of caring for both your body and mind to find what works best for you.
Make Time to Pamper Yourself
Aaptiv trainer Jade Alexis says she's a huge fan of massage when it comes to pampering herself. You can do deep tissue, full body massage or focus on a specific area. While we can't all hit the spa weekly, everyone should have a foam roller, muscle relief ball or other tool at home. Alexis is also a big believer in taking regular Epsom salt baths for muscle relief. Try meditating in the bath for a self-care win-win. Not a bath person? There are endless ways to pamper yourself, so think about low-energy activities that make you the most relaxed and go from there.
Check Your Sleep Log
Both sleep and active rest should top your list of self-care activities. Each serves the function of healing your body but are also good for your mind. If taking a complete day of rest from exercise sends your anxiety into overdrive, try participating in an activity or class that counts as active rest, like a restorative yoga class, a walk through the park or an extended stretching session.
Ritualize Your Self-Care
"You should have self-care routines that you perform daily, like sleep; weekly, like organizing your schedule; and monthly, like massages," Bouzinova says. Once these things are habits, you won't feel overwhelmed fitting them in because they become part of your lifestyle. "No one thinks about fitting breathing into their life, and that's how you must prioritize self-care if you want to transform your body and stay in top form."