Self Care Sunday Ideas

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Implementing a Self Care Sunday has been a big goal of mine lately. I’m very guilty of not ever taking a moment to pause and take time for myself, and doing so leaves me feeling very *very* drained. I’m always trying to go-go-go, and don’t feel I have the time for self care, but not taking that time is ultimately making me less productive, a bit of a grump, and just overall hurting my well-being.

For me, a Self Care Sunday means carving out a chunk of time, just for myself. Sounds simple enough right? But I know for a lot of us it’s a lot easier said than done.

It can be so hard to do that when you get all wrapped up in the weekly crazy. I personally struggle with feeling like I’m allowed to even take that time. It feels like there is so much I need to do, clean, write, prep for, etc. etc., that I can’t afford to take any time off and save some time for myself.

I think sometimes self care can seem a bit self-indulgent so people shy away from it. At least, I know I feel that way sometimes. But really, self care is such an important part of just your general care and well-being.

I think a lot of the times when we think of self care, we think of lavish bubble baths and pampering sessions. Which is lovely and wonderful and 100% apart of my own personal self care routine!

But self care is also doing all those little (or big) things that us back to center. Whatever that might mean for us. They might not be lavish things, or even fun at all, but sometimes its the stuff we *need* to do that make us feel calm, collected, and properly taken care of.

I think a great quote to keep in mind for self care is that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Whether you’re a mom, a significant other, a creative, or simply someone just trying to get sh*t done in whatever aspect of your life, you can’t always be go-go-go. It’s not possible, you’ll empty your cup to the last drop until you have nothing left to give at all.

It’s crucial to set that time aside for yourself in order to refill your cup so you can spend that time and energy in the areas of your life you want to.

Does it have to be Sunday? No, of course not. For me, Sunday works the best. First of all, it’s a weekend, so I know I have the most time available in my day. And second, I feel like it’s a great way to refresh from the week before, and set yourself off on the right foot for the upcoming week. It’s like hitting the reset button or clearing the slate.

Now, what does a Self Care Sunday need to consist of? Well, that’s where it gets just a bit tricky. There isn’t really one right or wrong way to have one. It’s whatever feels good for *your* soul. It’s what brings you joy. It’s what allows you to refresh your mind and prepare you for the week ahead.

That can mean any number of things! The perfect Self Care Sunday routine is going to look a little different to everyone. You might have an idea of what yours would include, or you might be totally clueless, either way that’s okay! I’m going to share some ideas with you below to get you started on figuring out and creating your very own Self Care Sunday routine.

Questions To Think About When Creating a Self Care Sunday Routine

What brings you joy?

What creates stress in your life? And to follow up, what alleviates that stress?

What brings you back to center?

When during your week do you have time to carve out for yourself?

Pamper Sesh

This can mean any number of things, but I always feel very relaxed and taken care of when I take the time to pamper myself.

Ideas can include:

Take a hot bath with some lavender infused bubbles or a bath bomb!
Get yourself a mani/pedi, or do one at home!
Take a long shower and do *all* the pampering. Hair mask, body scrub (homemade recipe!), body oil, lotion up afterwards and put on some cozy pjs
Light some candles or diffuse some oils
At home spa session, or go to the spa
Face mask
And whatever else leaves you feeling warm, cozy, and pampered!

Neat & Tidy

I personally feel better and have more mental clarity when my space is clear. Physical clutter around me clutters up my brain space, so I work on keeping the spaces around me as clutter free as possible when I can.

Take a few minutes to clear the kitchen counters, remove the junk on your nightstand, and yes, fold and put away that ever growing pile of laundry.

I promise, you will thank me later for taking those few minutes to care for the space you live. Might not seem like self-care, but definitely is! It’s the place you spend so much of your time, so keeping it nice is important!

Productivity

Another way to have that mental clarity and set yourself up for a productive and stress free (as possible) week is to take some time on your Self Care Sunday to prepare for the week ahead!

Have a brain dumping session and think about all the things swirling around in your brain that you need to get done for the week. Get them all out out onto a piece of paper and then take a few to organize them into your planner or however you track your tasks, to-dos, and dates.

I personally like to sit down with my planner and get it all set up for the week. I write out my to-dos on the side, and make little notes on specific days for when things should get done. I take a look at the week ahead, and make a note of that. Just get myself organized for what’s coming up and feel prepped and ready.

This is personally my favorite planner that helps me stay on track of absolutely everything I’ve got going on. Plus, it’s pretty 🙂

Mental Break

Give yourself a mental breather from the go-go-go of every day life! Take some time to unwind and not think about your every growing to-do list.

Put on some music and zone out. Listen to a podcast. Dabble in meditation. Close your eyes and take deep breaths.

Also, take some time away from social media. This post is an oldie, but still very true, of Signs You Need a Break From Social Media, and we could probably all use a break every now and then.

Which ones take up the most of your time? Set yourself a limit for the day and stick to it. Or, delete the app entirely and take a full breather from consuming all the social media happenings going on constantly.

Let’s Get Physical

Adding in some movement is another great way to care for yourself!

Take a workout class, hit up the gym, find a new YouTube workout video to try! If it’s a nice day out, go for a hike or a long (or short) walk around your neighborhood. Get your body moving!

Relaxation

It wouldn’t be a proper Self Care Sunday without a little R&R right? Relaxation is key to any good self care routine, IMO!

My personal favorite form – sleeping in. I’m someone that never outgrew the ability to sleep in on the weekends. I know many people say as they get older they stopped being able to sleep in, but not me! I love my sleep. So turning off the alarms and sleeping in during my week is ahhhh-mazing.

I realize if you’re a parent this might not be realistic for you, but perhaps you and your significant other could take turns on the weekend letting each other sleep in!

Another way to relax? Netflix it up! Watch your favorite show. Start a new one. Figure out what you’re in the mood for and dedicate a little time to taking your mind off the everyday and zoning into a show3.

Reading a book and catching up on podcasts are other wonderful ways to add some relaxation to your routine!

What other ideas do you have? What does your perfect Self Care Sunday consist of?