How To Start a Self-Care Plan (Before Making a Self-Care Routine)

Are you wondering how to start a self-care routine but don't know how to start a self-care plan?

What routines to follow in the endless clicks on google searches and YouTube tutorials with what really works!?

Let me get this straight.

Self-care is personal and unique to each person. What may work for you may not work for most people. So, how do you even know what is good for you?

I have a solution for you to start using your innate intelligence to work for you.

First off, let's get clarity on what is self-care?

What is Self-Care?

Self-care is a conscious act of giving time and space to the things that bring you joy or happiness.

Why is Self-Care Important?

You must be wondering about self-care even practical? But hang on. Why not put in extra love for yourself so that you can do more things that you care about and love doing!?

What makes it so important? Well...

Self-care guides us to the next phase; it becomes a problem when stress lingers in our body and mind; it becomes chronic and creates a hormonal imbalance, which is when things get tough. We have to adjust our lifestyles to take preventive measures to help manage stress.

Types of Self-Care

A Chart illustrating types of self care

Self-care is self-nurturing, and how we sometimes lose our footing, and that's okay; getting back with the flow will require us to start from scratch and get back to basics. There are 7 types of self-care, and knowing what to do in these self-care areas will make your self-care plan for your routine hassle-free.

1. Physical

2. Emotional

3. Mental

4. Spiritual

5. Social

6. Professional

7. Financial

How to Break It Down:

1- Physical

• Is your diet healthy and nutritious?

• Does your body get enough movement?

• Are you getting enough sleep?

2- Emotional:

• Are you able to express your needs and wants to people?

• Are you able to recharge yourself through activities?

3- Mental

• Are you engaging in mentally stimulating activities?

4- Spiritual

• Are you performing spiritual practices that bring you peace?

• Are you reading, listening, or watching that alleviates that brings you awareness about yourself?

5- Social

• Are you meeting with your friends and family regularly?

• Do you have a support system that can help you in accountability?

6- Professional

• Do you have a work-life balance?

• Can you create boundaries at work for your mental and physical well-being?

7- Financial

• Are you spending and saving money consciously?

• Do you have a financial system that keeps track of your expenses?

• Do you have financial goals?

Assess these self-care types and areas such as physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, social, professional, and financial, and determine your needs for self-care. Then, you can devise a self-care plan according to those needs so you can have a clear path to self-care planning.