5 easy ways to develop a daily self-care routine that really works

5 life-changing benefits to making self-care a priority in your life ... and when you see these, you'll definitely want to re-think self-care!

When it comes to self-care, I think one of the biggest misunderstandings is that it takes a lot of time, effort and money to keep it sustainable. This honestly couldn’t be further from the truth and I’d like to show you how - with a little bit of creative thinking - you can create your own simple daily self-care routine that really works to keep your mind, body and soul happy and occupied.

If you are new to the world of self-care, all of the tips, tricks and ideas floating around on the internet can be truly overwhelming. And if you feel overwhelmed, you will feel lost, unsure about how to start … and then you will wander off, thinking its just too complicated.

The good news is, no matter how new you are to the idea of self-care, developing a daily self-care routine really isn’t too difficult to get going.

Here are 5 easy ways to develop a daily self-care routine that really works - and can be done for free.

:: Move

One of the very best things you can do to kickstart a self-care routine is to simply move your body. No, no, no ... don't worry, I’m not advocating that you have to join a gym, buy a set of weights or invest in expensive videos or workout apps - although you can if that’s what you’d like to do!

All you have to do is choose to take on a more active lifestyle. So one way to begin moving this mindset shift to a more physical active choice is to write a list of all the physical activities you enjoy doing, or that you’d like to try. This might be walking, dancing, swimming, yoga, running, forest bathing, Pilates, hiking, rambling, cycling, roller-blading, etc.

If money isn't really flowing at the moment, then open up YouTube and type in anything you’d like to try - there are literally millions of online classes or videos that you can access for free.

Choose one movement activity to begin with, and set aside 15-30 minutes a day to get the oxygen flowing throughout your body, and enjoy the buzz of the feel-good endomorphins being released.

:: Giggle

A super-simple self-care idea for beginners is to find ways to bring more laughter into your life. The old saying “Laughter is the best medicine,” really is true! (I’m a certified Laughter Yoga Teacher so I know from experience!).

Laughter also releases those feel-good endorphins into your body - just the same as when you take part in some exercise. These are such a glorious (free) mood-booster, so make time for a good belly laugh. Why not arrange a lunch with a friend and re-live old times. Or watch a comedian - or an old comedy series - that you enjoy. Read some old Beano comics. Get in touch with your inner 5-year-old and do something silly - just for the fun of it. Or find your local Laughter Yoga Club [Google Maps - UK clubs].

Finding different ways to laugh each day is a fabulous way to kickstart your self-care routine ... and forever free!

:: Journal

The easiest way to start a journal is to write down your thoughts each morning. It doesn’t have to be cohesive or orderly - or even more than a sentence or paragraph. Just jot down whatever it is that pops into your mind. When you get into the routine of de-cluttering your mind on paper, you will love starting your day with a clear head.

Journalling is also a great way to dig deeper, and connect with your true thoughts and feelings - which is a huge part of self-care. We have a plethora of thoughts buzzing around in our head at any given moment: journalling offers a quick and easy way to sort them out, and give importance and space to the ones that really matter, or need some attention.

:: Unplug

Nowadays most of us are connected to the world through social media and a plethora of digital devices, yet we miss out on so many moments because we have our heads stuck in our phones or tablets.

Unplugging and allowing yourself to be present and in the moment is one of the greatest acts of self-love that you can gift yourself (and your beloveds). My puppy-girl has mastered the art of putting her paws on my phone and swiping it off: she truly is the queen of self-care and unplugging!

So why don’t you schedule some time each day to detach yourself from social media … and recharge your mind, body and soul instead? Turn off notifications, put your phone down and step away - take a deep breath, and notice the beauty all around you.

:: Create

Get in touch with your inner artist, baker, writer, knitter, pyrographer, photographer, whatever … and make something just for fun. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to be good. Who decides what is ‘good’, anyways? Just give yourself permission to play and get messy.

Try your hand at something new, or finish a project that’s been on your mind forever. What is something that you’ve always wanted to try but never allowed yourself to do? What did you enjoy as a child? Give yourself the chance to explore and make creation a part of your daily self-care routine. And you can often find materials and tools being given away for free - it's often amazing what people are happy to giftaway. Here in the UK, you can find some fabulous free resources on Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle, Gumtree and Preloved.

Creating and cultivating a self-care routine is pretty easy, even for a beginner. Try a few of these ideas to kickstart your routine. Start off with small, simple things each day to keep your momentum going … and before you know it, you’ll be a self-care pro, showing others in your circle how its done!

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There are also lots of ways in which we, here at CreaTEAvity Studio, can help you to create and cultivate a self-care routine:

If you are feeling curious and would like to think more about upping your self-care routine, you are most welcome to download our self-care self assessment quiz - PDF, nothing fancy or high-tech! - for you to see for yourself areas in which a little more self-care might be welcome.

And you are also most welcome to download the accompanying ebook '25 simple ways to being putting yourself first' … (with space for you to journal your thoughts as you read through each way). I hope you find them useful, as well as illuminating for your self-care journey.