What does “self care” look like for you? How did you get started, what does it mean to you and what would you advocate as most important for someone who is wanting a better or even to start a routine?

Okay, so this might sound really dumb, but this is one of the things that I do for self care and stress relief, and it really helps.

Next time you take a shower or bath, give yourself an extra 15-20 minutes. Once I’m out of the shower, I slather my face in moisturizer, wrap myself in a big fluffy towel, and lay on my bed and just relax while air drying. Sometimes I close my eyes and meditate, which can be really good for focus/mental health, sometimes I read on my phone. The point is to have a few minutes to myself where no one can bother me - I’m comfy, clean, and relaxed. After 10-15 minutes, I get up, get dressed, and go about my day.

I’m a firm believer in finding pockets of my day that are just for me to just be. No one bothering me, no one expecting anything. Even if it’s just for 5 minutes to sit and breathe.

I get up before my husband when the house is quiet and make coffee and just sit and read for a half hour everyday. On nice days, I take my dog for walks. Even a 10 minute walk can recharge you.

It’s really about finding ways for you to relax and destress, and then build habits around it. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive or what anyone else is doing - it can literally be 5 minutes of stretching. But pick one or two things and do them everyday.

Other things that can help are to drink lots of water and eat fairly nutritious foods. This will help your skin and overall health. I have pretty clear skin, but my routine is really nothing more than face wash (philosophy purity cleanser) and moisturizer (first aid beauty ultra repair cream). I don’t wear makeup often, but i never go to bed with makeup on. I think a lot of self care is really just good habits, which can be hard to change at first.

/r/TheGirlSurvivalGuide Thread