Self Care Day: How to Plan the Perfect Day of Self Care for Where You Are Right Now

Self care is an important part of your well-being. We all know that we need to take time for ourselves, but it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why it’s helpful to have a plan for self care.

In this article, we will discuss how to plan the ultimate self care day. This day should be all about you, and it should help you feel great.

What is self care?

Self care is anything that you do to take care of yourself. This can include physical, mental, and emotional self care.

Physical self care might involve taking a relaxing bath, going for a walk, or getting a massage. Mental self care might involve reading a book, journaling, or meditating.

Emotional self care can involve spending time with friends, talking to a therapist, or doing something that makes you happy.

Mental self care is often overlooked, but it is just as important as physical self care. When you are taking care of your mental health, you are better able to handle stress and manage your emotions.

Learning to identify your needs on any given day is a skill. For some, it comes easy. For others, especially those with a lot of deep trauma, it can be more difficult.

Two tools you can use to get better at it are mindfulness and nervous system regulation.

Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment. This means not letting your thoughts wander off into the past or the future.

Nervous system regulation is about learning to control your body’s stress response. When you are able to regulate your nervous system, you will feel more calm and relaxed.

Both of these skills can be learned through therapy, and they can be useful in your self care practice.

What are your self care needs?

Before you can plan the ultimate self care day, you need to know what your self care needs are. This will vary from person to person.

To figure out what your self care needs are, start by paying attention to how you feel. Do you feel stressed? Anxious? Depressed? Tired? These are all signs that you might need to focus on self care.

Another way to figure out your self care needs is to think about what makes you happy. What activities make you feel good? When do you feel most relaxed?

Although it’s not perfect, I also like to look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to get an idea of what self care activities I might need to focus on.

The hierarchy starts with the most basic needs, like food and shelter, and goes up to self-actualization needs, like self-awareness and self-fulfillment.

If you absolutely don’t know what your needs are, then start with mindfulness and nervous system regulation.

Planning A Self Care Day

First, pick a day when you can have some uninterrupted time. This may mean taking a day off from work or making sure that your family and friends know that you need some alone time.

You also need to decide where you’ll be spending your self-care day. Will you be staying at home, or going somewhere else? If you’re going somewhere, make sure it’s somewhere that you feel comfortable and safe.

Whether you feel like staying home or retreating to somewhere else, you have a few options:

• A quiet, cute Airbnb: This can be a great option if you want to get away from your everyday surroundings but don’t want to spend a lot of money. Make sure to pick a place that has good reviews and is in a safe neighborhood.
• A day at a spa: If you’re looking to treat yourself, then consider spending a day at a local spa. This is a great way to relax and pamper yourself.
• A day in nature: Spend a day hiking, sit by a lake, or take a walk in the park. Being in nature can help you feel more connected to the world and can be very calming.
• At home: If you want to stay home, that’s totally fine! self care days are about doing what makes you happy and relaxed.
• A private hotel room: This can be a great option if you want complete privacy and don’t want to be disturbed.

Once you have your day and your location picked out, it’s time to start planning what you’re going to do.

What are the self care day activities?

The activities you choose are going to vary widely depending on what care you need to give yourself.

Maybe you know exactly what you need: a day of pampering or just some time alone to read.

If you have no idea what you need, start by practicing mindfulness and nervous system regulation.

Self Care Foundation: Practicing Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness can help you be more present in the moment. This can be helpful when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

To practice mindfulness, find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Pay attention to the way your body feels as you breathe.

Notice any thoughts that come into your mind, but don’t focus on them. Let them come and go without judgment.

If your mind starts to wander, that’s okay. Just gently bring your focus back to your breath.

Self Care Foundation: Nervous System Regulation

Nervous system regulation is about learning to control your body’s stress response. When you can regulate your nervous system, you will feel more calm and relaxed. You can also handle challenges much more powerfully.

There are a few different ways to do this. One way is to focus on your breathing.

Take a deep breath in through your nose, letting your stomach expand. Then breathe out slowly through your mouth.

Another way to help regulate your nervous system is to practice progressive muscle relaxation. This involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in your body.

Start by tensing your toes for 5 seconds, then relax them. Work your way up through your entire body, tensing and relaxing each muscle group as you go.

Movement, cold therapy, and spending time in nature are also very effective forms of nervous system regulation.

Movement can be anything from yoga to dancing to just going for a walk.

Cold therapy can be as simple as taking a cold shower or putting an ice pack on your neck.

Spending time in nature has been shown to decrease stress levels and increase happiness.

As you plan your self care day, here are some more activities to consider including:

Mental Health Self Care Activities

There are many self care activities that can help improve your mental health.

Some self-care activities for mental health include:

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Spending time in nature
• Journaling
• Creative hobbies
• Spending time with friends and family
• Reading or listening to personal development books

Physical Self Care Activities

Physical self care is just as important as mental self care. When your body feels good, it impacts everything else.

Some self care activities for physical health include:

• Eating a healthy diet
• Exercising
• Skincare and beauty treatments
• Getting enough sleep
• Taking breaks
• Stretching
• Taking care of your hair and skin

More Self Care Ideas

There are endless self-care activities you can do to feel your best. Here are a few more ideas:

• Take a relaxing bath
• Make yourself a healthy meal
• Organize your space
• Watch a funny movie
• Create a budget and pay bills
• Make a list of goals
• Write in your journal
• Take a nature walk
• Play with a pet
• Take yourself on a date
• Do your nails or give yourself a pedicure

Any day can be a self care day if you take time to focus on fulfilling your needs. Whether you’re just taking some time out for yourself or planning the ultimate self care day, the activities in this post can help you feel your best.

What are your favorite self care activities? How often do you take a self care day? Share with us in the comments below!

Photo by Chelsea shapouri on Unsplash