Creating Self-Care Plans:

Self-care includes the various practices we include in our daily life that support us by enhancing our overall well-being while reducing feelings of stress. 

And while a bubble bath or curling up to watch your favorite movie on Netflix could give you some comfort or a reprieve after a tough day, these activities often address only the tip of our self-care needs.

Consider taking a more proactive and sustainable approach to your self-care by creating your own personalised Self-Care Plan.  By considering your needs in the various sectors of your life, you can include life-long healthy habits to set you up for whatever the future brings.

Here are some steps to creating your Self-Care plan:

1.      View each of the below sectors and reflect on what you currently do to support yourself in each area:

• Physical (exercise, diet, sleep)

• Emotional (do you praise/affirm yourself/surround self with activities and people that support you)

• Spiritual (mindfulness pursuits)

• Professionally (boundaries/take holidays)

• Other - Financial & Socially?

  
  

2.      Consider 1-2 ways you could enhance the above sectors.

3.      What do you need to ensure you can embrace these actions - consider how these actions would fit into your current life or items/elements you need to commit to that will assure you of greater success (join local meditation group, buy runners for daily walk/run, seek financial advice from accountant, enlist a coach to support on career/relationship/weightloss self care goal etc).

4.      Now you're ready to start writing up your Self Care Plan including your To Do list to keep yourself on track.

Make it easy to view and stick to... here's a sample of mine and actions needed to keep me on track - good luck creating your personalised one. :)

Physical Self Care	Swim three times a week (Mon/Wed/Fri morning).  Choose nourishing food whenever possible including protein.  Enjoy a rest day on Sunday with sleep in and walk on the beach.
Psychological Self Care	Journal each morning and conclude the entry with my list of three things I’m grateful for in my life
Emotional Self Care	Write out three affirmations that support me and practice regularly morning and night.  Celebrate my successes by praising myself and other nice actions – a massage for every new client I win.
Spiritual Self Care	Daily meditation/pranayama practice (10 mins) Attend local meditation (Budhism) community event (Monday 7.30pm)
Workplace/Professional	Take my full lunch break each day and go for a walk. Put phone on silent during work hours, light a calming candle and declutter workspace
Other	Arrange a holiday with my best friend mid year Book a meeting with financial advisor regarding my super/retirement

 To Do List:

o   Buy a journal/notepad to journal    

o   Write and print out 3 affirmations that support me (google Louise Hay’s affirmation)

o   Download a mindfulness app to use for meditation/pranayama (e.g. Insight Timer)

o   Research closest meditation centre and confirm best practice to attend

o   Call best friend and confirm date/timing/budget for our ‘girls’ trip’ and next steps

o   Research/ask others for financial advisor recommendations and make an appointment

For more insights or to chat to Simone about coaching support to support you achieve greater self-care in your daily life, contact via : Simone@doubleedge.com.au