On Sundays I get major “Sunday Scaries.” I find it extremely hard to fall asleep because I am so anxious about the week ahead. I’m in bed wide awake right now (while my husband is snoring). I thought, no better time to write this blog post! I have a self-care routine that I do on Sundays to combat the “Sunday Scaries” and help myself relax. Because we had an insanely busy weekend, I didn’t get the chance to do my Sunday routine. Maybe that’s why I am so wide-awake right now? Anyway, there are five things that I do on Sundays to practice self-care. Keep in mind that self-care is different for everyone, so the items on my list might not have a place on yours.
Church and Daily Devotional
On Sundays we make time to go to church. We prefer to go at 6:30 at night because it’s the last thing we do before Monday and a fresh start to the week. Even if we have plans on Sunday (which we try not to do), at 6:30 it’s time for church and then it’s time to prep for the week ahead. I also have a daily devotional that I read (linked here). I try to read it every day, but on Sundays I will read days that I missed or re-read ones that stood out. There are some Sundays where we don’t get to church (because of travel or conflict). In the case, I make sure to devote time to my devotional book in place of going to church.
Skin and Hair Routine
I am not the best example when it comes to skin or hair care. I sleep in my makeup, forget to moisturize, have day 5 hair right now, and I basically commit ever major beauty sin. However, on Sunday I really prioritize a beauty routine because it’s relaxing and rewarding. Sunday is a great day to put on a face mask, deep condition your hair, or paint your nails. Also, I only wash my hair a few times a week, but I make sure that I always wash on Sundays. It’s nice have fresh hair for the week and it’s just relaxing to lather up your hair and enjoy a nice shower or bath. Light a candle, throw in a bath bomb or something and it’s total relaxation station.
Clean and Organize
Sundays are great days to clean and organize your space. Maybe you had a party over the weekend (hello Derby party on Saturday) and your place is a mess, or maybe you just need to do a routine clean. We like to take Sunday to do laundry, do dishes, clean and organize things, etc. The work week gets too busy and things seem to come up too often after work, so Sundays are perfect for cleaning. Tony finds that he is a lot more relaxed when his space is clean. He is a clean person (I am totally the messy one) so I try to make our condo look good on Sundays. A clear space is a clear mind!
Schedule and Plan for the Week
I can’t sleep sometimes because I am worrying about all the things I need to do that week. If I write the to-do lists down (and just get it all on paper) it leaves my mind and goes to the paper. I usually write three different to-do lists. I write one for personal, one for work, and one for blogging. This helps me to de-stress, but also helps me to prioritize different tasks for the week. Tony and I also go through our calendar for the week discussing the car arrangements for each day (we share one car), evening plans we need to be aware of (dinners, blogger events, etc.) and whether there is anything either of us can do to help the other. I also plan outfits for the week and write them down (sometimes I even hang all the items on the same hanger).
Do something you really enjoy
The last thing I recommend for self-care is just doing something that you love. This will be different for different people and maybe it’s even different for you depending on the day. If it’s nice outside I like to take Ella for a walk, go for a run, or sit out on the patio. If it isn’t nice outside, I like to binge watch a favorite tv show, do yoga, or spend time with family or friends. Whatever it is that makes you feel good, you should do it. Maybe it’s reading, baking, gardening, listening to a podcast, lifting weights, whatever! Enjoy yourself.
I would love to add more self-care to my weekly routine, so if there are other tips you have, I would love to hear them!