23 self care tips for 2023

And in the blink of an eye, one month of 2023 has just whooshed by. Every year I choose a word that I follow. My word for 2023 is self-care. Why did I select self-care? I needed to focus on my well-being and make myself accountable for my actions and life decisions. Self-care doesn’t come easy and needs to be a habit to follow consistently.

Self-care is more than just pampering oneself. Well, I do take my massages seriously! But there is more to self-care than just indulging. These are habits that need to be formed and followed. They say it takes a month to build a practice, and one of the best ways forming a habit has worked for me is when I choose to imbibe a single habit, follow it for a month and then add to it.

So, let’s get started.

23 self care tips for 2023

Here are 23 self care tips for 2023 that you can follow. The trick is not to get overwhelmed. You’ll notice that some tips are pretty doable and easy to follow daily, and some can be followed as a weekly or monthly routine. You will need to space it out according to your comfort factor.

#1 – Make your bed

As soon as you wake up, fold your quilt, straighten the pillows, and make your bed. A clean start is often the first step to decluttering and freeing the mind. It also sets the mood to work. From personal experience, on the days I haven’t made the bed, I am more inclined to sleep within a few hours of waking up!

#2 – Establish a morning routine

Waking up early has been acknowledged by many to improve productivity and quality of life. When you wake up early, you have that extra time to spend with yourself.

#3 – Make your to-do list

Soak in the morning tranquility and get your to-do list ready. It helps the brain switch into active mode. It also enables you to focus on critical tasks and wrap them up! All I need is some coffee to slay the day.

#4 – Do one thing at a time

In a world where we have been made to believe that multi-tasking is the key to thriving, you need to step back. Follow the rule of doing one thing at a time. And when you do it, do it with complete focus. If you work with multiple clients, this technique allows you to focus on one client at a given duration.

#5 – Drink…plenty of water

Keep your body hydrated. Jazz your water intake by making infused water. They are delicious! You can also create different flavors and enjoy your water every day. A hydrated body is a healthy body. Here are some recipes for infused water that can amp up your water intake!

#6 – Eat healthy foods

The work-from-home scenario often caught me lazy to cook and order food. But I am trying to give this up. Choosing home-cooked meals, including fruits in the diet and eating at the table gives way to mindful eating.

#7 – Dress up

Once a week, I make it a point to dress up like I would when going to work and tackle the day. Working from home made me stock up on comfy tees and PJs because there was no going to work. Break that routine if you are like me.

#8 – Learn something new every day

#9 – Enjoy the little things

Often, we are so absorbed in the big picture that we tend to lose focus on the little things. And it is those little things that can bring you joy. It could be as simple as stepping out on the balcony to watch a sunset or sunrise or just reading a book.

#10 – Smile

Smiling is good for your health. It helps reduce stress and boosts your immune system by decreasing cortisol. A smile tricks the brain into producing endorphins and serotonin, causing positive emotions. Start the day by looking in the mirror and smiling at yourself.

Must Read: Morning rituals that make you happy.

#11 – Allow yourself to rest

Sometimes, your body screams out loud to you that it needs rest. Please don’t ignore it. Permit yourself to do what your body needs to do. If it means taking a nap in the afternoon to help you feel rejuvenated, do that. If you want to gather your thoughts, do that. But rest.

#12 – Unwind

Now, I struggle with sleep, but the episodes are fewer compared to where I was two years ago. Take a hot shower at least an hour before you want to sleep or indulge in some aromatherapy. A few drops of lavender essential oil in the diffuser is an excellent way to set the mood to sleep. A glass of milk with a dash of nutmeg powder induces sleep naturally.

#13 – Keep the gadgets away

At least 30 minutes before you hit the bed, ensure you are away from any blue light. Restrict the use of gadgets. These lead to mindless scrolling, and before you realize you’ve probably spent a good two hours of your time flitting from “self-care tips” to a funny video of a “dancing giraffe.”

#14 – Develop a consistent bedtime routine

A happy, healthy morning starts with a killer bedtime routine. Not my words; I read it somewhere, and it stuck with me. And I try to follow it. Now, you need to know that there is no PERFECT way to make the perfect bedtime routine, but you can make it consistent and ensure that you stick to it!

Now, aren’t these self-care tips doable? Let’s move to the ones that need practice and patience. For some, it will require letting go of comfort and choosing the difficult path, but the journey will be rewarding. So, let’s start small but choose to make it big. 

Start small. Make it big.

Here are some self-care tips that you can develop slowly but steadily. If you have been living in your comfort zone, then these self-care tips will allow you to grow at a pace you decide. The key here is to start and make it a habit.

#15 – Exercise multiple times a week

With busy schedules, finding time to exercise every day can be tricky. But, if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, it will cause health issues as you grow older. Start small, but start. It can be as simple as clocking in 3000 steps a day. Find that daunting? Start with four times a week, and increase it as time passes.

#16 – Love what you do

I am grateful that I can choose to work out of home and have the best of everything! Work I love, times I prefer to work, who I want to work with, and manage my workload. Also, be my boss, spend time with the kids and enjoy me-time! Yes, I also get the coffee precisely as I would want it! Small things in life make a huge difference. And learn to appreciate these!

#17 – Be you. Be amazing.

If no one has said it to you, repeat, “I am amazing.” Your life is happening now. Not tomorrow or in the week that is yet to come. So, choose to be amazing now! Valuing yourself and your actions should be on top of your self-care exercises.

#18 – Make time for yourself

Undoubtedly one of my favorite things to do. A stop at my favorite café gives me time to fill my life and business goals for the month, and it makes a world of difference. It helps me focus and rejuvenate. When I spend time alone, I can collect and concentrate on my thoughts that I turn into action.

#19 – Choose happiness

The day I decided to be responsible for my happiness, things changed. I did not have to depend on external validation. When you let go of expectations, you’ll realize that life is simple and not complicated. Being happy gives a sense of contentment that ushers in positive thoughts. Try it.

#20 – Give and receive

Do you help someone with the thought that the favor will be reciprocated? It’s time to debunk that thought and change the narrative. Give and share what you can with no strings attached. Receive openly. Thank what you receive with openness. Give your time, love, and affection, and you’ll be surprised at how much comes back to you. That’s the way the Universe works. And one of the best books I have read that talks about giving and receiving selflessly is The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. Make it a part of your library.

#21 – Practice gratitude

[click_to_tweet tweet= “The heart that thanks, is a happy one.”” theme= “style6”]

Practicing gratitude takes less than two minutes every single day. All you need to do is list three things that made you happy in the day. It allows you to focus on the good than dwell on what went wrong. Of course, you do need to figure out ways to rectify the wrong, but focusing on the good gives a positive vibe. Do this before you sleep so that you can focus on the good.

# 22 – Protect your inner circle

You are defined by those you interact with. If you find yourself steering in the negative zone, it is time to detach from relationships and things that put you down. Choose to form positive relationships. More often than not, we are surrounded by judgmental people—causing pain and anguish. Surrounding yourself with people who understand your journey and accept you for who you are, makes a huge difference.

#23 – Meditate

When you meditate, one of the essential things it helps you do is focus on your breathing. When you focus on breathing, it allows you to invoke a sense of calm. And when you are calm, you invoke happiness.

Did you like these 23 self care tips for 2023? It is time to work on making positive habits part of the routine. Let us know the tips you like and what you will follow. Need accountability? Leave a comment, and I will follow up with you!

“This post is part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter.”