Can you remember when was the last time you took a step back from your busy schedule and put extra effort into pampering yourself? No? Are you also exhausted like me from the hustle and bustle of the whole week? Then probably we both need a self care Sunday.
Taking care of ourselves is often neglected or seen as an exaggeration for many of us. But amidst all the chaos of life, don’t you think you deserve at least a day in a week only for you? Here comes our self care Sunday. In this article, I am going to share how to implement this social media hashtag into your routine so that you can also try this and shake off all your exhaustion easily as I do. But first thing first. Let’s first discuss what exactly this self care Sunday is. And why self care Sunday? Why not Monday or Tuesday or any other day?
What is Self Care Sunday?
Simply a day dedicated to you. A day once a week only to prioritize your self care and well-being. It doesn’t mean that you can’t be concerned about your self care any other day. But the fact is, in our work days we are always on the go. It often becomes difficult to manage additional time to spend on something that can feed our soul.
Why Self Care Sunday? Why Not Any Other Day?
Normally, the weekend is a day of rest and relaxation. For most people, Sunday tends to be less busy with work or other obligations. It is the day of natural breakpoint from the hectic lifestyle and to recharge for the upcoming week. But is there any hard and fast rule that self care is only fixed for Sunday? Not exactly. The goal here is to make time regularly for self care and Sunday is just a representative of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or any day that works best for your schedule or preference.
Self Care Sunday Ideas
Let’s check out some Self care Sunday ideas that will no doubt make your Sunday Funday.
Spent a Little Extra Time on Your Bed
Normally on workdays, there’s always a rush to wake up and start our day early. But no harm in lingering a little extra time in bed, once a week.
There must be at least a day when you can wake up without any rush or pressure to fulfil a to-do list. Usually, I start my Sundays slowly. That’s the only day when I get up without the jarring sound of the alarm and I am sure you too know the comfort of waking up naturally without any obligation. After a night of good sleep, spending a few moments lying in bed, taking deep breaths and then a refreshed mind is just the kickstart for my perfect self care Sunday.
Practice Mindfulness to Warm up Your Body and Mind
After freshening up, I start the day with an anti-inflammatory tea. I have been drinking this for the past couple of weeks to help with the inflammation in my body and it has been working wonderfully. When I sip on it, I browse through a magazine or book just for some light reading to get my mind active. And then I just spend some time looking out the window and practicing deep breathing.
You can take a few moments to practice mindfulness. Go for meditation, yoga, a walk in nature or just practice some dance moves. It will help you ease into the day with calm and intention.
Enjoy a Healthy, Delicious Breakfast
No cornflakes, bread and jam or no instant noodles today. Take your time and make the breakfast you have been craving for the whole week and enjoy.
Pamper Yourself
I always believe our body deserves to be treated well. With our schedule packed during the entire week, it is really difficult to find time to pamper ourselves. My self care Sunday is incomplete without my skincare or haircare activities.
You can apply a deep-conditioning hair mask or a hot oil massage, give your skin a little treat with a face mask, book a manicure-pedicure session or just enjoy a lymphatic drainage massage in your self care Sunday. These small acts will help you to feel good from the inside out.
Oh! Don’t resist yourself if you crave your favourite chocolate in the meantime.
Shower Everything
Dim the lights or use candles to create a calm ambience. Play soft, calming music, adjust the temperature of the water and then wash all your stress, and anxiety away from the whole hectic week with a refreshing shower. What’s better than this?
Raise Your Inner Chef
Cooking is something that can instantly lift my mind. Normally work days don’t allow us to spend more time on cooking or other household chores. So I reserve my new cooking or baking recipes for my self care Sunday routine.
Cook your favourite food or try out a new recipe, grab the bowl, and enjoy your meal while watching your favourite movie or TV series ( no rules today). Eat good, feel good.
Read Something New
Done with washing stress away and all cooking and eating staff, now it’s time to give your mind a refreshment tour. Put aside your digital devices and grab a new book. It can be any book from a thriller to a romantic novel or a guide on personal development, basically anything that you are interested in. The aim here is to provide a sense of enjoyment and relaxation and keep your mind stress-free.
I generally start a new book on Sunday and try to finish before the next weekend. It helps me to nurture my reading habit regularly.
Release Your Thoughts
Constantly over-stuffing our minds with information and worries is just a part of life. You can’t avoid it. The concern here is that you can’t relax peacefully with a load of Incessant buzzing inside your mind. Until we don’t express our emotions, they linger in our minds and we can’t be completely stress-free with all the emotional baggage.
But we are not going to allow any anxiety in our self care Sunday. Want a calm and composed mind? Express your thoughts through journaling, drawing, painting, or anything that can release your emotions and give your mind a break from all your worries.
By the way, I painted the walls of my room last week. You can also play with some colours this weekend.
Spend Some Time with Your Loved Ones
The whole busy week doesn’t allow me to spend more time with my favourite people and I hate it. So I choose Sunday to compensate for this and spend more quality time with my loved ones.
Spending time with the people you care for, a family dinner, losing track of the time in a long conversation with your best friend or just cuddling your favourite pet, everything will bring joy to your heart, lower your stress hormones and fade all your stress from the week.
Go On a Coffee Date
Did you try the coffee from the newly launched coffee shop in your area? Go on a solo date and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee from there. You can also meet an old friend or someone new in your regular coffee shop and make your self care Sunday more enjoyable.
After all, what is a weekend without a date?
Wind up Your Day Slowly
Time to wrap up and turn the night mood on. But are we done with our self care Sunday pampering? No, not yet. We will wrap our day surely but slowly. Let’s think of at least three things that gave you pleasure throughout the day and be grateful for them.
Take your dinner a little earlier today, spend some time in your nighttime skincare routine, organize your clothes and to-do list for the next day and what’s left? I prefer to dim the light and watch an episode of my favourite TV series. ( Don’t judge me, but it’s always been F.R.I.E.N.D.S for me).
Here comes the last but not the least, a good sleep with a restful night.
I believe by the end of your self-care Sunday, you have gone to sleep with a calm, stress-free mind and now you are ready to start the next week on a positive note. Happy Sunday.
Related Articles:
1. 5 Self Care Habits for Your Daily Routine
2. 7 Ways to Simplify Your Life
3. How to Be Content With Life: A Guide to Inner Peace and Happiness
