Are you looking for actionable steps to start using self-care in your daily life? While many self-care checklists already exist, self-care is much more effective when it’s tailored to your needs. Let’s explore how to build your self care checklist by analyzing your needs and your lifestyle.

What Is Self-Care?

Self-care is the act of taking deliberate steps to care for yourself. It can include behaviors, activities, habits, and other personal choices you take for your health.

A self-care checklist — or self-care plan — is a list of priorities for your self-care routine. It includes all the aspects of your personal life that need consideration.

It’s important to create your own self-care checklist since everyone has different needs. Someone else’s self-care plan may not be suited to your needs.

How Do You Create a Self-Care Plan?

Here’s everything you need to assess to build your self care checklist. Use the information you uncover during this personal assessment to personalize your self-care routine. A self care checklist aids in maintaining set habits and lets you monitor your progress.

1. Look At What Worked In the Past

Think about moments in your past during which you felt happy, positive, and at peace with your life. Look at what contributed to those feelings.

Maybe it was the weekly routine — or the memory of helping out in the garden as a child. You can use these moments as inspiration for self-care activities to add to your checklist.

2. Consider Your Time

Self-care routines can be tough to fit in. Look at how your days, weeks, and months are structured. Which moments can you regularly dedicate to self-care?

You won’t magically have time to go through your self-care checklist — you need to intentionally set time aside.

Don’t burn yourself out by doing too much and overloading yourself with a huge checklist.

3. Assess Your Physical Self-Care Needs

Consider the following elements of your physical health:

Sleep: Are you getting enough sleep? Adults need 7 or more hours of sleep per night.

Nutrition: Are you eating enough nourishing foods? Are your meals both satisfying and healthy?

Healthcare: Are you making regular appointments with your physician, dentist, and optometrist? Do you follow specific guidelines for your health conditions?

Exercise: Try implementing movement in your morning routine, before bed, or any other time of the day that works for you. It’s recommended for adults to get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity to maintain health.

4. Look At Your Mental Health Needs

Finally, look at your mental wellness and evaluate what you need to balance it.

Boundaries: Do you make your boundaries clear? Look at how you set boundaries with others and make sure you don’t let people cross them.

Stress and anxiety: If you struggle with stress or anxiety, try to figure out what type. Implement activities that can help you manage your anxiety, such as meditation or a relaxing bathtime ritual. If you struggle with trauma, look into the types of therapy that can work best for you.

Social: Humans need socialization, but everyone’s needs are different. Find opportunities to maintain your social circle and spend quality time with your loved ones.

Personal development: Last but not least, consider what you need to feel fulfilled. Do you feel the need to learn new skills? Maybe you want to develop your cognitive abilities, learn a new language, or practice mindfulness so that you can feel more confident and grateful.

If you’re looking for soothing relaxation meditations, calming body movements, and relaxing sounds for your self-care checklist, the BetterSleep app has it all and so much more. Try the app for free today to build a restful self-care plan and start improving your sleep.