Self-Care for Life: How to Make Your Routine Stick

Establishing healthy habits can be challenging, but there are ways to make it easier. Sticking to a routine is one of the best ways to optimize your self-care regimen, whatever it may consist of. While there are different ways to adhere to a wellness routine, in basic terms you’re performing certain actions at certain times. If you want to establish a workout routine, you might plan to leave for the gym by 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and decide on your exercises and reps in advance.

Consistency is Key

When creating a new routine, consistency can make it second nature. After weeks or even months of doing the same thing, you become accustomed to it. Setting attainable goals is one way you can keep yourself on task and help prevent the likelihood of giving up. The CDC recommends setting S.M.A.R.T. goals when establishing a self-care routine. That means your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. If you want to finish a self-improvement book in a month, decide how many pages to read in a day based around your schedule.

Keep Yourself Accountable

Don’t underestimate accountability when establishing a new routine. There are different ways to stay accountable, so you can pick one that works for you. Recording your progress in a journal is one way, or you can recruit a friend to whom you’ll report progress. Even social media groups centered around self-improvement, fitness, or whatever the goal of your routine is can help you stay accountable by encouraging you to post and engage with others who share your aspirations. Having people to cheer you on — whether it’s friends and family or social media pals — can work wonders for keeping you motivated.