How Do I Make a Self-Care Checklist ? – A Beginner’s Guide

Do you want to know how to make your very own self-care checklist? OK great, then I’m going to tell you in this blog post. Stick with me and all will be revealed.

Let’s face it, life is busy, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. Because we are all rushing around like crazy people it’s very easy to forget to take care of ourselves amidst the hustle and bustle. That’s where self-care comes in – it’s all about taking intentional steps to care for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Self-care is not a luxury, it’s a necessity!

So, why is self-care important? Well, it’s like the in-flight safety demonstration on an aeroplane – they tell you to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you can’t take care of others if you’re not taking care of yourself first. Self-care is all about refilling your cup, so you have the energy and ability to help others.

Now, let’s talk about the self-care checklist! A self-care checklist is a way to organize and prioritize your self-care activities. This makes sure you’re doing what you need to do to look after yourself.

It’s like a to-do list for self-care, and who doesn’t love a good to-do list? I write one each morning in fact! I’m not joking! If I didn’t I’d definitely forget a ton of things, especially with my menopause brain.  Plus, checking things off a list is so satisfying – it’s like a little victory dance every time you complete a task!

So, grab a cup of tea (or your beverage of choice) and get ready to create a self-care checklist that will help you feel more balanced, energized, and ready to take on the world (or at least your to-do list)!

So, are you sitting comfortably? Right, let’s get started.

How to make a self-care checklist

1. Find Your Self-Care Needs

This is the first step and an essential part of creating a personalized self-care checklist. Self-care can take many forms, and it’s important to think about different types of self-care when you’re creating your checklist.

Some examples of different types of self-care include physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and Intellectual/professional. I bet you didn’t know there were so many, right?

• Physical self-care includes activities like exercise, getting enough sleep, or taking a relaxing bath.
• Emotional self-care can include journaling, talking to a therapist or loved one, or practicing mindfulness.
• Social self-care can include spending time with friends and family or joining a community group.
• Spiritual self-care can include meditation, practicing gratitude, or attending religious services.
• Intellectual/Professional self-care can include learning something new, reading a book, or attending a lecture.

As you think about all the different types of self-care, really identify activities that resonate with you and what works best for your unique needs and preferences. Remember, self-care is personal, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach!

If you are struggling with this first step then I have the perfect solution for you. I have created a free self-care audit that you can take. This will show you exactly which areas of your self-care are lacking.

2. Decide Frequency and Duration

Once you’ve identified the types of self-care that resonate with you, it’s important to determine how long and how often you are going to focus on each activity. This will help you to easily incorporate self-care into your routine in a way that’s sustainable and effective.

Consider your schedule and how much time you can realistically devote to self-care:

It’s important to take a realistic look at your schedule and determine how much time you can actually devote to self-care each day or week. This might mean carving out time in the morning before work or before bed or slotting specific self-care activities on your calendar. If you don’t do this then you risk the activities becoming stressful and you won’t enjoy them.

Determine how often you need to engage in each activity to feel the benefits:

How often you do these activities can vary depending on you and the activity you’re doing. There is no set time frame. For example, you might find that you need to exercise daily to feel the benefits, while practicing meditation once or twice a week is enough. If you are a beginner at this try to experiment with different frequencies and listen to your body to decide what works best for you.

Ultimately, finding the right balance between frequency and duration is going to help you create a self-care routine that you can stick to, enjoy and that will have the best positive impact on your well-being.

3. Organize Your Checklist

This next step is all about organizing your self-care checklist. It’s an important step in making sure you have a tool that you can use easily and can fit into your daily routine.

Here are some simple suggestions for how to format and organize your checklist:

Suggestions for how to format your self-care checklist:

There are several different ways to format your self-care checklist, depending on what works best for you. You might like to consider organizing your checklist by type of self-care, for example physical, emotional, social, spiritual, professional and intellectual. Alternatively, you can organize it by frequency or by the time of day.

A great example of a self-care checklist organised by self-care type is the one that has been created by Orchard Valley Counselling.

Tips for making it visually appealing and easy to use:

Make sure your self-care checklist is interesting to look. Let’s face it a plain bit of paper with writing on it is a bit dull. If you use colours, symbols, or pictures you’re more likely to find it fun and feel encouraged to use it.

You might also want to think about using tick boxes or some other way of keeping track of your progress. Keep the design simple and easy to use, and make sure your checklist is easily accessible. Leave it out in the kitchen or somewhere you will see it every day.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to create a self-care checklist that works for you and your unique needs. By taking the extra time to identify your self-care needs, choose the frequency and duration of your self-care activities, and organize your checklist in a way that you find visually appealing and easy to use, you will create the perfect self-care routine that helps you feel more balanced, energized, and ready to take on the day.

4. Personalize Your Self-Care Checklist

Right the next part is all about personalizing your self-care checklist. Put your stamp all over it and make it yours. It should reflect your personality and no-one else’s.

It’s important to remember that your self-care is a highly personalised practice. What works for one person may not work for another, so it’s essential to design your self-care checklist to your specific needs and preferences. Only add in activities that you feel will be most beneficial and enjoyable to you.

Adding or removing activities as needed:

Don’t forget that your self-care checklist is a flexible tool and can be changed as much or as little as you like. As you start using it, remember to be flexible and adjust it as needed.

If you find that a particular activity isn’t working for you, just take it out and replace it with something else. Likewise, if you find that you really enjoy a certain activity, consider adding it to your checklist more often. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things until you find a routine that works well for you.

In the end, the key to personalizing your self-care checklist is to stay true to your needs and preferences. By letting yourself be flexible and open to changes, you can create a self-care routine that’s customized to your unique needs and will help you achieve your goals.

5. Implement Your Self-Care Checklist

Implementing your self-care checklist is the final stage in creating a routine that helps you feel your best.

After all that hard work you want to make sure you’re actually using your self-care checklist. So, think about working it into your daily routine in a way that feels natural and sustainable. If you think you’re going to struggle to remember to do this then try scheduling self-care activities at the same time each day, setting reminders on your phone, or using a habit tracking app to help you stay on top of things.

How to stay motivated and track your progress:

Tracking your progress will help you to see the gradual benefits of your self-care routine and give you that extra bit of help when you are struggling. Make sure you are only setting small, achievable goals for yourself and celebrating your successes along the way. You may also want to consider keeping a journal to track your progress and reflect on how your self-care routine is making you feel.

Remember, the most important thing is to be kind to yourself and approach self-care with a spirit of curiosity and experimentation.

Final Thoughts on How Do I Make a Self-Care Checklist

Hopefully this will post has shown you that a self-care checklist is a valuable tool for anyone looking to prioritize their physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual well-being. By understanding your personal self-care needs, deciding the frequency and duration of your self-care activities, organizing your checklist, personalizing it to your specific needs and preferences, and slotting it carefully into your daily routine, you can create a routine that really supports your overall health and lifts your spirits.

It’s important to remember that self-care isn’t selfish – it’s a necessary part of maintaining your well-being and being able to show up as your best self in all aspects of your life. So, don’t be afraid to make self-care a priority and establish it as a regular part of your routine. Remember to approach self-care with a sense of humour and curiosity, and try not to be too hard on yourself if things don’t go as planned.

In a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming and stressful, taking care of yourself is more important than ever. So, grab a pen and paper, and start writing your own self-care checklist today. Your mind, body, and spirit will thank you!

Please share or like this post if you found it useful and don’t forget to sign up for your free self-care audit!