If you're anything like me, time for self-care isn’t always easy—some days it feels as elusive as finding quiet in a house full of kids. But I’ve learned that building sanity-saving systems is the secret to making self-care not just a wish, but a reality.
For me, even something as simple as keeping a few self-care
essentials in my
diaper bag makes a difference.
Today, I want to share a system that’s been a game-changer for me: My self-care calendar trick. I promise it’s simple, but it’s powerful.
💡 Here’s Why Self-Care Matters:
When your to-do list never seems to end, it feels counterintuitive to take time for yourself. But I think of it like the quote from Dr. John Kabat-Zinn:
"You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you're too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.”
The extra busy phase of motherhood is when we need to pour into ourselves the most. Even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, it matters.
📝 The Habit-Building Hack I Swear By:
One of the biggest barriers to sticking with any new habit—whether it’s workouts, journaling, or something else—is forgetting to celebrate your progress. This is the thing that changed the game for me.
I use a paper planner that’s dedicated only to recording self-care actions I’ve completed. Not what I plan to do, but what I’ve already done. Have you ever added something to your checklist just so you could mark it off as done? It’s like giving yourself a little paper high-five.
Here’s why this works:
Acknowledging your progress gives you a dopamine boost, and psychology tells us that this is one of the best ways to build lasting habits. Many of us (myself included) get caught up in planning and doing but forget to celebrate the little wins before we move on to the next thing, which can lead to burnout or discouragement.
If you’ve been to therapy (big fan over here 🙋♀️), this might sound familiar. Therapists do this all the time with their patients—they help you pause to reflect on your progress so that you feel the reward and stay motivated to keep at it.
You can do this with any self-care goal. Get a planner and simply write down what you’ve accomplished, and watch how that consistency adds up! Look back at your month-view calendar and feel proud of all that you did.
