How to Create the Perfect Self Care Sunday ?
Hello Cool-Girls ! Back-to-school season is just around the corner and with it comes the return of busy, structured days. To start off on the right foot, it’s important to set up good habits and here I’m not talking about productivity, but about how to take care of yourself on a daily basis. Because yes, feeling good in your mind and body is essential if you want to feel good at work, at university, or at school. For me, the perfect day of the week to dedicate to self-care is Sunday. Saturdays are usually filled with house chores, errands or socializing. That’s why I’ve put together the perfect self care Sunday routine to recharge and start your week off right.
1.Unplug fully
I know we all spend a lot of time on our phones every single day, whether it’s for work or because of constant notifications and social media.Recently, I’ve realized just how important it is to take time off whether in nature, with ourselves, or with loved ones. This feels even more necessary nowadays, with the constant stream of anxiety-inducing news that circulates online. Since Covid, crises and tragedies have followed one after another and the media thrives on sensationalism, because that’s what captures attention.
It’s so easy to get swept away by this wave of negativity and bad news and it can really weigh down our mood. Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t stay informed at all just that you could start by dedicating your Sunday to being phone-free.
Here are some tips I can give you to help disconnect:
- Put your phone on silent
- Leave it in a drawer
- Turn off notifications
2. Reconnect with nature for a self care Sunday
All week long we live at 100 miles an hour : between work, studies and social connections, we’re constantly overstimulated (And it’s even trickier if you’re an introvert !). When the weekend arrives, it can be difficult to escape that constant stimulation; it’s like being a motor that just can’t stop. Yet our body needs rest. The problem is that when we finally lie down and try to relax, it feels impossible.
If you’ve ever experienced this, I have the solution ! You really only need two things:
- Silence or natural sounds (forget traffic noise)
- And nature
- (And yes, no phone, again ! )
I know it’s not always easy when you live in an urban area, but I encourage you to find the spot that comes closest to these criteria, nearby. As soon as your brain feels “overloaded,” go there. The idea is not to be productive or hit your daily step goal.
I want you to shift into a mindset of presence: breathe in the fresh air, notice the flowers, the smell of rain just fallen. Rediscover this place each time, the plants, the wildlife. Find a little corner to sit down, just to observe nature or read a good book.
3. Engage in activities mindfully
There are certain tech-related activities that tend to absorb us completely, almost like putting us into a state of hypnosis, so that time flies without us even noticing. Here’s a short list of those activities:
- Scrolling endlessly on social media
- Video games
- Streaming platforms
We get hooked on these because they give us instant dopamine with no effort. As a result, other activities in life can seem boring and we struggle to focus or fully enjoy them because they require more energy.
I’d even go further and say that, long term, these activities can affect your mental health: they isolate you, disconnect you from reality and sometimes even poison your mind by constantly feeding you negative content.
To calm your mind and enjoy the present moment, here’s a list of mindful, fully-present activities you could try and while you’re at it, you might also want to explore 7 simple changes to shield yourself from endocrine disruptors at home, since creating a healthier environment can support your overall well-being too:
- Cook a recipe you saw on TikTok
- Do a creative activity (painting, coloring, pottery, etc.)
- Get some exercise
- Read an inspiring book with a nice cup of tea
- Try journaling
- Play with your pets
- Spend quality time with loved ones
- Do some gardening
- Try a little DIY project
Choose these activities purely out of joy. For example, if you want to do some DIY, let it be because you want to, not just because it’s been sitting on your to-do list forever.
4. Unwind for a self care Sunday
To create the perfect Self Care Sunday, you need true self-care. And by that I don’t mean completing a 10-step routine so long it becomes a chore. What I mean is choosing a moment to completely relax, maybe before dinner or before bed.
Personally, I love running a warm bubble bath, adding some foam and playing a playlist of natural sounds (rain, waterfall, ocean, snow…). This really helps me feel grounded and clean my aura, especially when I can’t get out into nature on Sundays. If I’m in the mood to be a little fancy, I’ll even do a face mask !
Maybe baths aren’t your thing, or maybe you only have a shower. No worries, there are plenty of ways to relax. Take a nice hot shower, put on your coziest pajamas and warm socks, then snuggle into your bed or couch. From there, choose your favorite scenario..
Possible scenarios:
- Rain playlist: Imagine yourself warm and cozy in bed while heavy rain pours outside.
- Waterfall playlist: Picture yourself lying in a hammock in a tropical forest, right next to a waterfall.
- Ocean playlist: Imagine yourself on a deserted beach on a warm summer afternoon, listening to the waves crash onshore.
- Snowstorm playlist: Picture yourself wrapped in a blanket on the couch while a blizzard rages outside, the streets blocked, your home lit only by candles and the fireplace.”
5. Enjoy your comfort food with your favorite movie
Yes, I’ve advised you to avoid streaming platforms on your Self Care Sunday, but that doesn’t mean movies are off-limits.The issue with streaming platforms is that we often lose that sense of enjoying a movie, because the content just auto-plays and before we know it, we’ve spent the whole day binge-watching without really being present. We get distracted, we check our phones and the magic is gone.
That’s why I recommend saving “one” movie for the very end of the day after you’ve disconnected and recharged. That way, you’ll fully appreciate it. Personally, I also love enjoying a nice meal while watching. Most weekends, I cook a new recipe I’ve discovered online or on TikTok during the week, then savor it while watching a good movie.
