Hello, Emma’s Diary
We can’t help but gush over the perfect lives people have on the internet. Amazing morning routines with the daily workout regimen, a skincare routine, a well-balanced breakfast, and so on.
I know I get caught up in the aesthetic of it all and can’t help but feel like I’m letting myself down by not implementing these habits in my everyday life. But humans are imperfect creatures.
We get tired, and we get lazy!
“Self-care” to me, means taking a rest day and sitting on the couch with a good book or turning on the TV, and then later in the day exclaiming that, “There just isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done!”
She sounds pretty dramatic, doesn’t she? I’m guessing she also sounds pretty familiar, huh?
From one drama queen to another, let me help you get out of this cycle and into a healthier routine.
First, let’s be realistic.
It’s important to note that you can’t change everything about yourself in one sitting. I’d find myself burned out after one day of tackling a list of things I needed to change about my daily habits and would just revert back to what was comfortable.
Nothing needs to happen in a certain order or all at the same time to improve your day-to-day life.
Sometimes, a small monetary investment is required to renovate an area in your life, and that can also discourage us.
For instance, if you want an all-new skin care routine, you might need to put some money towards new products.
Take your time here. Do the research that will make you most comfortable in taking the step, then invest when you have the means to.
Take it one step at a time
Don’t sign yourself up for a marathon just yet. Start with something manageable.
Personally, I started with skincare. One day I bought a cheap facial cleansing brush from Ross and everyday in the shower I would wash my face with it, paired with a cleanser of course. I’ve since improved this habit in my life but it had to start somewhere.
Start with something you can maintain and doesn’t cut too much into your regular routine.
Once that becomes a habit, add something new.
As time goes on you’ll start to see all the minor improvements you’ve made that add up into a major lifestyle change.
What Habits Should I be Adding?
Maybe you aren’t entirely sure where you should start, or what habits you should even have.
Honestly, when it comes to healthy living, and the stigmatism around healthy living, I tend to get very frustrated, as I’m sure you do too. Everyone has an opinion on the “right way” to do these things but you’re going to get trapped if you get stuck playing their games.
Luckily, I’ve cracked the code for you guys, there’s no one right way to do something. You know yourself, your life, and your routine best, so stop trying to mold someone else’s routine to yourself. It just isn’t going to work.
The most important thing is to go easy on yourself. You will not have a perfect routine when you’re just starting out.
With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s get into it.
Here are some key areas we should be focusing on:
- Haircare
- Skin care
- Nutrition
- Fitness
- Sleep
These are the areas that dictate our lives. Our general and mental health usually circle back to each of these subject areas. Which is probably why there’s so much pressure to perfect the habits relating to them the first time around.
But, let me ask you this. Are you practicing “Healthy living” right now? And are you still alive? Exactly. You can only go up from here.
Take the time to research what it is you’ll need for your ideal routine in each of these areas and then break it down into manageable chunks.
- If you want to completely renovate your nutrition, start with drinking more water or cutting down on snacks.
- If you want a skin care routine, start with a cheap cleansing brush and start cleansing your face in the shower every day.
Baby steps is the key here. Envision your ideal routine and take it one step at a time to get there.
