How can busy individuals maintain self care?
Written by
Tran Quang
Reviewed by
Prof. Graham Pierce, Ph.D.Busy people ensure self-care with micro-practice in under five minutes that fit into their schedules. Try breathing exercises while waiting for coffee or stretching during conference calls. I journal gratitude during my commute. These small, consistent efforts yield significant results.
Habit Stacking
- Pair new practices with existing routines like brushing teeth
- Example: Meditate for two minutes after morning coffee
- Link hydration to phone notifications every hour
- Combine walking meetings with outdoor time
Efficient Preparation
- Batch cook healthy meals every Sunday afternoon
- Set weekly outfit choices to reduce decisions
- Prepare gym bags the night before
- Use five-minute tidy-ups to maintain spaces
Prioritize your self care as if it were an important appointment, schedule time in the calendar for it. I schedule fifteen-minute walks as non-negotiable meetings. This protects your energy investments. Busy professionals require this boundary setting. This will ensure that self-care does not drop to a last priority.
Assigning tasks frees up space. This is not laziness but smart time management. Assign household chores to others. Share work projects. I have groceries delivered. These actions free up mental bandwidth. The energy saved is available for essential "self-care" moments.
Keep progress simple. Use markers on calendars or applications that show check marks. Notice energy improvements and not perfection. I start rating my days with a 1-5 rating for consistency. The feedback loop keeps me motivated. Your self-care routine changes along with your shifting schedule needs.
Make changes each quarter. Parenting periods or work projects require you to be flexible and adaptable. For example, when parenting demands my time, I condense my practice down and shorten practices during busy seasons. Five-minute meditations can replace thirty-minute ones, for instance. Adapting your self-care practice enables sustainability in your coping strategies. Your well-being journey continues forward without breaks.
Read the full article: 10 Essential Self Care Routine Practices
