"Because I'm Worth it!'

How would you feel if you woke up in the morning and your butler had cleaned up the kitchen, set up your coffee maker, set the breakfast table, and laid out your journal and a pen for a few moments of quiet reflection?  

Would you feel well cared for?  Would you relish this morning ritual?  Would the rest of the day feel more steady, more satisfying?

When we talk about “habits” most of us think of things we “should” be doing for our health.  But what about habits for self-care that go beyond drinking water, exercising, and counting calories or avoiding those evening snacks? What about habits for pampering yourself?

If you really did have a personal maid or butler, what would you have them do for you– to make you feel pampered and well-cared for?

Besides waking up to a sense of order in the kitchen, would they put away your clothes at night?  Make up your bed every morning? Clean out the refrigerator every Saturday morning? 

Yes.  You get the picture!  You can “hire” your own personal assistant simply by creating a series of Tiny Habits around the things that would make YOU feel more pampered!

I think this is particularly important if you are living alone.  With no one else around, it can be easy to slip into neglecting ourselves and our surroundings with thoughts like ‘Who cares? Nobody else is around.”  

This was one of the best lessons I learned during those two years when we were dealing with COVID.  There were people who stayed in pajamas or sweats and just  “got through” the day.  And there were people who still got dressed, maintained a regular routine, and discovered new ways to deal with a changed environment. 

I’m sure that somewhere someone has probably done a scientific study on this.  Meanwhile, I’m willing to bet that the people who went out of their way to create a sense of normalcy and order in their lives (self care) were much less likely to fall into anxiety or depression  during those trying times.

So take a look at your daily life. Where would it be nice to create some pampering habits for yourself?

“As I get ready for bed, I will put my clothes away.”

“After I wash the dishes, I will set out everything for breakfast.”

“After lunch, I will set out tea things on a tray.”

“After I get dressed, I’ll give myself a spritz of my favorite scent.”