If You're Stressed Out, a Self-Care Routine Might Be Exactly What You're Missing

With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to sweep through the U.S., impacting jobs, finances, family life, and the health of thousands of Americans, stress and mental health issues are at an all time high. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that over half of U.S. adults said that stress from the pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health and wellbeing. As of May, Mental Health America (MHA) reported 80,000 new cases of anxiety or depression as a result of COVID-19. There's never been a more crucial time to implement a self-care routine in your life, so you can maintain your health and wellbeing through these trying times.

The term “self-care” has come to mean so much more than spa days and yoga classes. For some people, it may mean shopping, getting to the gym, doing morning meditations, eating chocolate, or reading a book. The point is to do something for you—anything that leaves you feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

“Women are often busy with their lives at work and at home, especially those with a family. They have so much on their plates that they can quickly feel burned out,” says Marcia Villavicencio, a certified life coach who focuses on mindset and body-positive fitness. “A self-care routine that's easy and doesn't take much of their time is beneficial, not only for their physical health, but also for their mental health.”

More and more women are realizing they have to set apart time for themselves to recuperate. In April, People Insiders, a panel comprised of 14,000 women, reported that 93% of women have continued their self-care routines through the pandemic, with 92% of moms stating that personal care helped them maintain a sense of normalcy. 76% of respondents said that making time for one small self-care activity a day improved their wellbeing. Prioritizing self-care pays, and there are actually a handful of health benefits that make implementing a routine worthwhile.

The health benefits of having a self-care routine

Although self-care can seem like an indulgence, it’s a deeply important practice for health reasons. “Self-care is often underrated in its impact,” says Katie Krimer, L.C.S.W., a therapist at Union Square Practice in New York. “Even the smallest of gestures can help reduce overall stress, make you feel more present amidst anxiety, and remind you that you're worth taking care of. Over time, self-care practice can improve self-worth, reduce stress, increase motivation, and, most importantly, teach us that not everything in our lives has to revolve around the more difficult aspects of our internal and external world.”

Life coach and author Karen L. Garvey, MBA, explains that much like cars, our bodies run on fuel—but we don’t come with a low-fuel warning light to remind us to recharge. “Instead, our body messages us through irritability, illness, lack of mental clarity, exhaustion, a decrease in productivity, and so on. These symptoms of depleted fuel can be largely prevented through self-care,” she says. She points out that women often have a tendency to take care of everyone else before themselves, but showing yourself a little love will give you more energy to return that love to others.

That said, creating a sustainable self-care routine that feels like a treat rather than a chore can be challenging. That's why we turned to experts for their top tips on creating a self-care routine you'll actually stick with.