Vacations open the door to new experiences, relaxation, and enjoyment, but from a mental health perspective, they’re not a cure-all. Too many people work themselves to the bone with the promise of rejuvenation once they finally save up enough vacation time.  

While research confirms that vacations can significantly lower stress levels, these benefits are often short-lived.[*] According to a survey of U.S. workers, vacation time recharges workers, but the positive effects vanish within days.[*]  

Simply put, while valuable, vacations are only a temporary fix for managing stress and mental health. The true solution? Incorporating self-care into your daily life.

So, what exactly is self-care and what does it look like in practice? Here’s what you need to know!

What Is Self-Care? 

When most people hear the term “self-care,” they envision a candlelit bubble bath or lounging on a white sand beach. While these are certainly forms of self-care, in reality, self-care extends far beyond what you see on people’s #SelfCareSunday posts.

The Oxford Dictionary defines self-care as “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.”

Self-care isn’t something that you schedule a few days a month. Rather, self-care is remaining mindful of how you feel throughout each day and making adjustments as necessary.  

It’s all about prioritizing yourself to protect your mental and physical well-being.  

Self-Care Shouldn’t End When the Vacation Does

Many people think that taking a yearly vacation is enough to stave off burnout and protect their mental well-being. Indeed, planning a vacation can give you a healthy sense of anticipation—something to look forward to during those long and tedious workdays. You think, “That was an exhausting workday, but at least I’m going to Hawaii next month!”

Vacations are undoubtedly valuable and exciting, and, in many cases, relaxing, but too many people push themselves past their limits because they think their planned vacation will be enough to release the built-up stress, tension, and pressure.

The truth is, if you’re not sleeping, exercising, eating healthy, relaxing, making time for things you enjoy, or spending time with the people you care about daily, taking a two-week vacation is simply not enough.     

Daily self-care trumps even the most luxurious, relaxing vacation in terms of protecting your well-being. No vacation is going to be able to reverse an unhealthy daily routine.

Below are 4 tips for incorporating self-care into your daily life.

How to Incorporate Self-Care Into Your Daily Life 

Daily self-care is a necessity, not a luxury. It’s not an award for finishing everything on your to-do list. Instead, self-care should be weaved into your day as you complete your to-do list.

Here are my top tips for incorporating self-care into your daily life:

1. Ensure your basic needs are being met 

First and foremost, ensure your basic needs are being met, like eating nourishing food, getting enough sleep, moving your body, relaxing, and drinking enough water. You’re not a robot! You need these things not only to thrive, but to survive. 

Many people, particularly women, put their basic needs aside for the sake of their friends, family, or even employers. They feel like they need to do it all and feel guilty when they prioritize themselves.

This approach is backward. If your basic needs aren’t being met, your mental and/or physical health will suffer. Not only will this affect your well-being, but it will prevent you from fully showing up to life and being there for others. Self-care is not selfish. It’s a basic human need.   

2. Treat yourself as you would treat a loved one 

A helpful self-care technique is to treat yourself as you would treat someone you really care about. Imagine your friend, family member, or child is exhausted. You’d tell them to get some rest and periodically check on them to see if they need anything.

Apply this same kindness and concern to yourself.

3. Find what works for you 

Self-care comes in many forms and looks different for everyone. Sometimes self-care is setting your child up in front of a movie so you can get some downtime, despite your best intentions to limit their screen time.

Other times self-care might look like:

• Taking a nap

• Talking to a therapist

• Ordering food delivery

• Watching your favorite show

• Taking a walk on your lunch break

• Going out to dinner with a friend

• Practicing five minutes of deep breathing

• Hiring someone to clean your house once a month

• Saying “no” when asked to host the family holiday dinner

• Setting boundaries with someone who drains your energy

• Falling asleep with your clothes on and not getting up ‘til the next morning

• Turning down last-minute invites because you know you’d be stretching yourself too thin

Self-care doesn’t look like a lavish magazine cover and it shouldn’t cost you a lot of money. It simply entails tuning in to what you need in the moment and giving that to yourself without judgment.

Also, don’t force yourself to do something you’re not up for. If you feel like you should exercise, but you’re feeling too tired to do so, don’t push yourself. Feeling tired is your body’s way of telling you that you need rest. Listen to it and honor that.

4. Flip your script 

It’s important to break free from the mentality that you’re working for a vacation. Instead of working to earn a mental health day, make every day a mental health day. This is how you build a sustainable lifestyle.  

This idea reminds me of the popular Seth Godwin quote:

“Instead of wondering where your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”

Making this lifestyle change won’t happen overnight. Start by adding a couple of self-care acts throughout the day and continue adding them, brick by brick, until your day is punctuated with acts of kindness towards yourself.

In doing this, you’ll build a strong foundation of mental health and well-being that will usher in peace, balance, joy, and gratitude.

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