Entrepreneurs struggle with taking care of themselves. We hustle our passions, take care of our customers, and make sure our teams are provided for. But when it comes to taking care of employee numero uno (that being yourself), it’s hard to take off the mantle and make time for pampering ourselves.

Now, when I say “pampering,” I feel like I bring up the most common view of what self-care looks like: a day at the spa, a tropical vacation, or a shopping spree.

That view of self-care has never sat well with me because though all of those things are super pampering, I can’t do any of those things on a weekly—let alone daily—basis.

Because of this, I’ve been thinking hard about what truly attainable self-care can be, something that can be a daily practice to work into your ideal day in a way that leaves you making time for yourself a constant, streamlined occurrence.

Here are five self-care practices you can adopt into your daily life to help you live a more fulfilled life:

1 – JOURNALING

Most creatives wish they could write more. Whether you do or not, I’m positive you could use some space to process All The Things that are going on in your busy head on any given day. And working through all of that—making time to process your thoughts—is a form of self-care that can be easily worked into any daily routine.

How to do it:
Take a look at your ideal day and work in a daily practice of journaling. Whether it’s as soon as you sit down at your desk or part of your morning or evening routine, make it part of your plan, and process it all. If you need to get a new journal, I’ve got your back.

 

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For more on journaling, check these out:

2 – HOBBY

Since most of us are multi-passionate, we have several things up our sleeves that we’re good at and that we’re interested in. Whether you like to knit or build bookshelves or watch birds, making time for what’s fun for you is the most dignified form of self-care, in my opinion. This is you making time for the most joyful part of you, and there’s magic in that, I’m sure.

How to do it:
Set aside at least 3 hours a week to do something that’s fun for you. This can be a 3-hour block on Saturday morning, or squeezed into a couple of days. Put it on your calendar and show up for yourself.

3 – PASSION PROJECT

If you’re interested in taking your hobby to the next level, you may upgrade it to a passion project. A passion project is a great way to invest some serious energy into something that you find fulfilling, and personal fulfillment is what self-care is all about.

How to do it:
Check out this blog post – 4 Tips for Pursuing a Passion Project.

4 – STUDYING OR READING

Whether you’re a bookworm or just interested in studying up on something you find compelling, making time for some brain stretching is one of my favorite ways to invest time and energy in myself. It’s not necessary for me to do this, but it does make me a happier person to learn about things I’m interested in or work through books that will fill my brain with new ideas or good stories.

For me, I try to end every day with some time with my nose in a book—either a just-for-fun book or studying up on something I’m interested.

How to do it:
If you’re a book-lover, just pick up a book and let ‘er rip. If you’re not so much, answer this: what am I curious about? Just think on that and hit the Google. See where that leads you. Now, make time to dive in a few times a week.

Some of my recent favorite books:

5 – LONG, QUIET TUB TIME

Obviously, grooming isn’t self-care. That’s being a proper adult. But being intentional about enjoying a long, hot shower or a long tub soak turns personal-hygiene into self-care. This doesn’t have to be a daily occurrence—a morning shower can still just be a morning shower, but a weekly wind-down certainly elevates this practice to a fine self-care technique.

How to do it:
Turn on your favorite tunes, light some candles, tell the kids to take a hike, and just be.

– – – –

The point here is to make a wee bit of time to do things that are just for you, and in small enough ways that you can do them daily or weekly without feeling like you’re wasting time or money. SSelf-caredoesn’t have to be hard—in fact, it should be some of your most favorite ways to be present. Even if none of the above resonate with you, hopefully it’s given you some guidance to help you find what things you can do in your life to be more mindful of how you’re investing in your own well-being.

Self-care doesn’t have to be all spas and beaches. It doesn’t have to be grand or elusive. It can and should be simple, easily applied to your everyday life, so that your everyday life is enriched.

Working some of these practices into your weekly routine will help you be a more present boss, which is only a good thing. You’ll be making your own happiness a priority, and that will positively impact your work. It will make you super boss.

Emily is the co-host of Being Boss Podcast, helping creative entrepreneurs learn how to run their own creative business with the tough love they need to hear to do the work. She also owns Almanac Supply Co., a maker and retail business focused on creating and curating items to help you live closely with nature, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.