One thing I’ve been working on during my Getting Back to Me journey is finding little ways to prioritize myself again. Not necessarily big changes or elaborate plans, but small things that make me feel good at the end of the day. Between taking care of three kids, keeping up with our schedules, and everything that comes with everyday life, it’s easy to get to bedtime and realize I haven’t taken a single minute for myself. This week, I wanted to focus on something simple: creating a nighttime self-care routine that gives me a chance to unwind before bed.
Slowing Down at the End of the Day
I’ve realized that I don’t always need to leave the house or plan something special to make time for myself. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking a hot shower, doing my skincare without rushing through it, and changing into a comfortable pair of pajamas. I love lighting a candle, turning down the lights, and making our bedroom feel a little more relaxing after a busy day. There’s something about having a few quiet minutes where I’m not thinking about the next thing on my to-do list that makes such a difference.
Another thing I’ve been trying to make more time for is reading. I love getting into bed with my Kindle and getting lost in a good book, but it’s one of those things that can easily get pushed aside when life gets busy. Instead of spending my entire evening scrolling on my phone or catching up on things around the house, I’m trying to be more intentional about giving myself time to do something I genuinely enjoy. Even if it’s only twenty minutes before I fall asleep, it’s become one of my favorite ways to end the day.
Getting Back to Me, One Little Routine at a Time
Something I’m learning through this series is that taking care of myself doesn’t have to be complicated. For a long time, I think I associated self-care with finding an entire afternoon to myself, booking an appointment, or getting out of the house. And while I still love those things, I’m realizing how important the everyday moments are, too. I want to create routines that are realistic for this season of life instead of feeling like self-care is another thing I need to squeeze onto my already full calendar.
I’m not going to pretend that every evening looks like this, because with three kids, that’s definitely not the case! But I am making an effort to slow down when I can and remember that I deserve a little time to myself at the end of the day, too.
If you’ve been feeling like you’re constantly doing everything for everyone else, consider this your reminder to find one little thing you can do for yourself this week. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Sometimes a hot shower, a good book, and a few quiet minutes are exactly what you need.
Follow along with my Getting Back to Me series on Instagram at @topknots_and_littletots as I continue finding little ways to feel more like myself again.