 Credit: Style My Soul, www.stylemysoul.com | Self Care in All Forms Harnessing the wisdom of seasoned professionals, they share practical strategies for integrating self-care into life’s routine. It dissects simple, actionable steps to ensure self-care is not just an afterthought but a planned segment of one’s daily agenda.
Incorporate Grounding Techniques Into Daily Schedule I’ve seen the transformative effects of intentional self-care. One tip I often share is to incorporate grounding techniques into your daily schedule. For example, take five minutes out of your lunch break to engage in a mindfulness exercise like deep breathing or a brief walk outdoors. This practice not only nurtures your mental health but can break up the workday and reinvigorate your focus. I’ve worked in various therapeutic settings and have observed that clients benefit from pairing self-care with social interactions. Scheduling a regular check-in with a friend or family member can serve as both an emotional outlet and a social connection, helping to maintain mental well-being and reinforcing personal relationships. This also provides an opportunity to offer and receive support, which is essential in tackling life’s challenges. From my experience with couples and family therapy, prioritizing relational self-care can be incredibly effective. I often advise clients to set aside dedicated time for meaningful conversations with loved ones. This prioritization of quality time can strengthen emotional bonds and ensure self-care is integrated into your life, fostering both personal resilience and relational health. - Anne Marie White, Licensed Professional Counselor, Dream Big Counseling and Wellness Pair Self-Care With Existing Routine As a trauma therapist and continuing education provider for mental health professionals, I often encourage both men and women to rethink how they view self-care — not as an indulgence, but as a vital part of maintaining emotional and physical well-being. One practical tip I recommend is to pair self-care with an existing routine — something as simple as using the first five minutes of your lunch break to step outside for fresh air, or taking a mindful pause while you wait for your morning coffee to brew. When self-care is “stacked” onto a habit you already do daily, it feels less like one more thing on your to-do list and more like a natural part of your day. Another important piece is giving ourselves permission to start small. So many people believe self-care has to be a big commitment — an hour at the gym or a weekend away — but meaningful self-care often looks like brief, intentional moments: a few deep breaths before a meeting, a short walk around the block, or even placing a hand on your chest to check in with yourself. These small acts signal to our nervous system that we are paying attention to our needs. Ultimately, self-care doesn’t have to be grand or time-consuming to be effective; it just needs to be intentional, compassionate, and consistent. - Erena DiGonis, Psychotherapist and Continuing Education Provider, EngagedMinds Continuing Education Set Micro-Goals for Self-Care In my practice, I’ve found that setting micro-goals for self-care is incredibly effective for both men and women. One approach I suggest is incorporating a “mini break” at the start or end of your workday. This could be as simple as a 10-minute outdoor stroll or a quick yoga session. I worked with a couple where both partners set an alarm for their breaks. This tiny commitment led to a noticeable reduction in stress and improved their overall relationship dynamics. It’s about making self-care a part of your daily routine rather than an occasional indulgence. This strategy is especially beneficial for anxious overachievers and entrepreneurs. It’s realistic and doesn’t require large time investments, making it easy to stick to consistently. When integrated daily, these micro-breaks contribute to long-term emotional and physical health. - Audrey Schoen, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Audrey Schoen, LMFT Schedule Activities You Look Forward To Self-care often gets overlooked because we tend to frame it as a task or obligation rather than something genuinely enjoyable. One simple trick is to schedule activities you truly look forward to; experiences that you know will feel rewarding and personally meaningful. Think about what makes you feel truly relaxed or energized, whether that’s yoga, running, having coffee with a friend, or simply spending time outdoors. The idea isn’t to pick what others might label as “self-care,” but rather to choose something you’ll naturally feel excited about. When you proactively schedule enjoyable activities into your calendar, you’re less likely to skip or postpone them; you’ll feel naturally compelled to follow through. Anticipation itself is powerful; looking forward to that carefully chosen activity will provide the motivation and energy you need to manage stress and reduce the risk of burnout. - Bayu Prihandito, Psychology Consultant, Life Coach, Founder, Life Architekture Set Boundaries Around Work Hours One tip I often recommend for scheduling self-care is to intentionally set boundaries around work hours to reclaim personal time. I’ve observed that achievement-oriented individuals, especially in busy environments like NYC, tend to blur work-life boundaries. For instance, setting a hard stop at 5 p.m. or designating certain evenings as “work-free” can drastically improve downtime quality. In my practice, I’ve seen clients benefit from practical strategies like using apps such as Headspace or Calm for mindfulness breaks. Incorporating brief meditation sessions during small breaks can help in re-centering and preparing for non-work activities. This approach is particularly effective for men and women who feel constantly “on” due to demanding schedules. Moreover, commitment to therapy sessions is another powerful form of self-care. I’ve worked with clients who found weekend therapy sessions beneficial, allowing them to express and process emotions without weekday pressures. This not only aids in personal growth but ensures they’re prioritizing self-care consistently. - Logan Jones, Psy.D, Psychologist & Director, Clarity Therapy NYC Schedule Self-Care Like An Appointment Self-care is usually sacrificed for work, family, and responsibilities. The outcome is burnout, crankiness, and deteriorating mental well-being. There is one easy solution that guarantees self-care occurs — schedule it like an appointment. Schedule self-care on the calendar as a hard event, just like a doctor’s appointment or work meeting. It could be 30 minutes of movement, an hour of therapy, or some time in quiet solitude; that space is reserved for self-care. This eliminates the pressure to “squeeze in” self-care when all other things have been accomplished. Men and women have varying self-care barriers. Women tend to bear the hidden burden of caring, so their time isn’t theirs. Men might resist making rest a priority because society defines self-care as a weakness. A committed appointment removes these barriers. Carving out a weekly therapy appointment or a daily walk creates a routine. Other people learn to honor these boundaries as strongly as they honor professional commitments. Self-care neglect is not a show of strength. It results in chronic stress and emotional exhaustion. Mental well-being is a duty, not an indulgence. Scheduling self-care makes it a reality rather than an afterthought. - Natalie Buchwald, Founder, Manhattan Mental Health Counseling Integrate Natural Elements Into Routine One effective tip for scheduling self-care is to integrate natural elements and practices into your daily routine. From my expertise in holistic healing, I often recommend creating a simple herbal tea ritual using calming herbs like chamomile or lavender. This practice not only fosters mindfulness but also offers tangible health benefits by reducing stress and promoting relaxation. Leveraging the power of community can greatly improve self-care. We’ve seen transformative results when individuals participate in group sessions that emphasize mind-body-spirit connections. Such experiences foster a supportive environment, making self-care a shared, uplifting journey and boosting accountability and commitment to personal well-being. Focusing on holistic self-assessments, I encourage my clients to take a weekly ‘wellness inventory’ that addresses emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. By dedicating specific time each week to reflect on and adapt their self-care strategies, individuals can ensure they are nurturing all aspects of their health, leading to more balanced, sustainable self-care routines. - Dr. Regina Ransom, Director of Clinical Services, New Birth Family Counseling Make Self-Care a Scheduled Priority Make self-care a scheduled priority, not an afterthought. Most individuals fill their calendars with work, commitments, and distractions, with no room for themselves. The solution is to book time in advance as if it were a critical meeting. If you don’t schedule time for yourself when you’re burned out, then you’ve already lost. In our business, we see successful professionals who understand that self-care is part of their routine, not a luxury. They schedule their grooming appointments the same way they schedule business meetings — consistently and without hesitation. A membership-based model helps because it removes the decision-making process; it’s already set. Apply the same approach to any form of self-care, whether it’s a workout, a book, or time away from screens. If you don’t control your time, someone else will. - Ben Davis, CEO, The Gents Place Enhance Productivity With Self-Care Practices One of the greatest challenges of prioritizing self-care is that it is seen as taking time and energy away from other important priorities in life. Although self-care is often seen as a reward or something we prioritize only after all the “essential” to-do’s are complete, the right self-care practices actually enhance the productivity, enjoyment, and success of the responsibilities we hold. So in addition to scheduling self-care as a pre-priority to all else, your chosen self-care practices should incorporate the correct balance of pleasure and presence such that they are both something you look forward to prioritizing and something you can relax into knowing that everything else in your life becomes more effective and efficient as a result. - Courtney Davis, Entrepreneur, The Empowered Woman Treat Self-Care Like Non-Negotiable Appointment As a psychologist, I often emphasize that self-care isn’t selfish — it’s essential for mental, emotional, and physical well-being. One practical tip for both men and women is to treat self-care like a non-negotiable appointment. Here’s how to make it work:
- Shebna N Osanmoh, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Savantcare Set Daily Mind-Break Alarm I’ve found that setting a daily “mind-break” alarm on my phone at 2 PM has been a game-changer for my patients struggling with stress management. When it rings, I encourage them to step away from work for just 10 minutes to breathe deeply, stretch, or even take a short walk outside — it’s amazing how this small pause can reset your entire afternoon. - Lori Leonard, Chief Medical Officer, Mindset & Body Reset Stack Self-Care Actions With Daily Tasks When we think of self-care, we often picture elaborate spa days or long meditation sessions — things that feel impossible to fit into the schedule of a busy professional or working parent. But true self-care doesn’t have to be time-consuming. The key is habit stacking — pairing small self-care actions with things you’re already doing to make them effortless and sustainable. Try using an ice roller on your face while sipping your morning coffee to wake up your skin and mind. Listen to your favorite podcast while doing your nighttime skincare routine to unwind. Take that phone meeting on a walk outside to get fresh air, movement, and sunlight all at once. These small, intentional moments add up, making self-care a natural part of your day rather than something extra to squeeze in. By shifting our mindset away from all-or-nothing self-care and embracing simple, effective habits, we create space for wellness in even the busiest schedules — because taking care of yourself should feel doable, not daunting. - Alex Lakenen Meyers, Project Manager, Benesch Schedule Annual Health Screenings A very effective way to prepare your self-care schedule, and specifically your overall health, is to SCHEDULE YOUR HEALTH SCREENINGS and appointments every year — scheduling them just like calendar appointments for yourself. For example, I advise selecting a memorable month, such as your birthday or a specific holiday season, to schedule critical appointments like mammograms, cervical screenings or other health exams. With this, you establish a routine, which helps with remembering and prioritizing among our daily hustle. I personally find it tremendously useful to block these appointments off on my calendar two months in advance, plus set myself reminders a week prior, so that nothing else gets in the way of this important self-care time. Plus, learning how to communicate openly with your healthcare providers can improve your self-care experience significantly. Whether you’re worried about unusual symptoms, or just want some peace of mind, it’s good to be able to feel comfortable and confident that you can ask questions — no matter how minor or personal they might feel. I’ve found that comprehensive questioning around menstrual health or preventive screenings like Pap smears or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests can help with proactive management or early diagnosis of a problem. But ultimately, having open conversations with your primary care physician or gynecologist establishes trust, better positioning you to take charge of your overall health. - Sofia Wang, Sr. Marketing Specialist, Luxury Appliances Division, EMPAVA
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