Self-care is an important part of a healthy and happy lifestyle. Since self-care is so individual, it takes on many different forms. It looks different for each person, so creating a personalized list is necessary.

There are, however, a few things that should always be considered when creating a self-care checklist. You should always think about your physical and mental health.

Here are some things you should keep in mind when making your list.

1. Prioritize

Think about what you really need to do every single day.

Make sure that you schedule enough time to complete the tasks that are most important. Getting these done in the morning is the best idea.

That way you can start your day off on the right foot.

Do the most difficult tasks earlier. If you want to jog but find it hard to motivate yourself, start with a morning jog. Once you get into the routine of a morning exercise, it will be hard to stop.

Once you’ve prioritized the necessary tasks, plan the things that are most important to you personally.

If having time to read is important, schedule that.

2. Healthy Diet

Eating well should be part of your self-care routine.

You need at least five servings of fruit and vegetables every day.

There’s no reason you can’t add a few fun foods as well. Even edibles can be part of a healthy diet. Here’s an article from Veriheal about the pros and cons of enjoying edibles.

In everything in life, moderation is key. Eating too much of anything isn’t good. Even drinking too much water could have negative health consequences.

The same is true of edibles and marijuana. As long as you are careful and responsible, there is no reason you can’t enjoy them.

In fact, small doses of cannabis can improve your health. Studies have shown that marijuana can help prevent neurological degeneration and reduce anxiety and depression.

Edibles are a great way to make your diet healthier because you can cook them with healthy ingredients. It’s easy to make gluten-free or paleo edibles. Vegan recipes are pretty easy to find, too.

You should always drink plenty of water when eating edibles. In fact, you should be drinking a lot of water even if you aren’t eating edibles.

The average person needs at least two liters of water per day.

3. Small Things

Put small things on your self-care list.

If it helps, write a note to remind yourself to smile. It might seem like a silly thing to do, but you will smile when you see the note.

Little things add up to big changes. Make a note that you should text a friend an encouraging message. Or that you should go for a walk.

When something seems too big to tackle, break down the task into a lot of little ones. This will make things seem so much easier.

It will also help you feel more productive. The more things you can cross off the to-do list, the better you will feel about yourself.

4. Relaxation

Life can be very stressful.

Take time away from your phone and computer. Do something every day that helps you relax. Here are some home spa ideas from Glamour.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to relax.

Of course, investing in a massage or a new haircut is a good way to help you take care of yourself. But there are plenty of ways you can relax at home without spending much money.

Just taking a warm bath or hot shower will help you unwind.

5. Flexibility

You might need to be able to change your schedule.

Your priorities and interests will change. There’s nothing wrong with that. Make sure to be open to adapting or even completely changing your self-care checklist.

It’s not a bad idea to set aside some time to evaluate your list. At the end of the week, or even at the end of the day, see what did and did not work.

Adjust your schedule for the next day or week.

Conclusion

You are your own best caregiver. Having a support network is important, but taking care of yourself isn’t something you should neglect.