Do you usually feel tired on Mondays?
Are you dreading a difficult week ahead of you?
I get it!
That’s why these self care Sunday ideas are a perfect way for you to take some much-needed time to lay back and relax.
After all, how often do you have time during the busy week to take care of yourself, (really?).
Table of Contents
Understanding Why Self-Care is Not Selfish
Hi girls, how are you today?
We’ve all had a difficult 2020 in our own ways.
Either we could not travel as much as we’d like (or not at all), or we had to readapt our work routines around home offices, parenting our kids (and not seeing our friends as often to unwind after a long day – my social life basically died off for a few months last year).
Let’s face it: we’ve been staying more inside our homes than ever before and after a while, this can get excruciating, even to the most introverts.
Self-care saved my sanity last year. In fact, that is a huge reason I am focusing my blog on these best practices that nurture our minds in creative ways, keeping our souls at peace.
However, regardless if we stay home all day now, it may seem nowadays we have even less time to take care of ourselves.
That is why today’s post will have a special focus on self care Sunday and why Sunday is the best time to take a step back and focus on your well-being.
RELATED: What are the 5 dimensions of self care (and how to practice each of them).
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The Importance of Self Care Sunday
If there is one thing I love, it is self care Sunday.
It’s the human equivalent of pressing the reset button of our lives, leaving us feeling invigorated, and prepared to tackle the week ahead.
Sunday is the perfect day to stop creating excuses that “I don’t have enough time” to actually figuring out what are the areas in which we can improve our well-being (and actually taking action towards making things better).
This to say that much more than just a wellness buzzword from the beauty industry, self-care Sunday is our chance to take an entire day for ourselves.
Also, it preps our happiness towards the upcoming week.
When we actually take the time to be at peace with ourselves, we start appreciating life from a different perspective and mundane daily issues won’t have such an impact on us as we’d expect.
So, grab yourself a nice cup of tea, sit back, and take a moment to read why self care Sunday is important to everyone.
Go on. You know you deserve it.
PS. Download my free eBook ‘The Little Green Book of Self-Care’’ to help you embrace what self-care is really about and advice on how to implement it to live better mentally, spiritually, and physically.
9 Self Care Sunday Ideas To Get You Ready for A Hectic Week
This post will focus on self-care ideas at home and also some other ideas to recharge outside as well, in case you’re more of an outdoor person.
Staying home ideas
Ok, so now that we understand the importance of taking a day to recharge yourself, you’re probably wondering what do you do on a self care day at home?
This list will go over some at-home self care Sunday ideas to practice on your own, or with your partner.
Sleep in
You may be surprised what benefits sleeping in just once a week can have on your overall health and well-being.
If you are not getting enough of it during the week, the least you can do for your overall health is to allow yourself to sleep in that extra hour on Sunday.
As a natural early bird myself, I always got out of bed the moment I wake up, even on weekends (and I feel guilty about not enjoying my mornings whenever I sleep in).
However, lately, I’ve been allowing my body to rest a bit longer in bed on Sundays (I sometimes even fall asleep again, waking up a couple of hours later). I shifted the feeling of guilt to a positive mindset that I am allowing my body to rest and recover.
Stretch your body while still in bed, practice gratitude with your eyes closed, appreciate the feeling of the warmth of your covers. After all, it’s not every day that we have the luxury of time to enjoy our beds guilt-free, right?
Cook something
I guess this only counts if you actually enjoy cooking… which I really do…
Cooking something yummy on a Sunday is a great mindful activity and a wonderful way to create something delicious for yourself to enjoy for the week ahead.
You can even meal prep healthy lunches and/or dinners (this not only is a mindful activity, but this will further ensure you eat healthy during the week – while avoiding wasting time cooking every day).
Little changes in your life can add up to an overall happier self!
Meditate
Meditation should not be exclusive to Sunday, but it one of the most wonderful self care Sunday ideas for you to try out.
It is an activity that should be practiced regularly in order for you to heap from its wonderful benefits.
Sunday is a great day to dedicate more time to it than you would during a busy weekday.
Furthermore, meditation is something I feel so strongly about as it is a huge part of my life and spiritual practice (it has helped me immensely when I had panic attacks back in 2015).
By practicing mediation, you will be more in touch with your feelings and find inner peace. When you’re done with it, you’ll walk away feeling relaxed, happy, and ready to tackle the week ahead.
Meditation App I recommend: Insight Timer
Take a mindful shower
How often do we need to hop into the shower quickly to get clean without being mindful about how delicious it can be?
Another one of my favorite self care Sunday ideas is to try to take a longer, more mindful shower. I turn on relaxing music in the background, wash my skin more thoroughly, exfoliate, and take the time to appreciate the water that falls upon me.
I will also apply my best shampoo and do a hair mask, followed by a blowout to guarantee I look and feel my best (I love this hair mask because it leaves my hair feeling so soft and smelling great all day long).
If you’re lucky to have a bathtub, this is your moment to use it. Add bath bombs, bubbles, and sit back with a good book (no electronics! Not only it could be potentially dangerous, but also this is a moment to unwind from the world – ahem, social media and technology).
RELATED: Bedtime beauty care tips every woman should know
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Pamper yourself with beauty care
Following the mindful shower, another wonderful idea for self care Sunday is to have a full beauty care routine (this is my absolute favorite self care activity, and I love the extra time to dedicate myself to beauty care on Sundays).
I sometimes spend an entire hour just cleaning my skin, applying serums, doing clay masks, massaging my face with various beauty tools that I have (I might have an addiction to buying expensive beauty tools, such as Foreo, and my obsession with my ice globes for face cryotherapy).
Sunday is the day that I also go to the extent of lighting candles and I bring in Cris for some beauty care sometimes too (he’ll never admit it, but he loves the effect on his skin after a clay mask).
Give yourself and your partner a facial together, cut and paint your nails, apply your serums, apply some perfume.
And enjoy the feeling of being at your best…. at home.
RELATED: Different clay mask colors and their benefit to your skin
RELATED: Is Foreo Luna 2 worth the Price?
RELATED: Fraicheur Paris Ice Globes Review
Read a book
There will never be a list of self care Sunday ideas that does not recommend reading a book, and there is a good reason for it.
Books enrich our soul and stimulate our mind. Be it if you like fiction or non-fiction (or maybe you don’t enjoy reading) make the conscious effort to take at least half an hour to go through whatever book that might entice you.
Personally, I love reading books and you’ll always find me with my Kindle (seriously, I always have it even inside my handbag).
Lately, I have been all about Feng Shui so I’ve been alternating between reading The Holistic Home and Feng Shui That Makes Sense
Click here to see an inspiring book selection I have for you girls.
Make meals for the week
This is a great Sunday evening activity that will save you so much time and stress throughout the week (especially if you feel you waste a lot of time cooking midway through your workday).
I found this great post on meal prep ideas that are sure to give you some inspiration on how to go on about it.
This will not only help you save time during the week but it will also help stop you from eating take-out when you don’t have time to make something.
Going Out Ideas
I know going out has been more restricted lately (Barcelona restaurants have been closed for dinner for 6 months). However, if you’re lucky to live in a city where you still have the option of going out, this list will give you some self-car ideas to practice outdoors (just please keep safety measures always in mind).
Brunch with a friend
Aww brunch! Not only is this my favorite meal I think ever, but it is also one of my favorite activities. Eggs benedict with salmon + avocado, anyone?
Meeting up with a friend or your partner for a lazy afternoon brunch and catching up is something everyone should make a little more time for. Even if it is only once and a while.
Visit a local market
Here in Europe, we have so many small cheese stands on Sundays, I go nuts selecting a few favorite ones to eat later at home with Cris. We also enjoy shopping for quality olive oil, a good bottle of wine, and home decor + fashion magazines to read.
Go for a walk outside
Getting outside and in the fresh air is wonderful for rejuvenation and our overall health and wellbeing.
A small stroll to get fresh air can do you so many benefits, and you should do this every day of the week. However, just as with everything else on this list, Sunday we have more time to dedicate to this activity.
Get out in Nature
If you have a garden then spending time outdoors tending to it is a wonderful way to waste away the day. You can sit in your yard and read a book or go for a longer walk in nature outside your home if you have a forest or a mountain nearby.
To Conclude
Life is busy and even trying to fit one of these activities into your Sunday routine may seem difficult.
But hey, it’s all about attitude, just as with everything in life. We need to make the conscious effort and decision to cater to our well-being.
If you don’t have time to add some steady self care into your life, then what does that say about the relationship you have with yourself?
Why not throw away the excuses and take every opportunity to improve your well-being?
Happy Sunday, girls!
Self-Care Sunday Quotes to Inspire You to Take Action
‘’Remember, don’t let thoughts of Monday steal your Sunday;
“Sunday: a day to refuel your soul and be grateful for your blessings”
“Sometimes the most productive things you can do on a Sunday is to take care of yourself”
“It’s Sunday. Take it slow and give your soul a chance to catch up with your body”
“Sundays are for facemasks, Netflix and comfort food”
And lastly,
“A Sunday well-spent brings a week of content”
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS POST
Did you enjoy these self care Sunday ideas? What are some Sunday routines you enjoy practicing?
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Hi Ana, another great post! I agree self-care isn’t selfish, and it’s essential for our wellbeing! I love these ideas for self-care Sunday. Long showers and going for nature walks are two of my faves. I miss you on Instagram, but I understand sometimes social media breaks are necessary. Have a wonderful week:)
Martha
http://www.alovelymessylife.com
HI Martha, thank you for stopping by. Yes, self care is so essential (especially on days that working as a blogger seems it will take the life outta me, like today haha). Hope you are well x