The Ultimate Guide to Self-Care Sunday

Sometimes, we just need a break, but it can seem impossible to find the time to take one. This is where we’d like to bring in self-care Sunday. It’s time that we start devoting quality time to just ourselves, and carving out a specific day of the week just for that is the perfect way to start doing it.

Below we are going to lay out our ultimate guide to self-care Sunday. You can do it all, just bits and pieces or absolutely none of it. This is your self-care Sunday… do what you want.

What’s the Point of Self-Care Sunday?

We feel like this is a no-brainer. Everyone is working more and juggling more than they ever have before. It’s no wonder so many of us feel like we’re burning out. So, taking one day a week to focus on nothing but ourselves is the point of self-care Sunday.

So much of our week is focused on anything but ourselves. We have a career to keep up with and housework to maintain. We may have children to shuffle from one place to another or other family members to care for, and we must nurture friendships and relationships.

While all of these things are definitely important to us and our happiness, none of these things are solely focused on ourselves. It’s easy to think that taking time for no one but yourself can be selfish and silly, but maintaining our mental and emotional well-being means that we can accomplish all the things we need to accomplish and care for those we need (and want) to care for.

There’s No Rush

First thing’s first - sleep in! So many of our mornings, we wake to a jarring alarm and our feet hit the ground running. There’s usually not much that is leisurely about weekday (and sometimes Saturday) mornings. Use your self-care Sunday morning to take your time waking up. If it’s your thing, stay in bed longer. There is absolutely no rush to start doing anything.

You can use this quiet moment of your morning to set the tone for the rest of the day. You can decide what you’d like to do, reflect on what you’re grateful for, or say some affirmations. Just take a moment to fully wake up so you can start your day stress-free.

Soak In the Tub

When was the last time you took a bath? We’re not talking about actually bathing your body; we know you shower regularly. But we mean submerging yourself, in a tub, with bubbles and soft music. Once you pull yourself from bed, think about taking a long, warm, relaxing bath. We can’t think of a better way to start the day, and there are so many benefits to soaking in a tub:

• Soaking in a tub with Epsom salts helps soothe, relax and detox your muscles
• The relaxing atmosphere can calm anxiety and depression by decreasing stress hormones and increasing feel-good serotonin
• Warm water can increase circulation

Aside from the water of the bath being relaxing, take this time to get in some aromatherapy. Based on your mood or scent preferences, adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil can transport your senses to somewhere citrusy and tropical or somewhere calming like a lavender field.

If you don’t have a good quality essential oil, a bottle of bubble bath can be just as relaxing and bring back fun childhood memories.

We love using this time to use a hair mask, also. A long soak in the tub can also be a long soak for dry, thirsty hair. It can be cumbersome to stand in the shower waiting the recommended amount of time for a hair mask to penetrate your strands, but it’s not a concern when bubbles surround you in the tub.

Pamper Your Face

Once your whole self is a fresh, clean slate… move on to giving your face some love. Just like you may have moisturized your hair with a mask, your face would love to have one, too. At Urban Skin Rx®, our favorite form of self-care is pampering our glowing skin, and we have the perfect mask for the job.

Our Purifying 2-in-1 Pumpkin Pore Detox Mask & Scrub™ immediately transports us into fall with its delicious pumpkin scent. A warming sensation comes over your face as you massage it into your skin, and the powerful ingredients get to work detoxing and clearing the stress away. After enjoying ten spa-like minutes of its goodness, you’re left with clear, glowing, magnificent feeling skin.

How long you spend pampering your face is totally up to you. You can add a moisturizer, like our Hydranutrient Radiance Restore Oil™, and continue with your self-care Sunday, or you can take your time and slather on all of your favorites. We love Hydranutrient Radiance Restore Oil™ for its luxurious rose scent and how easily it absorbs for hydrated, glowing skin.

Don’t Forget Your Hands and Feet

Some of us are lucky and can fit in a monthly visit to the nail spa… but most of us aren’t. Whether it’s not having the time or the budget, pampering your hands and feet can be a glorious indulgence whenever you can work it in. That’s why we love including mani/pedi time in our self-care Sunday.

Of course, if you feel like making the trip out, visiting a nail spa is a great way to get pampered. Having someone else do all the work is a treat, and as always, the hand or foot massage is the best part. But like we mentioned, it’s not always easy to fit in.

We love keeping different hand and foot masks on hand, so we can give our fingers and toes some love any time we want. Sure, we won’t be getting that full set of fabulous nails, but we can get the next best part right at home. There are many masks on the market that can soothe dry, hardworking hands and feet and leave them looking like we just left the spa.

Spend Time Outside

So much of our week is spent working inside the office or in our homes, and many of us just don’t get enough time alone with nature. Being outside has so many benefits, and self-care Sunday is the perfect time to take advantage of them.

Being outdoors can improve your mood and calm anxiety. Listening to the sounds of the environment, almost no matter what they are, can be soothing and bring a sense of well-being. Breathing in fresh air clears your mind, and your lungs can release the stuffy, indoor air you’ve been breathing all week.

Spending time outside can look like many things. You can sit in a swing on your porch or a comfy chair on your balcony to soak in the sights and sounds. Or, you can get moving and enjoy the added self-care benefit of some exercise. Even a short, leisurely walk can do so much good for your mind and body.

An added benefit of being outside is getting some much-needed sunshine. Light has been shown to improve mood and productivity, and natural sunlight is the best source. Getting some rays while on a short walk will also get you some much-needed Vitamin D.

Depending on how much of your week you spend indoors and your skin tone, you could be deficient and not even know it.

Of course, we always recommend protecting your glowing face with sunscreen every day (whether or not you spend time outdoors). Our Sheerglow™ Even Tone Daily Defense Mineral Moisturizer SPF 30 is a great option that provides powerful, sheer protection from UVA and UVB rays so you can spend some of your self-care Sunday outside without having to worry about damaging your skin.

Quiet Time

Having some quiet time is one of our favorite parts of our self-care Sunday. Devoting an hour or two to whatever quiet activity we love can be such a refresh for our minds and well-being. It may even be the perfect time to try something new.

There are plenty of classic ways to spend some time quietly. Reading a book or looking through a magazine is always a favorite. Meditation is more popular than ever; maybe it’s something you already do, but if not, this would be a great time to give it a try. Starting a self-care Sunday journal to reflect on your week and your thoughts could be another great way to connect with yourself.

Other ways to spend some quality self-care time:

• Take a nap
• Paint your nails
• Do some yoga or stretch your body a little
• Find something crafty to do

Whatever you choose to do during your quiet time, just make sure it’s fulfilling and recharges your brain and body for the week ahead.

Eat Something Delicious

Eating well is always important, but it’s not always easy when we’re on the go throughout the week. Often we grab whatever we can, sometimes it’s a donut in the breakroom or takeout on the way home. Self-care Sunday is a perfect time to indulge in something delicious, whether it’s fresh and healthy or decadently sweet.

This is the time to eat whatever it is that will make you feel great. If you’re craving a bright and crisp salad, try throwing one together from farmer’s market finds or hitting up a local cafe that makes an amazing one. Your body will soak up all the colorful nutrients, and you’ll feel amazing.

Maybe this is a day where you want something warm and comforting, which reminds you of home. Pull out your grandmother’s recipe box and make one of her classic, feel-good meals that immediately takes you back to time spent in her kitchen. Even if it’s not as great as hers (it probably never will be), you’ll get a sense of home and happiness.

And then there’s never a bad time for something sweet. Whether you’re great at baking or going to the bakery, a sweet treat could be exactly what the day calls for. Baking is a great way to take your mind off anything that may be stressing you and has a delicious reward at the end.

Make Self-Care Sunday a Habit

Once you figure out how you like to spend your self-care Sunday, don’t stop! Sure, taking some time for yourself every few months will be helpful, but devoting as many Sundays as you can to just yourself will work wonders for your mental and physical health. You just have to make it a habit.

Consider that journal we mentioned earlier. Make it a goal to write in it every self-care Sunday you have, then go back over it and look at how beneficial you’ve found it to be. Are you less stressed? Are you sleeping better? Are you able to devote more quality time to your family and friends because you’re taking the time to recharge?

It may seem impossible to carve out the time to focus solely on yourself, but just like with any good habit (think going to the gym or eating healthier), it takes some time to work into your routine. But the more effort you put into it, the more routine it will become.

Whether your self-care Sunday is packed with pampering and relaxing to-dos, or you just take the day to do whatever comes your way, finding the time to refresh and recharge is so important for your mind and health. It may feel awkward or selfish to take the time for yourself, but the best way to keep up with home and work demands is to put yourself first. So whatever you do, make yourself and your self-care Sunday a priority.

By: Ivey Rogers Aesthetician Educator & Community
Engagement Manager