Do you feel overworked, overwhelmed, and under-supported? Has it been months since you could honestly say you were having fun? Do you seem to spend your entire existence serving other people, without ever feeling fully at home in your own life?

Maybe you feel like coming up with a good self care routine would be a waste of time. Or maybe you’d like nothing better than to devote some attention to yourself, but you feel like you simply don’t have time to do it.

However you would describe your situation, unless self care is a serious priority for you, chances are you don’t get enough of it. It’s not hard to see why: with so much going on in the world, it’s easy to feel like you’re being pulled in a thousand different directions at once, and everything demanding your attention is just as important as everything else.

But it’s important to realize that self care is simply a way of investing in the one thing you’ll always have around: yourself. We change jobs, move to new communities, and have friends come and go, but we’re always stuck with ourselves. If we consistently invest in our own wellness, that investment pays off in time. If we neglect ourselves, it comes back to bite us.

To help you form a good self care routine for you, check out the tips and advice in this article. You’ll definitely find something that helps.

Relieving Stress

Stress and anxiety are common experiences for people — so common in fact that many of us have come to expect it. Beat the stress in your life with these simple tips.

Exercise

If you don’t have a good self care routine involving exercise already, chances are you don’t exactly enjoy working out. You might find the experience incredibly uncomfortable, or you may have even developed negative associations with it out of guilt for feeling out of shape.

If that’s how you’ve approached working out up until now, it’s time to change that. Instead of seeing exercise as an obligatory practice that you feel guilted into doing, recognize that it has many immediate benefits for relieving stress and boosting your mood. Working out isn’t always about losing weight or building strength. It’s best used as an antidote for stress and difficult mood swings.

Starting an exercise routine is as simple as getting outside and walking through your local park every day. There are also countless at-home workout programs you can try, many of them requiring no equipment. If you feel like you need more accountability than that, signing up for classes at a local hot yoga franchise might be your thing.

Just remember: exercise may help you develop a slim waist, but that’s not necessarily why you should do it. It’s also great for helping you feel positive and in-control in your everyday life.

Improve Your Diet

Changing your current diet to a healthier one may sound like way too much work, but you should know that proper hydration and nutrition play a big role in how your feel and how you manage stress. Drinking too much coffee can contribute to anxiety for some people, while drinking too little water may literally impair brain function, because your brain needs to be well-hydrated to function optimally. And you don’t have to completely change your diet overnight. In fact, it’s much more effective in the long term when you make small changes over time.

The next time you think about what’s for lunch, consciously choose something healthier over something quick and processed, such as fast food or a frozen dinner. When you go grocery shopping, remember to get a few vegetables to try, and maybe some salmon or chicken breast to prepare. Stay on the outskirts of your supermarket, because that’s where the least processed foods are. The inner aisles are where they stock most of the processed foods full of sugars and refined grains.

If paying attention to your diet is simply too much to manage right now, you might be able to improve your health and performance with supplementation. Some people have had success dealing with anxiety and improving their mood with natural supplements like St. John’s wort. A hemp oil supplement might be useful if you struggle with inflammation or skin disorders like acne. CBD can even help reduce pain, control epileptic seizures, and assist in mental illness and addiction recovery.

Volunteer

According to a 2013 study that examined the connections between volunteering and hypertension, doing good for others can significantly improve your blood pressure. In fact, adults in their 50s and beyond who volunteer are 40% less likely to develop hypertension in the next few years. Expressing generosity can have a similar stress-reducing effect, as a 2010 study pointed out that the less money people give away, the higher their cortisol levels tend to be.

So going out of your way to do good for others doesn’t just make you feel better about yourself. It’s been scientifically shown to improve your health and decrease stress, which makes it integral to a good self care routine.

Doing good for others in your community can be as simple as bringing flower arrangements to people who are sick, or those who have recently lost loved ones. You could volunteer at a local soup kitchen or participate in charitable activities with your church.

Try to think of ways you could support good causes and help those in need by drawing on interests and skills that are unique to you. If you’re naturally good with animals, your local animal shelter would probably be grateful to have you on as a volunteer. If you have graphic design skills, you could offer to make custom tee shirts for local nonprofits.

Create a Good Self Care Routine

We’ve been touching on the benefits of having a good self care routine already, but it’s time to zero in on just what a self care routine is: something you do consistently, every day or week, to make sure you’re always getting the care you need. If you always wait until you get burnt out to start thinking about self care, you’re just adding that much more suffering to your life. Having a good self care routine means doing things on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to make sure that overwhelming stress stays away for good.

The problem with routines is that it’s really easy to design one that we just won’t stick to. We’ve all seen people get excited about losing weight or prioritizing their health when the new year comes around, but then they lose steam and give up within a few weeks. It’s not because people are lazy or unmotivated: it’s because they never had a workable routine to begin with. They set their standards too high, and it was too much for them to keep up with.

Obviously stressing yourself out over a routine you’re supposed to keep up with will defeat the purpose of having a good self care routine at all. Instead, you should plan on doing things that are enjoyable, and don’t give yourself too much to do at any one time. If your routine involves activities that you generally find pleasurable, you won’t have as much resistance towards sticking with it. And if you practice self care in moderation — say, performing one activity every evening, or spending one full afternoon per week focused on yourself — you won’t get overwhelmed and give up after a week.

Besides having a good self care routine to keep yourself cared for throughout the week, it’s a good idea to notice how even everyday activities can feel pleasurable. You just have to pay attention to them by practicing mindfulness. Some people find cleaning the house or washing dishes very relaxing. Simple things, like fingering stones or running your hands through wood chips in the back yard, can be almost rejuvenating when you’re mindful of them. While it’s no replacement for a dedicated routine, you can make many mundane activities rituals of mindfulness and enjoyment.

Besides the tips we’ve already shared, we’ll talk about more items you might add to your daily or weekly routine in the rest of this article. The important thing is to choose a few of them that work for you, and practice them consistently, either every day, every week, or every month.

Treating Yourself

Treating yourself can be a strategy for decreasing stress, and strategies for reducing stress can sometimes feel like treats. But giving yourself a treat now and then — whether it’s getting a massage or hitting the local gun ranges — is essential to self care. Unlike rewarding yourself for a job well done, treating yourself is something you do just because it makes you feel better. Then, once you feel better, you’re more likely to perform well.

Ideas for Treating Yourself

If you don’t show yourself the love and appreciation you deserve, you can’t always count on it coming from anywhere else. So to help you add a little more fun and self care into your day, try some of the following simple ideas.

• Set a timer for five minutes, and treat yourself to some well-deserved time spent doing nothing at all. Deliberately doing nothing for a set time can do wonders to clear your mind and boost your mood.
• Prepare yourself a healthy snack or beverage, and then enjoy it slowly, lingering over the experience. Hurrying through our meals takes a lot of the enjoyment out of eating.
• Treat yourself to a facial at your favorite beauty salon. If you’re normally the type who doesn’t splurge on such things, it will mean even more as a special experience.
• When you start your workweek, begin by making a list of things you’d enjoy doing on the weekend. So often we let our weekends slip by while binge-watching television, never really getting to the things we’d like to do. Making a list of ideas at the start of your week will give you something new to look forward to.
• Pretend to be a tourist in your hometown. Try to forget about your busy life and pretend you’re on vacation and enjoy all of the sights and sounds that are unique to your area. It’s easy to take a place for granted when you live there. Go outside and really enjoy it.
• Buy yourself a new outfit or at the very least a new accessory. Again, this is more special if you aren’t already a shopaholic.
• The next time you have a late morning or early afternoon off, go see a movie by yourself. There’s something remarkably relaxing about seeing a movie alone in a near-empty theater.

Treating yourself can be an extravagant affair, like seeing a plastic surgeon to enhance your appearance, or very simple, like reading a poetry book. You get to decide what to do — just make sure you do something to make yourself feel great.

Getting Support

Even if you have a really good self care routine, we all need support from outside sources. Whether that be from a church or community we’re a part of, or from a counselor or therapist we see regularly, everyone needs someone to offer them advice and help them through life. Here we’ll offer some ideas for finding supporting people and communities to be a part of.

Find a Local Community

The first step to finding a local community to be a part of is to be willing to be open and vulnerable with people. This doesn’t mean you tell the first stranger you meet about all your hopes and fears, but it does mean being ready to open up gradually as other people open up to you. You can’t be closed off or afraid of what others think of you and expect to make friends quickly.

Next, you have two options for finding a community: either you can find a place to visit regularly based on your interests, such as a church or library; or you can find local communities based on certain interests online. Websites such as Meetup.com allow you to find groups in your area that all have similar interests, such as gaming or music.

Look for a Coach, Counselor, our Therapist

Everyone needs a helping hand or a voice of reason now and then, and sometimes you can’t really expect your friends or family to help you process your situations. This is where a counselor or life coach can come in handy. Getting help like this isn’t a sign of weakness, and it certainly isn’t just for people who struggle with mental health issues. In fact, literally everyone can benefit from having a good counselor or coach to visit now and then. It’s like the way the best businesspeople have mentors to help them navigate the world of business. For everybody else, counselors and therapists are mentors when it comes to processing past events, overcoming personal challenges, and navigating relationships.

There are several websites online that allow you to look up counselors and other experts in your area. You can even find someone to coach you long-distance over the phone or video chat.

From designing a good self care routine to getting support from a coach or counselor, these tips should be all you need to invest in yourself by bringing some self care into your life.

Did you know that around 2 million Americans get married every year? It’s no wonder that many people choose to take this solid oath with someone they love. When you’re married, you have someone in your corner for life — throughout sicknesses, stressful moves, and tough situations at work.

Many of those couples also sign up for a wedding registry before their wedding. Doing so makes married life easier once they have moved in together. However, creating the list can often feel overwhelming. You may ask yourself — what kinds of items do you put on your list? What if you already have everything you need? If you’re in need of some wedding registry inspiration, continue reading. Here are tips on how you can create a unique wedding registry before your big day.

Cooking and Kitchen Related Items

Every new couple will need to acquire this skill. Having the right tools in the kitchen can make learning so much easier. Consider putting these items on your unique wedding registry.

An Air Fryer

An air fryer is taking the health and cooking world by storm due to its ability to fry foods using only a minimum amount of oil.

It’s a healthier way of eating, and there’s no annoying mess to clean up afterward. Therefore, if you and your spouse love to cook together, ensure that this item is at the very top of your unique wedding registry. Your guests can find this machine at most shopping centers.

Blender

A blender on a registry sounds boring. How is this a pick for a unique wedding registry? Get a blender like a Vitamix. This is more than just a standard blender. It’s a kitchen tool that can help you create soups, dressings, and sauces. You won’t need as many cooking utensils, which is great news if you want to keep your wedding register on the shorter side.

Exotic Wines

You may not splurge on fancy wines on your own, but if you love to pour yourself a glass every now and then, make sure to put some world-renowned wines on your list. You can drink them with your spouse, or pour a glass for your guests when you’re entertaining.

Bar Cart

If you don’t necessarily love wine, but adore other spirits, consider adding a bar cart to your list. This is another way you can entertain guests. You will also upgrade your bartending skills since you’ll have all of your liquors, beers, and wines all in one spot.

A Cooking Class

If you value great experiences over tangible things, ask your guests to buy you a cooking course for you and your future spouse. This can serve as a great way for the two of you to bond — either before or after the wedding.

You will also learn some great skills that you can take with you for the rest of your life.

Kitchen Remodel

If you feel like your kitchen is ancient, ask your guests to put the money that would have gone on a registry list towards kitchen remodeling.

Items to Live a More Active Lifestyle

If you met your sweetie while hiking or biking, it’s safe to say that the two of you are an active couple! Keep that high level of activity going, even after you’re married. Put these sporty items of your unique registry.

Golf Equipment

If you and your future spouse are avid golfers, ask for some new golf equipment! If you think you’ll use this more than a blender, put it at the top of your list and don’t let your guests’ money go to waste.

Snowmobile Equipment

However, golf may not be everyone’s favorite sport. Others may enjoy being outside in the cold weather. Sledding, skiing, and hopping on a snowmobile is the perfect way to spend a weekend up in the mountains. If you can’t get enough of the slopes, ask your wedding guests for snowmobile equipment instead of hand towels.

Camping Gear

If camping is your preferred activity as a couple, put this at the top of your unique wedding registry list instead. You can ask for sleeping bags, tents, or a new pair of waterproof boots.

What to Ask For When You Don’t Know What to Ask For!

Even after reading all this, what if you’re drawing a blank? The wedding is coming closer and closer with each passing day, and you’re unsure what to put on your unique wedding registry list!

Take a deep breath and stop worrying! Many couples ask for alternative things. Instead of objects, they may ask for money instead!

A Down Payment on a Home

If you’re unsure what to place on your unique wedding registry, ask for money to fund the downpayment on your future home together. This is more common than you think, but many people still feel odd about asking for cold hard cash. There are a few ways of phrasing that you will not be needing a toaster.

If you choose to go this route, ensure you add it to your wedding website. It may be tacky to add it to your invitations, so make sure to go the digital route.

Other Funds

You will also be glad to learn that your wedding registry can also help fund other expenses. Asking for money before the wedding can help buy an engagement ring for your significant other. You won’t have to worry about financing it or completing your monthly payments. This can also be helpful if you and your significant other already own a home.

Fund Your Honeymoon

What’s another way you can swap your unique wedding registry for something you will actually use? Have that money go towards paying off a nice honeymoon for after the wedding. Book fun excursions, and even go visit a craft beer company tour to make the most out of your stay.

Couples Massages

Planning a wedding can be so stressful. Between booking a caterer, finding a venue, and making a million other tiny decisions, it can take a toll on your mental health. If you need to destress, consider asking your guests for money towards a destressing retreat for you and your loved one. The two of you can book spa treatments, like facials and couples massages.

Go Traveling

If you can afford to take a couple of months off of work, consider extending your honeymoon. Go see all the sights you’ve been dying to see. Ask your guests to help fund a magical trip with your spouse. This is appropriate for couples who are already living together and have everything they need in their home.

Take a New Language Course

Learning a new skill with your partner is enriching, useful, and a ton of fun! If none of these ideas are intriguing to you, consider asking your guests to put money towards language courses.

Help With Debt

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have all of your debt vanish? Put this money towards student loans or house payments!

Ask Your Guests to Help Fund a Home Remodel

Let’s say you already own a home with your loved one. But perhaps, it’s starting to feel a bit cramped. If you’re planning on extending your family, this feeling will be exacerbated. If you worry about this, ask your family and friends to put their money towards helping you remodel your home. Home additions are popular since they provide you with more space without you having to move to a completely different house.

Ask them to Fund Small Projects

However, let’s say you want to give your house a much smaller makeover. You don’t have to add rooms to freshen up the home. Add quartz counters for a modern touch.

Turn Your Wedding Registry Into a Baby Registry

If you have just had a baby, consider combining your registries into one! Ask for bibs, baby clothes, diapers, and formula.

How to Set Up Your Unique Wedding Registry

Now that you know what you want on your list, it’s time to set it up. You don’t have to be a tech wiz, as it’s simple and easy to do.

Start by creating your list as soon as you get engaged. This allows your guests enough time to look through and see what has been purchased and what has not been purchased. If they want to buy you something extravagant, this also gives them sufficient time to save up some money for your unique wedding registry.

Next, ensure your significant other can be there when you’re creating your registry. It’s a joint activity, and you should both have a say in what goes on the list and what stays off.

Common Questions About Unique Wedding Registries

Can You Register at Several Stores?

One of the best ways to create a unique wedding registry is by setting up a registry at several stores. This isn’t out of the ordinary, so if you want a nice frying pan, but also need a tent for your couples camping excursions, try this method!

Can You Return Items?

This is another common question about setting up your unique wedding registry.

If you don’t love one of your items, can you return it after it’s been bought? The answer? It depends! Make sure to check the specific store’s policy on returns before adding them to your list.

How Much Should Guests Spend?

The average guest will spend around 100 dollars on a wedding gift. Keep this in mind when creating your registry, as you don’t want them to over or underspend.

How to Alert Guests of Your Wedding Registry

Create an online register. Once it’s up and running, grab the link, and create a special tab on your wedding website. When inviting your guests, make sure they can easily view the link through their web browser.

Will Guests be Offended if We Just ask for Money

Your guests have no reason to be offended if you turn down some gifts. If you already have silverware and mixing bowls, why would you need another pair!

Make sure that they know this ahead of time.

Should You Update Your Registry?

One of the most brilliant things about having an online registry is that you can see who is purchasing what! If you notice that relatives have bought most of the items on your list, and you still have a few months left before the wedding, feel free to add more until your big day.

Conclusion

Your unique registry list all boils down to your combined personalities. What do you think will suit your lifestyle now that you are married? Whatever the case may be, make sure the list is reasonable! Additionally, ensure it’s something that you will enjoy, whether you’re remodeling your house with custom window coverings, or feel that golf gear is more suitable. Nonetheless, if you plan your wedding registry accordingly, you and your significant other will feel even more excited about the wedding and your future together.