The Best Ways To Step Up Your Self-Care Routine

Everyone, especially brides, should implement a self-care routine—something especially crucial in today's stressful times. Now that everyone is working from home, it is easy to blur the lines between work and home life—and with social media, staying plugged in 24/7 can take a toll on our mental health.

Self-care routines can involve activities that you enjoy that replenish your energy and bring happiness to you, both physically and emotionally. Here's a list of things you can do at home that will ensure that you are taking care of yourself.

Implement a skincare regimen. If you weren't on top of keeping up with your skincare (because, let's face it, there are some days where just cleansing your face and applying moisturizer seems good enough), now's the time to take your time and treat yourself to an extra-nourishing, consistent routine. Try new products and find the ones that are right with our so your complexion is well-prepped and taken care of before your wedding day.

Maintain good sleep hygiene. Sleep is one of the most important and often overlooked components to keep healthy (and in a good mood!). Because you won't have to spend as much time getting ready if you're forgoing a commute, you'll have an extra few minutes to sleep longer than you might have before. But it's also important to go to bed at the same time and minimize any distractions that could potentially wake you up in the middle of the night.

Get some physical activity. Getting the blood pumping is also good for your overall health. Choose to take a walk outside (maintaining a safe distance away from others, of course) or do an at-home workout to stay active. Many gyms are now offering virtual classes, so even if you aren't going to the gym, there's no reason for you not to work up a sweat.

Create something. Whether you love to draw or journal, or you want to brush up on your cooking skills, creating something will bring you both happiness and confidence and will give you something to be proud of. You can even use this time to create DIY projects for your wedding—something you may not have had time to do otherwise.

Try something new. Now is a great time to experiment with trying new things—without having to leave your house. There are tons of free courses out there to try out a new hobby or learn a new skill, or take up a new project around the house or try something like a DIY manicure (although we don't advise you to take up something like cut your own hair during this time!).

Keep in touch with your loved ones. Just because you aren't seeing them in person doesn't mean you have to forgo social interaction entirely. Plan fun virtual hangout nights on apps like Zoom with your friends or use FaceTime to talk to your bridesmaids. Keeping connected is bound to make everyone happier and will give you the human contact that everyone needs to feel supported at this time.