A Self Care Checklist for Feeling Like Yourself Again

Lately, I’ve noticed something profound—I feel so much better when I take care of myself. Shocking, right? Okay, not really. But still, it’s one of those things that’s so obvious, that it’s easy to forget to pay attention to it.

I’ve been very preoccupied with creating content to meet the requirements of the LTK contest and to appease various algorithms to hopefully make content creation my full-time thing. For about two weeks my routine was pretty much eat, sleep, create something…anything, and repeat. While that did yield positive results, I started to feel burnt out and uninspired. I really phoned it in the last few days of the LTK contest. The jury is still out about a winner, but I’m happy I gave it a go because it forced me to be more intentional about what I want to say and how I want people to feel.

But back to what this has to do with self-care.

I knew I was slowly sliding into the sad girl zone and needed to pull out fast before it took root and threw me off for the rest of the cold months. I was headed straight for burnout if I didn’t make some changes, but first I wanted to feel like I got my groove back.

When the only thing I was focused on besides daily Bible study, Spanish lessons, and basic daily functions like showering, cooking, and eating was creating content for the sake of creating content, doing things because they make me feel good went by the wayside. I could feel the negative effects almost immediately. I didn’t feel as pretty when I looked in the mirror because I was a little sleep-deprived and needed to groom my eyebrows and remove some chin hairs. I wasn’t wearing some of my cuter clothes because I needed to shave my legs and underarms. I was holding my fingers kind of funny or sitting on my hands because my cuticles were overgrown and my nails needed filing. Overall, I wasn’t feeling like my best self and I knew I needed to reverse course ASAP.

Being low maintenance IS NOT a flex. it means you’ve neglected your own needs.

Getting back to my regular degular hot girl self didn’t feel like it would take much, but I knew I needed to get back maintenance routine back in order while still being intentional about my goals. I knew I needed to start small, but with something that would make a huge impact so I took my time grooming my eyebrows with tweezers since it lasts longer and looks cleaner than using a razor. I also shaved my legs and underarms and exfoliated afterward, a crucial step to preventing ingrowns that I’d been neglecting. I also sat down and gave myself a full manicure while watching a cozy vlog.

The difference it made? Wild. My energy skyrocketed. I started showing up for my day differently—more awake, more present, more me.

It’s easy to underestimate the power of these rituals. Life gets busy, and we tend to prioritize everything else: work deadlines, social obligations, and errands that never seem to end. But here’s what I’ve realized: when I treat myself well, it’s like I’m sending a signal to the world (and to myself) that I’m worth the time and effort. And honestly, that shift in mindset is everything.

Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to mean booking a luxury spa day or overhauling your entire lifestyle. Sometimes it’s as simple as:

• Choosing the fresh smoothie over the sugary cereal.
• Not skipping that workout because you’re tired.
• Going for a walk for 15 minutes instead of scrolling on your phone.
• Drinking water. Like, real water. Not just coffee or tea pretending to hydrate you.
• Taking a few extra minutes in the shower to shave your legs.
• Doing your full skincare routine, masks and serums included.
• Giving yourself the manicure you need to look at your hands and smile.
• Sticking to your hair washing schedule.
• Putting on a nice dress even though you’re not leaving the house.
• Slowing down and savoring your morning coffee instead of gulping it down in a rush.

These little acts of self-care add up. They’re like tiny deposits into your energy and confidence bank. And when that balance starts to grow? You’ll be amazed at how it spills over into the rest of your life.

What I’ve also learned is that self-care isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistency and intention. Some days, you’ll be on top of it. On other days, you’ll barely make it out the door. Both are okay. What matters is coming back to the practice and remembering that you’re worth the effort—even when it feels like the world is pulling you in a million directions.

So, if you’ve been feeling a little off lately, or if your energy just isn’t where you want it to be, try this: take a deep breath, pick one small way to care for yourself today, and see how it feels. My guess? You’ll start to feel that energy shift too.

Here’s to showing up for yourself—because when you do, you’re unstoppable.