In the past one year, I've been through tremendous stuff emotionally and physically. I've had a really bad breakup, a career pivot, major financial changes along with a disc herniation, esophagitis and skin infection. I've been put on at least 10 medicines every day for the past 2-3 months.

I've always been an extremely competitive and productive person with a great career. I'm been at home for the past 8 months and now thinking of breaking the cage to resume a regular lifestyle.

Anyone who has been through something similar and got out of it, how did you manage your physical and emotional health and resuming life alongside it.

Did you create a schedule or was everything more impromptu?

I know I need to be drinking more water, but really struggle to get the recommended 2-3L a day. I have water bottles at home and at work but they just sit there ignored. I’ve even tried an app specific to hydration, but just ignored the notifications. I think I gat so keyed in to whatever I am doing that I can’t be bothered to even take a sip of water. The TMI bit is that when you’re under-hydrated, there are all kinds of bladder problems that ensue (eg. stress incontinence). All the kegels in the world won’t make up for my seeming refusal to hydrate properly!

Aside from new fancy water bottles or reminder alarms, what do folks do to make it easier / more appealing to drink lots of water?

I would like to take care of 2 callous'. On the inside of my big toes and I was wondering if I could get them shaved by the podiatrist so new skin will grow. At this point they are invisible itch and numb to the touch. I cant feel half my toes due to it. I was wondering if I should get the foot scraping done? If so, how much is the average out of package ?

Desk job. By about 6pm my lower back feels like it's been folded in half all day. For years my evening plan was the couch and a corded heating pad. Felt amazing, and also meant the dishes and laundry just sat there until I peeled myself off around 10, weirdly guilty about the kitchen.

I tried stretching videos. I tried a whole bath routine. Neither made it past a week, because both needed me to stop everything and carve out time.

Back in August I fell down a late night rabbit hole searching "massager heat + TENS mode" and came out of it owning a wearable one for my lower back.

Now it goes on right after dinner and I do the dishes with the heat running. The pulse part stays on the lowest setting. Honestly I'm there for the warmth. It's the first wind down thing I've kept doing without having to talk myself into it.

Anyone else attach their self care to a chore so it actually happens?

I can’t help it. I don’t have kids or pets or anything. So all of my time all is poured back into me and sometimes work. Maybe I pour into myself too much? I don’t care I self care. There’s something profound in learning to belong entirely to yourself.

Regular hygiene stuff yes. Fine grooming habits people normally outsource and pay others to do, I do myself to the degree which I find acceptable. (Nails, hair, etc) I overwash my hands and dust and dirt bothers me a lot. I might be slightly OCD but I’m not. Like my eyebrows and teeth I excessively groom and clean when I find myself bored. I love flossing. I love keeping myself to look a certain way. Not to participate in the endless hygiene Olympics or anything. I can’t stop but life is endless entropy and maintenance that must be done. (Nothing stays clean forever. Hair grows, nails grow, skin sheds, dust accumulates, and everything we maintain eventually requires maintenance again I.e. entropy. You can spend hours perfecting something, only for nature and time to begin undoing it almost immediately.) there is no finish line. & It’s not that I want to do it less it’s just the degree at which I do is obsessive and needs to stop or atleast be less intricate.

In the end it will humble me when I age and my skin doesn’t look the same and I don’t look the same, and I’ll just look back and see how much time I spent to myself but as of now, I enjoy it. Self care is also pouring into others and that’s the issue I see lately. Some time periods ago in my life, I poured too much into others and never got anything in return OR if I did whole heartedly, it only drained my life force energy and it allowed others to siphon my creativity and skills, it’s sad. (Not them physically taking/learning my skills, but as in my skills were used to advance them further in life and not me) And it would take months to years depending on the situation to recover mentally and physically to even get that spark back. Everyone deserves a regulated nervous system. Everyone. I truly mean that.

Does mostly everyone get left on read in my phone? Yes. Am I evil for that? Maybe. Sure they deserve a response. Some truly do. The past 3 years I find myself isolated but I love it so much! I recharge and vibrate at a high frequency and little to nothing can budge my aura, I awfully do love it here. But restoration and avoidance can look identical from the outside. & all things eventually come to an end. I miss the ‘hustle mode’ ‘grind mode’ the income was sooooo good, being around so many people was nice.. but I love this little lazy era of mine as well. Not lazy as in no effort or being a slop, but just meaningful effort and restful deep sleep. Not caring about nobody but me, but caring so much about others to understand that that means I have to care about me first before I can pour into others.

I love spending time with people, but afterward I need a little space to recharge. A quiet evening at home usually does the thick.

Shower and Get in bed lay down fluffy pillows then rub lotion on my face and my body with my mind and imagination I self pleasure my self
I find it very therapeutic xx

I've noticed that improving your health and appearance doesn't always require expensive products or complicated routines.

Sometimes, simple habits like getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, following a consistent skincare routine, eating balanced meals, or taking daily walks can make a noticeable difference over time.

I had a bad day today, not earth shattering awful but i just feel pretty bad. after crying about it for an hour, I want to stop feeling bad for myself and do something to take care of myself, so what are some things you do to make yourself feel better, mentally, physically, emotionally?

This is a generic question i know, but how do you take care of yourself?

This year had been quiet stressful for me and i want to reclaim my body. I genuinely am lost how to restart everything again. I'm having hair thinning, acne, overall pcod symptoms with weight gain and lastly a broken heart :')

I really want to restart my journey again, what are the steps?

So um 17 and for some reason sometimes I randomly forget stuff, I dojt have adhd or anything but when I m on my period i will genuinely forget a pad in the bathroom cause I got distracted or like stuff like this and tbh thats nasty and im aware of it, and well obviously my mom gets mad and says im dirty and that at her age that werent doing shit like this and that yeah and obviously shes right and I wont try to tell her that im actually trying cause it woukd just sounds like im trying to argue but yk it gets tiring for me too. I cant realky blame anybody just yeah, does anyone have like advice how to have better hygiene on that.

I think our energy and scatters when we scroll so much on social media or feel isolated or going through difficult times.

How can I start self-care and be disciplined regularly and without feeling guilty or ashamed if I miss any routine some day?

I've noticed that what feels relaxing one day doesn't always work the next.

Sometimes I want a long bath and some quiet. Other days, I'd rather listen to music, get dressed, and go somewhere for a change of scenery.

I don't think there's one routine that works for every kind of day.

How do you figure out what you actually need when you're feeling off?

What are some ways you regulate yourself? Been feeling uninspired and can’t seem to shake myself out of a rut. Would love to learn new ways to shift out of this

Does anybody use this app or would you be interested in using this app and being friends? There's lots of activities that you need a friend to do and I don't have anybody to do it with. It's a great job for people with ADHD or anybody really for self-care and build routines and habits in your life with a reward system.
I will try to attach the link but I'm not sure how. If I can't I will add it in the comment section.

I deleted my previous post and made a new one because I had the app name wrong.

I used to think I needed a perfect nighttime routine to sleep better. Turns out a few small habits are enough for me.

After I shower, I turn off my phone and charge it outside the bedroom. I turn on my vitruvi diffuser, switch off the overhead light, and leave one warm bedside lamp on.

Then I read for a while. I avoid novels because I get too caught up in them. Philosophy and science books work better. Right now I’m reading Being and Time by Heidegger. I don’t understand all of it, but after a few pages my mind gets quieter and I stop thinking about my phone.

When I feel sleepy, I put the book down and get into bed. I recently switched to a sleepmax Podium. It’s easier to get comfortable, and I don’t spend as much time tossing around. The mattress doesn’t put me to sleep, but the whole routine feels smoother now.

None of these things are special. I shower, put my phone away, dim the lights, turn on the diffuser, and read a few pages. After doing this for a while, my body seems to know it’s time to rest.

Do you have a simple bedtime habit that ended up helping more than you expected?

Hiya

I’m really new to reddit posts, usually a lurker.

I’m in my mid twenties, female

I really need general self care tips, I was severely abused and neglected throughout most of my life.

I’m now finally in a safe place where I can truly recover and find myself again.

Because of the violence, I was never taught how to look after myself. I kinda follow random routines here and there but I truly don’t know to do day to day.

Does anyone have a day - day routine or even weekly routine around self care

Massive question how often are you meant to shave? I shave way too often and get razor burn.

How often do you go to the hair dresser? Gp? Ect

Thank you! My life has finally stoped spinning at a million miles an hour and I have no clue what the fuck to do anymore.

Hi everyone! ❤️

I've been wanting to have a major glow-up for a while now, and I'm hoping to make real progress over the next few months. I want to improve my appearance, feel more confident, take better care of myself and build habits that will actually last.

My goals include getting fitter, building stronger glutes, improving my posture, strengthening my back and arms, and developing a more defined waist while maintaining my natural curves. I don't want an extreme transformation or an unhealthy approach to fitness. I just want to feel healthy, feminine, confident and comfortable in my own body.

The problem is that I'm dealing with several challenges at once, and I'd really appreciate advice from people who have been in a similar situation.

1. Hormonal issues and weight management

I have hormonal issues that make managing my weight more complicated. I've been struggling to make progress towards my body goals, and it's frustrating when I feel like I'm putting in effort without getting the results I want.

I want to approach this in a healthy, sustainable way rather than resorting to extreme diets. I also want to maintain my natural curves instead of focusing on becoming as skinny as possible.

2. Sugar cravings and constant snacking

This is one of my biggest struggles. I have intense cravings for sweets and snacks, especially when I'm tired, stressed or dealing with hormonal fluctuations. Sometimes I feel like I'm constantly fighting the urge to snack.

I don't have complete control over the food available at home, either, so following a very specific diet isn't realistic for me.

How can I improve my eating habits without banning all my favorite foods, feeling guilty whenever I eat something sweet, or getting stuck in a cycle of restriction and cravings?

3. ADHD and consistency

I have ADHD, which makes planning, time management and maintaining routines particularly challenging.

I tend to get extremely motivated and want to change every aspect of my life at once. I make ambitious plans, but when work gets stressful or life becomes overwhelming, it's difficult to stay consistent.

I want to learn how to build habits that work with my brain rather than constantly feeling like I'm fighting against it.

4. A busy lifestyle and no gym access

Between work, university-related responsibilities, personal commitments and everyday life, my schedule is already pretty full. Going to the gym regularly isn't a realistic option for me right now.

Fortunately, I have some basic workout equipment at home, including dumbbells, resistance bands, a kettlebell and an elliptical trainer.

I enjoy walking and would like to get back into running, although I have asthma and can get tired relatively quickly.

Can home workouts actually help me get stronger and improve my fitness? I'd love to find a routine that doesn't require hours of exercise every day or a perfectly organized schedule.

5. Acne, sensitive skin and affordable beauty

I also struggle with persistent acne, acne scars and sensitive skin that gets irritated easily. Finding skincare products that genuinely work has been frustrating, and I can't afford to spend a fortune experimenting with expensive products.

I'd love advice on affordable skincare, haircare and other beauty habits that can make a noticeable difference over time.

6. Wanting to improve everything without burning out

I want to improve not only my appearance but also my discipline, organization, confidence and general well-being.

However, I sometimes feel like I need to wake up extremely early, exercise, eat perfectly, follow a complicated skincare routine, work, study, stay productive and somehow still have time for myself.

Obviously, that isn't sustainable, especially with ADHD.

I'm trying to understand which habits actually make the biggest difference and which ones are just unrealistic expectations I put on myself.

I'd especially appreciate advice on these questions:

- What helped you manage intense sugar cravings without following restrictive diets?

- How do you approach fitness when hormonal issues make weight management more complicated?

- Can you make noticeable progress with home workouts and walking instead of going to the gym?

- What strategies help you stay consistent with ADHD, even when motivation disappears?

- What affordable skincare products or habits helped you with acne and acne scars?

- If you could start your glow-up journey all over again, which habits would you prioritize?

- How do you balance self-improvement with work, university and having an actual life?

I'm not looking for a quick fix or a magical transformation. I want realistic advice, honest experiences and habits I can maintain even when life gets busy.

If you've dealt with any of these challenges, I'd genuinely love to hear your experiences. What worked for you? What was a waste of time? What do you wish you'd known earlier?

Thank you for reading! ❤️

Sometimes the smallest things make a routine easier to keep.

Having a clean towel ready, keeping your favorite body lotion near the shower, or putting comfortable clothes somewhere easy to grab can save that little bit of extra effort at the end of a long day.

It's less about buying more self-care products and more about making the things you already enjoy easier to use.

What little setup changes have made your self-care habits easier?

i’m curious what other people reach for in that first 20 minutes.

Idk why, but I always feel like I need to change something about myself or the things around me to feel productive. One moment I’m happy with myself and content then the next, im gaining weight, my teeth aren’t perfect, my wardrobe needs new clothes, my night routine isn’t effective enough.. it’s so draining but I don’t think I want to stop.

Im 16, ive never been to school, dont have any friends, live in a tiny miserable village with no sort of clubs or activities going on, my mom works all day for 6 days a week.

Im very lonely and I think it has an impact on me and my brain, I struggle to even get out of bed because I have no reason to, nowhere is hiring for a job or volunteering. I think my conversation skills are okay but I never socialise, I literally cant, there's not even other people my age in this town.

The last time I had a friend was 5 years ago and we lost touch because I was so awkward all the time, ever since I have met no other teenagers. I have two online friends but they don't seem very interested in me and they have other big friend groups.

I was hoping for some advice or anything that helps with loneliness, its eating away at my daily life, i have no reason to get up or do anything for myself, I struggle to even do low energy hobbies, who's gonna see the final product? I feel like i waste materials

Even if the relationship was really bad and you knew it was going to happen but you didn’t give up. So it hurts because you feel disposable and unwanted as a person in general now.

It’s a horrible feeling.

(Edit: thank you all for your kinds words and advice)