2020, whilst challenging, has also been the year where I started to pay more attention to how I was taking care of myself, both mentally and physically. Early in the lockdown period, I started practicing new, positive habits to help with my mental health wellbeing. I also started tracking how frequently I keep up with these habits.
I find that using a tracker gives me a small sense of accomplishment during what is mostly a monotonous period. It also made me more aware of how I was taking care of myself.
Now I plan on continuing this system for next year!
HERE ARE THE SELF-CARE HABITS I'M TRACKING FOR 2021
Journaling
I wrote about how much I enjoy journaling and the benefits it brought me in my Sunday Reset Routine blog post. I have since switched to a standard Traveler’s Notebook for all my journaling needs.
Meditation
I’m hoping that meditation will help me respond to situations in a more calm manner. Meditation is definitely something takes practice. I have been doing it for five minutes each day with the help of the Goodful YouTube channel.
Skincare
Its easy to avoid doing your skincare routine when you’re having a bad skin day or just a bad day in general. This is where a tracker becomes all the more important. I also keep a reference of my skincare routine and the products I use with this freebie.
Workout
Or at least some form of physical activity.
I mentioned that I’ve recently started working out. I try to do it once every two days but despite noticing how much better I feel after a workout, remaining consistent continues to be a big challenge. I’m hoping a tracker will help with this. On days where I don’t have a workout scheduled, I plan on doing yoga or going for a walk.
Hobby
As a self-identified workaholic, I’m guilty of ignoring the value of doing things simply for fun. I used to spend hours of my free time being engrossed in a book or completing a 1000-piece puzzle. Now, I feel guilty for even having any free time. It is definitely not a healthy mindset.
Which is why I’m determined to commit to a hobby I enjoy, even if it is not the productive. Sounds funny, forcing myself to enjoy my free time. But, like everything else, it takes practice.
PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS
If like me, you’re planning on adding a tracking system to your planner, here are some simple but versatile inserts to help you do just that.
This is perfect for tracking routines on a monthly basis. You can write down a detailed routine on the left-side and then track it week-by-week.
Perfect for tracking: skincare routine, workout routine, cleaning routine, self-care routine.
This is designed to track one habit or routine for an entire year, on a weekly basis. This way, you can monitor your progress easily.
Perfect for tracking: a single habit or routine.
Another insert that provides a year at a glance. This insert is great for tracking things that you want to keep a record of for reference later.
Perfect for tracking: daily spending or savings, sleeping hours, mood, reading hours, period.
Freebie Checklist
I’ve talked about using this freebie as a planner inbox. But, you can also use it as a tracker. It was purposefully designed with seven columns on each side, one for each day of the week. If you’re hesitant about using a tracker, its a good starting point.
I hope this post has been helpful for you, if you’re still in the process of deciding on your 2021 setup. On a personal note, I’ll be using the Daily Tracker No. 1 because I enjoy the design and it fits my 2021 setup.