Self-Care All Year Round: A Month-by-Month Guide to Less Stress
- Cassandra Martin-Himmons
- Mar 8, 2021
- 7 min read
Updated: May 3
Self-care isn’t something you do once in a while—it’s something you build into your life.
But let’s be honest… that’s easier said than done.
When life gets busy, self-care is often the first thing to fall off. You tell yourself you’ll get back to it later—when things slow down, when you have more time, when everything else is handled.
This turns into a never-ending cycle when we don’t spend as much time on ourselves as we ought to. In short, we’re neglecting self-care. According to the American Institute of Stress there are 50 signs and symptoms of stress. 50! When you don’t engage in stress management your self-care suffers. And you're unable to manage your stress before your stress manages you.
What happens when your self-care suffers?
You’re not eating right, either too much or too little.
You’re not following through on promises.
You’re ignoring things you used to enjoy, either through lack of interest or energy.
You find yourself isolating and avoiding social situations.
You're cranky or feel “off.”
You snap at people.
Your quality of work suffers.
You feel overwhelmed.
You wake up tired, even after a full night of sleep.
Simple tasks seem to take a lot of effort.
You forget little things, such as returning library books.
You’re dragging yourself through the day.
You’ve lost enthusiasm.
Decisions become really difficult, even simple ones.
You’re worried or anxious though you’re not sure why.
You can’t sit still.
You forget what you're about to say.
You miss deadlines.
You’re sick more often.
Whew! After reading that list it’s no wonder you’re tired. So, what should you do? Make time to take time to care for yourself. Self-care is something that you can do all year round. It's all about making time.
The truth is, self-care works best when it becomes part of your routine—not something you squeeze in when you’re already exhausted.
In a previous post I focused on self-care through the seasons, but I also really like the idea of incorporating self-care into my life by focusing on a different theme each month.
Small shifts. One month at a time. Real change that actually sticks.
Let’s walk through what self-care can look like all year long.
Why Monthly Self-Care Works
Trying to overhaul your entire life overnight is overwhelming and usually unsustainable.
Monthly self-care gives you a different approach.
Instead of doing everything at once, you focus on one area at a time, giving yourself space to build awareness, create small habits, and actually follow through.
It helps you:
Stay consistent without feeling overwhelmed
Build habits that last instead of quick fixes
Focus your energy instead of spreading yourself too thin
Create a routine that evolves with your life
Self-care becomes much more manageable when you take it one month at a time.
January: Sleep
Why It Matters: Sleep is the foundation of everything—when it improves, everything else gets easier.
Sleep is vital to life. Without proper sleep hygiene, your entire being suffers. Developing an evening routine helps signal to your body that it is time to rest.
Get more natural light
Avoid caffeine
Avoid blue light
Follow a bedtime routine
February: Nourishment
Why It Matters: The way you nourish your body directly impacts your energy, mood, and ability to handle stress each day.
Nutrition is a cornerstone of self-care. When you eat nutritious foods, your mind and body gets the minerals and vitamins needed to repair cells and build up your immune system.
Focus on whole foods
Limit Sugar
March: Exercise
Why It Matters: Moving your body supports both your physical health and your mental well-being, helping to release stress and boost your mood.
Exercise does a body good. As you know by now, you’ve got to move it or lose it. Exercise isn’t just for your body, it’s for your mind as well. Exercise helps you to remain in good functioning order and what better way to engage in self-care is there?
Take an assessment of where you are
Create healthy daily routines
Track and adjust
April: Setting Healthy Boundaries
Why It Matters: Boundaries protect your time, energy, and peace, allowing you to show up for your life without feeling constantly overwhelmed.
Many people find it difficult to set boundaries fearing that if they say no, disaster will happen because they’re the only one who can do all the things. That simply is not the case. It’s important to set boundaries so that you’re not completely stressed out and overwhelmed with responsibilities.
Create a list of your boundaries
Learn how to respond to people who test them
Be direct more often
Don’t feel guilty
May: Treat Yourself
Why It Matters: Taking time to enjoy life and reward yourself creates balance and reminds you that self-care can be both supportive and joyful.
This is what everyone thinks about when they think of self-care. Why? Because it works! There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself every once in a while 😊. It gives you something to look forward to when times are tough.
Take a luxurious bath
Have a night out
Spoil yourself
What have you always wanted?
June: Practice Gratitude
Why It Matters: Focusing on what you’re grateful for helps shift your mindset, making it easier to find peace and positivity even during stressful times.
An attitude of gratitude is something that provides self-care to you in the present and its effects are also felt long into the future when practiced regularly.
Say how you feel often
Write a note to someone you are grateful for
Notice the small things
July: Get Outside
Why It Matters: Spending time in nature helps calm your mind, reduce stress, and reconnect you to the present moment.
Nature is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. It has great healing power and spending time in nature soothes body, mind and soul.
Take a walk
Play like a child
Go stargazing
August: Learn Something New
Why It Matters: Learning keeps your mind engaged, builds confidence, and brings a sense of growth and fulfillment to your life.
As long as you’re alive, you should always keep learning. Keeping your mind active and occupied is good self-care and helps to strengthen your creative side.
Learn a new life skill
Read something meaningful
Learn to play Chess
Enjoy a new culture
September: Reset and De-stress
Why It Matters: Taking time to pause and reset helps you release built-up stress and regain a sense of calm and clarity.
Just be. Deep breathing is one of the most relaxing things that you can do.
Simply breathe
Take a step back
Avoid toxic people or places
October: Relationships and Connection
Why It Matters: Meaningful connections with others support your emotional well-being and remind you that you don’t have to do life alone.
Think about the people that matter the most to you. A lot of times they’re taken for granted. One way of caring for yourself is to make time to care about others (just not at the expense of caring for yourself).
Establish time together
Learn how to deal with disagreements
Surprise your partner
Don’t avoid the awkward conversations
November: Be More Mindful
Why It Matters: Being present in the moment helps quiet your mind, reduce anxiety, and deepen your connection to your daily life.
Mindfulness is about being present in the very moment that you’re in. You can bring mindfulness to whatever you do by being fully aware.
Find a comfortable position in a quiet place
Close your eyes and clear your mind
Breathe deeply. Focus on your breath
Allow your thoughts to drift and go where they will, keeping them in the now as much as possible
Focus on each and every aspect of what it is you’re experiencing at this exact moment.
December: Reflect
Why It Matters: Reflecting on your experiences allows you to learn, grow, and move forward with greater intention and clarity.
As you’re leaving one year and moving into the next, reflection will help you take your self-care to even greater levels. Journal your answers as you reflect.
What worked for you this past year?
What didn’t work for you?
Are you happy in your life?
What do you feel proud of?
What is your plan for moving forward?
Ready to Make Self-Care a Habit?
Reading about self-care is one thing—but actually doing it is where the change happens.
If you’re ready to start building simple self-care habits that fit your real life, I created a free 100 Self-Care Ideas Checklist to help you get started.
It’s filled with easy, realistic ideas you can use anytime—no overwhelm, no pressure, just small steps that make a difference.
Frequently Asked Questions About Year-Round Self-Care
Do I have to follow these self-care themes in order?
Not at all. This is a guide, not a rulebook. You can start with whichever month or focus area feels most relevant to your life right now.
What if I miss a month?
That’s completely okay. Self-care isn’t about perfection—it’s about consistency over time. You can always come back to any area whenever you need it.
Can I focus on more than one area at a time?
You can, but if you tend to feel overwhelmed, focusing on one area at a time can help you stay consistent and actually build the habit.
How long does it take to build a self-care habit?
It depends, but the key is repetition. Focusing on one theme for a full month gives you enough time to practice consistently and start seeing results.
What if I don’t have time for this?
Self-care doesn’t require hours of free time. Even small actions—like going to bed earlier, drinking more water, or saying no to one thing—can have a big impact.
A Year of Taking Care of You
Self-care doesn’t happen all at once—it’s built over time.
One choice.
One habit.
One small shift at a time.
By focusing on one area each month, you give yourself the space to grow without overwhelm and the consistency needed to actually see change.
You don’t have to do everything.
You just have to start.
Let’s talk, what do you plan to do each month for your self-care? Let me know in the comments section.
Fruit & Veggie Photo by Dose Juice on Unsplash
Cassandra Martin-Himmons, LSMW, CSM-C is a trainer, wellness coach and consultant who believes in empowering her clients and providing the tools that they need to make positive changes in their lives to manage their stress and increase their self-care. In her spare time, she enjoys papercrafting, volunteering and travel. Connect with her on Instagram or YouTube
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