Most people are always so caught up in doing things in the moment. Time passes by, and they realise that they have not had a single moment to stop, pause, and smell the coffee, literally!

1. The water cleansing
   Begin your day with a glass of warm water with honey, lime, and a pinch of cinnamon powder thrown in. This works to start your metabolism which is usually lagging after a night’s rest and also helps flush out toxins that may be left over from the night before. The lemon contains Vitamin C which is excellent for health and keeps colds and coughs at bay. The alkalinity in the lemon also works to neutralise acids in the gut and prevent heartburn. This seemingly simple ritual is one of the first tenets of self-care.

2. Embrace the sun
   While this may seem counterproductive in summer, just drawing open the curtains in your bedroom every morning and allowing the sunlight to enter is a wonderful way to start your day. Natural light helps release happy hormones, and this is a must as part of your self-care routine.
3. Scrape your tongue
   All the toxins in our body are deposited on our tongue overnight, and we need to get them out of our system for good. One great way to do this is by scraping the surface of your tongue. Not only does it make your breath fresher, it also makes your taste buds more receptive to foods so scrape away every morning.
4. Make a ritual of your first cup of beverage
   Whatever your beverage of choice might be, don’t glug it in a rush as you race between packing tiffin boxes and racing out of the house. If you are having a cup of green tea or coffee, once your cup is ready, sit by yourself quietly, without fiddling with the phone or Ipad, and allow this to be your time with yourself before the madness of the day swallows you whole.

5. Massage therapy
Before you jump into the shower, use your hands to massage your body in circular motion. Start at your toes and work your way up. This helps kick start your circulation and is an excellent self-care ritual to begin your day with. You can use a cream or lotion if you like but a dry rub works just as well.

6. Deep breathing
One needs to spend just 2 to 3 minutes per day doing this. Just breathe consciously, and focus on your chest rising and falling to the rhythm of the deeper breathing. This slightly meditative state helps you focus your thoughts and plan for the day ahead.

7. Keep a food diary
Once you start writing down what all is going into your system each day, you are likely to realise how much and how often we end up abusing our body. What works well is that once you go back and read your food entries, you instantly become aware of what nutrients your diet is lacking and what you need to cut back on. That’s an important step in self-care.

8. Pack your own lunch
When you create your own menu and pack your own lunch, you are owning what you eat. This is important as you can vary your diet without worrying about opening your lunch box and finding something that you don’t much like.

9. Ramp up your exercise routine
No, no one is asking you to hit the gym every day or sweat it out for 40 minutes. All you need to include into your self-care regime is 7 minutes of home exercises or an extra 5 minutes of walking or going up the stairs in the middle of a busy day. It helps you mobilise yourself and take mini steps to achieve your fitness goals.

10. Snack healthy
Very often, when one is busy at work, food is not eaten mindfully. If you can introduce mindful eating as part of your daily self-care routine, you will find yourself happier and more energetic in the long run. Carry some healthy snacks with you to work; at the end of the day, you will have a spring in your step.

11. Introduce a night routine
If you are the kind of person who drags himself or herself to bed at the end of the day, it might be time to press the pause button and rethink. Something as simple as a cleanse, tone, and moisturise routine works wonders for your skin and helps you age better; so incorporate it as part of your self-care regime.