As we forge ahead into the new year and think about the priorities and goals we want to set for ourselves, I urge you to put scheduling self-care at the top of your list. I have made a personal commitment to scheduling my self-care on a day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month, and quarter-by-quarter basis this year and here’s why. 

Even if I resolve to do something with the utmost determination (e.g., meditate every day, start going to counselling again), if those self-care activities are not scheduled somewhere in my calendar, or included on my list of goals for the year, then the time passes by and the self-care ceases to happen. 

In the words of my favourite author Gretchen Rubin: “things that can be done at any time are often done at no time”. Which is why it is so important that we think about the things that we want to accomplish this year for self-care and actually write or type those items out. Gretchen is an advocate for writing a list for the year, as well as putting things in the calendar whenever possible. She explains that the act of sharing a list or scheduling an activity is a great habit-forming tool that establishes a sense of accountability. This means that those of us who respond well to someone or something holding us accountable are much more likely to accomplish the task or activities. 

If this sounds like you (or even if it doesn’t, hear me out), then you will want to consider these five strategies for ensuring that self-care doesn’t slip through your fingers this year. I will explain each of these in the context of what I am doing for my own self-care this year and I encourage you to do the same. 

1. Daily Self-Care: Ideally every one of us has non-negotiables for self-care that we strive to do each and every day. These are the activities that when they falter, so does our mental health and wellbeing. My daily self-care non-negotiables are movement (usually in the form of high intensity exercise or strength training), stillness (typically a meditation or body scan), and sleep (ideally 8 hours per night). I try to schedule these activities each day by putting a workout class in my calendar, planning a meditation before bedtime, and powering down electronics at 9:30 PM in anticipation of my 10:30 PM lights out. Consider what your daily non-negotiables are and ensure that you schedule them or pair them with other activities you already do every day.  
2. Weekly Self-Care: I make a “get to do” list every Sunday, which includes my work- and personal-related goals and tasks for the week. On that list, I make a point of including something related to my self-care. For example, on this week’s list I have “schedule counselling appointment”, but other examples could be “set up a meeting with a new financial planner”, “video chat with best friend”, or “go on a hike with dog”. Think of something you have had on your mental list for a while and put the plan into action by making it a to-do. 
3. Monthly Self-Care: On a month-by-month basis, I aim to make recurring appointments with people who help to support my mental and physical health and wellbeing. These include psychologists, massage therapists, osteopaths, naturopaths, acupuncturists, and any other paraprofessionals who help to ensure that my mind and body receive the maintenance and support they need for me to function at my best. I don’t necessarily need to see each of these individuals every month, but I do try to schedule at least one self-care appointment per 30-ish days.   
4. Quarterly Self-Care: Here in Canada where the seasons are marked by drastic changes in weather, it is easy to discern the quarters that divide our year into four. I take advantage of these signposts to look at what I have been doing for self-care and decide what needs more attention. Recall that self-care is typically categorized within one of the eight dimensions of wellness including physical, emotional, spiritual, social, financial, intellectual, occupational, and environmental. If you are looking for inspiration for your quarterly self-care activities you can consider which dimension of wellness has fallen by the wayside. For example, my winter (first quarter) goals typically include getting outside on my cross country skis (physical wellness) and submitting my tax paperwork to my accountant (financial wellness) – both of which qualify as self-care. 
5. Annual Self-Care: If you are like me and you tend to write out goals for the year (shout-out once again to Gretchen Rubin and her “22 for 2022 list” recommendation), then this is a great opportunity to ensure that there are things you want to accomplish this year that will support your self-care. Included on my list this year are “buy a new mattress” and “plan a weekend away with friends” but you might also opt for goals that you can tackle throughout the year such as “read 22 self-help books” or “write 22 letters to family”. 

No matter what methods you use or what goals you pick, prioritizing self-care in this way will improve the likelihood of accomplishing it substantially. And with veterinary teams staying as busy as ever these days and the pandemic not quieting any time soon, it is clear that self-care must stay top of mind for a while.