How to Build the Ultimate Self Care Night Routine

Wondering how to have a self care night at home? These super-simple self care ideas are essential for building the ultimate self care night routine.

Building a self care night routine can feel intimidating. Where to start, what to do, and, overall, how to have a self care night?!

It’s a lot! But what’s the point in developing a self care routine if it is only going to stress you out more? That’s just counterproductive.

Luckily, I have put together everything you need to know to build the ultimate self care night routine. Step-by-step from the time you get done working to the moment you go to bed, I have come up with the perfect self care night.

It is incredible. Trust me, you are going to want to take time for self care every night after this!

This post is all about how to build the ultimate self care night routine. 

When do you need a self care night?

There is a big misconception about self care. That is that it acts as a type of “damage control”. For example, self care is often viewed as a way to reset when you are feeling exhausted or a way to recover from burnout. While that is ONE of its purposes, self care can come long before it is “needed”.

In fact, having a consistent self care routine can help prevent burnout and overwhelm. With a busy life and many responsibilities, it can feel like you need to be productive all the time. However, self care is a form of productivity that is often overlooked.

With this, it is important to know before building your self care night routine that self care is valuable at any time.

You absolutely do not need to wait until you are burnt out to pursue a self care night.

Self Care Myths

1. Self Care is Universal

Another thing that is important to note before building a self care night routine is that self care is personal. What works for your best friend may not work as well for you. This is all about trial and error. Test out some different forms of self care to see what makes you feel most refreshed.

2. Self Care is Expensive

Nope. Wrong!!

In fact, self care can be totally free. You can stay at home and have the best self care night of your life… $0 needed!

3. Self Care Should Be Extravagant

You hear “self care” and you see a face mask with cucumbers on your eyes, right?

Well, I’m here to tell you that self care can be simple! Like I said above, some of my all-time favorite self care sessions were spent just chilling at home alone!

That said, if you are feeling like splurging, self care can also be extravagant… IF YOU WANT IT TO BE!

The self care night routine that we put together today will be a touch of both!

4. Self Care is Earned

Wrong again!

I’ll just keep this short and sweet here: you are worthy of self care no matter what.

I don’t care if you have felt unproductive or haven’t reached your dream goal yet. That’s okay! You can still take time for self care. As a matter of fact, self care might actually be just what you need to get refreshed and back on your productivity game!

5. Self Care is Selfish

This is the worth self care myth of all.

Oh my gosh! It makes me so frustrated when I see this idea being perpetuated.

Self care is NOT selfish.

Taking care of yourself – mentally, physically, emotionally – is NOT selfish. Never ever feel ashamed of taking the time for self care.

In fact, self care is what fuels you to be there for others. You simply cannot be a good friend, spouse, parent, sibling, employee, etc. if you are not fulfilled yourself.

Drop the idea that self care is selfish because I can tell you 100% without a doubt that it is NOT.

Now that we cleared up those problematic self care myths, let’s build a self care night routine!

The Ultimate Self Care Night Routine

This list of self care ideas is intended to give you the ideas and inspiration you need to get started on your own self care night! Feel free to rearrange, reorder, and rebuild your own self care routine. Like I said, self care is personal. Take these tips and make them your own!

Getting Started:

1. Take a Luxurious Shower

The first thing I do to unwind for my self care night is take a nice, luxurious shower. I like to wash the day away and get myself in my self care mindset.

Self care showers aren’t the same as normal showers. No, no, no. We are TREATING ourselves to the shower of our dreams. Some easy ways to take a simple shower to the next level is by investing in some good smelling shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

I have been actively trying and testing shower products for the last year and a half… my standards are very high. But I am happy to say that I have FINALLY found a shampoo, conditioner, and body wash combo that makes me feel fancy and fresh! LOL!

Here is everything you need for the best self care shower of your life:

My Favorite Shampoo and Conditioner Combo:

Best Overall: Biolage Hydrasource

Best For Curly Hair: Shea Moisture Curl & Shine

2. Skin Care

Skincare is the natural next step after a nice, relaxing shower. I have recently been working on being more consistent with my skincare. Focusing on my skincare has become one of the highlights of my self care nights. It makes me feel like I am at the spa! So relaxing and satisfying (and good for you!!).

My post-shower self care skin routine includes:

• Gentle Cleanser (I love CeraVe for this!)
• Face Mask (Tula has an AMAZING one. It’s even called “Self-Care Sunday”. This is a no-brainer!)
• Light Moisturizer (I love another Tula product for this too… this is a bit pricier than drugstore moisturizers but skincare is NOT something you want to skimp on. Worth every penny!)
• Face Roller (I use this exact one. So many people miss out on the benefits of face rolling. This is good for circulation, aging, and helping your products soak in!)

That is honestly as extensive as my skincare gets. I’m not going to lie and say that I have this long, complex skin care routine like those beauty gurus I watch on YouTube. I like to keep it as simple as possible because, to be honest, otherwise I’d never do it. LOL!

I typically even save face masks for when I am having a self care night. It is the perfect little special addition to make me feel special!

3. Put on Comfy Clothes

After your shower and skincare, you are NOT allowed to put on any clothes that are tight, itchy, fitted, or uncomfortable in any way.

Comfy clothes only on self care nights. It’s a rule.

That means sweats, t-shirts, PJs, workout shorts, oversized shirts, etc.

If you wearing something you’d sleep in, you’re doing it right.

4. Make a Delicious Dinner

Is it really even a self care night without an incredible dinner? My answer is no.

This is one of my favorite parts of my self care night routine. I love taking the time to decide what I really want to eat, making it (or ordering it), and enjoying every bite!

Nothing says self care quite like a full and happy tummy!

{RELATED POST: 180+ Simple Dinner Ideas + Printable Booklet}

5. Watch TV

I know everyone says “never eat dinner in front of the TV!!“.

You know what I say to that? “I do what I want.”

And 9 times out of 10, “what I want” on a self care night is to curl up in front of Friends or a good chick-flick with a big bowl of pasta and eat my dinner in peace. Life’s too short to not give in to these simple joys. If you want to watch Netflix with your dinner, you watch Netflix with your dinner.

This is YOUR self care night. Put your feet up and binge your favorite show!

6. Set the Scene

Since we’re building the ultimate self care night routine, we’re going all out. A huge part of self care is your environment. It’s so important to set the scene for the self care night you are hoping for.

Light some candles, turn on some string lights, grab a cozy blanket, run your diffuser… really set up your environment so it feels like your ultimate happy place.

Here are some of my favorite self care night room essentials: 

Now that we’re showered, clean, well-fed, and the scene is set, we can start in on some serious self care activities…

Self-Care Night Activities

7. Give Yourself a Mani-Pedi

I don’t know about you, but to me, nothing screams self care night like an at-home mani/pedi. I am so guilty of going MONTHS without caring for my nails. My toenails are almost always just living in a constant state of chipped and grown out. Not a cute look!

That said, I really do enjoy doing my nails and, even more, having my nails done. I have no idea why I put it off for so long.

If you are a natural nail girl, this is super simple. Just grab your favorite nail polish (instant-dry if you are impatient like me 😉 ) and paint away.

If you prefer long, fake nails, you can either do the whole process at home with extensions and gel powder and then paint them OR you can just buy press-on nails! Press on nails get a bad wrap but, honestly, they are so quick, easy, and convenient (and they look GOOD!).

I just recently did my nails with some press-ons and I am in love with them!

8. Unplug

It can be SO liberating to step away from the outside world during your self care night. I try to make this a part of my everyday night routine but am not always successful. However, during my self care night routine, this is a must.

Put your phone away, unplug from work, social media, and outside stressors. Take this time to just be with yourself and care for yourself. After all, that’s the main point of a self care night, right? 😉

9. Read

Reading is such an incredible act of self care. Whether it’s a favorite magazine, a romance novel, or a self-help book, reading is such a perfect way to care for yourself.

On self care nights, I tend to reach for a good fiction novel or a self-help book. It is the perfect way to be with myself and my thoughts. If you are on the hunt for a good book I have a huge list of 24 books everyone should read: 12 fiction, 12 self-help. It is a perfect balance.

10. Journal

Another great way to care for yourself is to journal. Journaling does remarkable things for your mind and your mental health. Whether you just free write anything that comes to mind or focus on one specific topic (gratitude, goals, etc.), the simple act of taking the time to journal is what matters.

I love to find journals that have pre-written prompts for me. That way, I can sit down, open it up, and get to writing with minimal thought to WHAT to write about.

These are my current favorites:

11. Online Shop

Treat yo’self, girlfriend!

If you are looking to save money, this may not be the best option for you. But… there is a time and a place for splurging on yourself. If you are looking to really treat yourself, some online shopping might be the perfect addition to your self-care night routine.

{RELATED POST: 15 High-End Products Worth Buying}

Even if you are trying to save money, there are tons of discount stores you can shop at! TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack are some of my favorites! Splurge without the huge money commitment! In the wise words of my girl Hannah Montana, it’s the best of both worlds.

12. Make Tomorrow Easier

There is some super light prep that you can do at night to make your next morning a bit easier. This may not seem like the most fun act of self care, but it IS self care. Looking out for your future self is something you will thank yourself for later. Promise.

{RELATED POST: 8 Productive Night Habits to Make Your Morning Easier}

13. Snacks, Dessert, and a Cozy Drink

I always love to end my self care night routine with some delicious snacks, dessert, or a nice cozy warm beverage.

My current favorite dessert is some vanilla ice cream, warm cinnamon apples, and Safe + Fair Honeycrisp Apple Granola.

OR… if I’m feeling chocolate-y, I will do some chocolate ice cream, with bananas, peanut butter, and Safe + Fair Sweet & Salty Granola.

Moral of the story is, I am granola-obsessed lately. LOL! I seriously go through like a bag a week. If you’ve never tried it, you NEED TO!

A sweet (or savory) treat is the perfect little act of self care before bed. It is one of my favorite ways to close out my self care night.

There you have 13 incredible ideas for the ultimate self care night routine!

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If you have been wondering how to have a self care night at home, I hope these 12 self care tips helped you get a better idea of how YOU can implement a self care night routine into your own life.

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If you have been postponing having a self care night, this is your sign to GO HAVE ONE!

Happy Self Care!

XOXO,

Del