This is a sponsored post with BECU. All opinions are my own.
I’m so excited to partner with BECU this year to share more about my personal financial journey, and how their various tools and resources have helped me navigate these uncertain times. BECU is a Washington-based, member-owned credit union committed to supporting their members’ financial well-being through budgeting tools, the Financial Health Check service, and more.
While adjusting to this new normal, I’ve had to make a lot of changes in my life. Before the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, I had just started getting settled into my routine of walking to work, scheduling out self-care time and date nights after work. Having that sense of familiarity every day was becoming very calming and reassuring for me.
As we continue adjusting to the impacts of COVID-19, I’ve been using the last few months to contemplate how I can alter my previous routine to suit this new environment. While working on my new routine, I made sure to have one goal in mind: take care of myself. Whether that means working out, practicing my creativity or even managing my finances with BECU, holistic self-care has been absolutely crucial for my new normal!
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in all of this and let the days blend together, but having a daily regimen has really made me excited to wake up every morning and start the day! And my focus on self-care has made me regularly check in with myself mentally to make sure that I’m giving myself what I need.
Based off these needs, I started to form a new routine:
7:00 am – Wake up (since I don’t have a commute, I get to sleep in a little more than normal!) These are definite bright spots that have also helped me maintain my self-care routine.
7:05 am – Wash face, brush teeth, and get ready for the day. Yes, that means getting dressed (even if it is just in leggings and a t-shirt!). Purposefully getting ready means taking time for myself each morning, and starting the day off right.
7:15 am – Make coffee and breakfast. I’ve started to make the most yummy iced coffee at home that I’ve perfected over the last few weeks. A delicious drink every morning really helps me smile at the start of my day!
7:30 am – Work
12:00 pm – Lunch break; workout! Fitness is a huge part of my self-care regimen since it ‘s an important way for me to take care of my body and physical well-being. It is also incredibly relaxing, and I feel so empowered afterwards!
1:00 pm – Back to work
4:30 pm – Wrap up the day, check in with myself to see where I’m at and what I need to feel accomplished for the day.
5:00 pm – Self-care time!
During this time, self-care is more important than ever. Plus, since I’m not as busy, it can take a higher priority in my life. I try to alternate my self-care depending on my needs that day. My go-to self-care activities include:
- Virtual Happy Hour with Friends: I love checking in with my friends to see how they’re doing, and a virtual happy hour can be the perfect way to lift your spirits.
Virtual happy hour is such a fun way to safely socialize, and, there are so many fun activities you can try! My friends and I have played games like ‘Never Have I Ever’! Also, if you haven’t already, try a themed happy hour! A group of my friends and I recently wore onesies to our hang out.
- Checking and Managing My Finances: Opening the BECU app and managing my cash on hand, while also setting up automatic transfers twice a month, used to be something that stressed me out. However, I’ve recently gotten into the habit of contributing bi-weekly to my savings fund and it has actually been exciting to check in on my growing savings! The economic downturn has also reminded me of the importance of budgeting and saving.
I’ve opened a savings account with BECU to help with my financial planning. Maintaining this emergency savings account has given me peace of mind about my financial future, even with all the uncertainty in the world right now. While some may be financially affected more than others during this time, it’s always important to assess your current situation and utilize resources that work best for you.
For more information on how BECU can help you address and assess your financial needs now and for the future, check out their financial relief portal. We’re all navigating this time together.
- Date Night with Myself: It’s never a bad idea to take yourself on a date! One of my favorite self-date nights is a wine and cheese night. It’s such an amazing way to wind down from a long day – plus, cheese is my absolute favorite thing in the world. You can also try winding down with a movie night! It’s easy, simple, and inexpensive.
If those aren’t really up your alley, you can always try an at-home spa day! Grab some candles, plug in your favorite music, and enjoy a bath bomb (if you have one) and wind down for a nice relaxing bath. Turn off the lights to get that true “spa” feel right at home!
Finally, I recommend cooking yourself a nice meal! It’s a great way to try a yummy new recipe that you might end up loving, and you’ll get dinner as well. It’s the perfect combination. - Leaning Into my Creative Side: I love photography, writing blog posts and editing, so really tapping into my creativity has been such an amazing way to practice self-care with all this extra free time.
No matter how you normally get creative, this can also be an amazing time to explore new and fun outlets you typically wouldn’t. For example, I’ve started making jewelry with flowers and resin. I saw this online and just knew I had to give it a try! My first few haven’t been perfect, but it’s so fun and cathartic to channel my creativity in a new and interesting way.
I’ll be honest, this self-care routine isn’t always easy to keep. It’s so easy to have days where I’d rather leave it all behind and have a lazy day, and sometimes that’s okay! But I would challenge anyone trying to adjust to a new routine to ask themselves three questions:
- Am I taking care of myself?
- Is this what my body, mind and wallet need right now?
- How can I better myself today?
These three questions help me keep my regimen on track and make sure I’m always doing what’s best for me. And oftentimes, that does mean keeping a consistent routine so that I can always be my best self!
woo!