Start your day out on the right note by taking care of yourself. A good morning routine is essential to self-care.

Have you ever walked out the door while running late and felt uneasy because you didn’t get a single minute to do the things you needed to do for yourself? You weren’t able to work out, journal, or even wash your face properly, right? If you want to overcome the helpless feeling that comes with having no time for self-care due to a busy schedule, there are some things you can do now to change your routine.

Here is how to make self-care a priority first thing in the morning:

• Allow room for self-care in your schedule. Physically include self-care on your calendar as well as your to-do list so that it isn’t overlooked. You can even set up reminders on your phone to take a few minutes to breathe, meditate, journal, or send a message to a loved one who you haven’t contacted in a while.
• Wake up early to make sure you have time to do the things that you want to do. A few extra minutes a day is all it takes to have a little “me time” before the day gets started. Use it to catch up on emails, read a chapter in your favorite book, or take the dog for a brisk walk around the block.
• Learn to delegate tasks so you’re not the person everyone depends on. If you have children that are school age, help them help you by assigning them tasks to complete each morning. That way, they’re responsible for getting themselves ready while you take care of the things you need to do for yourself.
• Combine tasks whenever possible. Determine which things on your list of self-care priorities can be grouped together. For example, you can listen to your favorite podcast while taking a bath. Discover which tasks go best with each other and group them together to make the most of your spare time.

Make every day worth remembering by giving yourself enough time to take care of the things you need to do to thrive. Use the uplifting scent of spearmint to awaken your senses and make yourself feel alert and ready to tackle the day triumphantly. Keep a box of Bioesse Tech’s Aromatherapy Inhalation Patches where you can easily reach them and apply one to your chest underneath your clothing before heading out the door. You’ll get up to eight hours of use from a single patch which is plenty of time to get you through a mid-afternoon slump.