wellness and self-care
Let’s address one of the most commonly asked questions “Do I really need a routine?”
In my personal opinion, “absolutely”, but is it necessary? No, not really. But when it comes to self-growth and self-care, having a routine can make a huge difference. It supports how you show up in your daily life, how you move through your emotions, and how grounded you feel.
But instead of chasing the everyday aesthetic of green juice and cute pyjamas, I think what’s more important is to understand why a routine matters in the first place— and how it can actually support your self-growth journey in a way that is real, nourishing, and aligned with you.
In this post, I want to walk you through a simple self-growth routine that aligns with your life, not someone else’s idea of productivity. Whether you’re just starting your personal development journey or you’ve been dabbling but haven’t quite found your rhythm yet, this is for you.
Let me show you how it started for me.
I was 19 years old when I started exploring personal growth and development. At the time, I didn’t realise I was beginning a self-growth journey — it just started as a personal interest. I wasn’t raised in a religious environment, but something within me was drawn to spirituality. That pull ended up shaping how my self-care and daily habits unfolded.
Instead of traditional checklists and productivity hacks, my self-development journey took a different route. It leaned deeply into spirituality — not because I planned it that way, but because I followed what genuinely sparked my interest. Over time, that interest began shaping my lifestyle in ways I didn’t expect.
Learning new things opened the door to personal development, and through that, I discovered mindfulness, which eventually led me to meditation. Surprisingly, meditation came naturally to me. It didn’t feel forced. It just clicked.
One day, I randomly came across a video that talked about building better habits by staying off your phone for two hours after waking up and two hours before going to bed. That night, I decided to try it — just to see what would happen.
So what did I do during that screen-free time?
There was no app. No timer. No fancy routine. Just me, checking the time every now and then and choosing to be with myself.
This wasn’t something I forced. It just felt good. And because it felt good, I kept doing it. Over time, this became my morning flow — not because I was chasing productivity, but because I was following presence.
There was no pressure to perform. No expectation to get it “right.” Just small, meaningful practices that helped me stay grounded and connected.
Looking back, I didn’t set out to build a routine. I simply followed what interested me. I let myself be fascinated by what I was learning and allowed those things to naturally shape how I lived day-to-day.
Over time, it all wove together — meditation, mindfulness, yoga, learning about crystals and energy work. I wasn’t interested in social media back then. I was far more interested in being present and learning how to feel connected to something deeper.
And that’s how my simple self-growth routine was born — not from pressure, but from curiosity. Not from a plan, but from presence.
So if you’re just starting out, let this be your reminder: You don’t have to force a routine to grow. You just have to follow what calls to you, and let that guide your next step.
You don’t need to copy my routine. Routines look different for everyone, and so meditation and yoga may not resonate with you like they did for me. The important thing is that your routine feels good. That’s the most important thing that I can say. You don’t need to meditate for an hour or quit social media.
You just need to listen to yourself.
Your self-growth routine doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s — not mine, not the internet’s, and definitely not the aesthetically pleasing version that’s all over Pinterest.
What helped me was starting small and following what felt good. So let’s do that for you, too.
Here’s how you can begin a flexible, soul-supporting routine — your way:
Ask yourself: What’s one small practice I’m curious about right now?
Maybe it’s journaling. A 3-minute meditation. A daily walk. Or simply drinking water first thing in the morning.
Tip: Start with just 5–10 minutes. That’s it. Let it be small and consistent.
Pick a window of time (just like I did) where you gently protect your energy, even if it’s just 20 minutes in the morning or before bed. No phone. No scrolling. Just you time.
This could look like:
You don’t need a rigid structure. Just notice what lights you up. Notice what brings calm. Repeat those things. Over time, they’ll form your own rhythm, without even trying.
It’s okay to change it up depending on your mood, energy, or season of life. Think of it as a living practice.
If you’re looking for a little extra support, head over to The Growth Lounge — it’s packed with free resources designed to support your self-growth journey, no matter where you’re starting from.
If you’re not sure where to begin? I recommend checking out The Consistency Kickstart Kit, a gentle, no-pressure guide to creating habits that actually stick, without the burnout.
Or simply browse and choose something that feels right to you. Trust what you’re drawn to.
Your journey doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. Your routine is allowed to grow with you. Start with what feels doable. Let your curiosity lead. And most of all, give yourself permission to keep it simple.
Because true self-growth? It doesn’t start with the perfect routine. It starts with you choosing to show up for yourself, one small habit at a time.
What part of this post spoke to you most? Have you tried building a routine before, or are you starting fresh? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. I’d truly love to hear your story.
Welcome to your space for real self-growth. I’m here to support you as you grow into your most authentic self.
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About me
A few years ago, I found myself overwhelmed, searching for deeper meaning. My curiosity about the world often left me with more questions than answers. As I moved through different seasons of life, I started connecting the dots and gaining clarity on who I am and what I wanted in life.
One pivotal moment caused me to pause, reflect, and ask myself: What does a fulfilling life look like for me? Embracing that realisation sparked a life-changing commitment to personal growth, which ultimately led me to create By Raina L.
Let’s do this thing called growth together!
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