Self-care is one of those buzzwords that gets tossed around constantly. Take a bubble bath. Do yoga. Buy a face mask. But when life gets busy, “self-care” often feels like another item on the to-do list.
So I decided to let AI make it simpler. I asked ChatGPT:
“Can you design me a realistic self-care plan?”
Here’s what it gave me — and what happened when I tried to follow it.
ChatGPT’s Self-Care Plan
The AI broke it down into four areas:
- Physical: move your body 20 minutes a day, get 7–8 hours of sleep, hydrate.
- Emotional: practice mindfulness or journaling a few times a week.
- Social: check in with a friend or loved one regularly.
- Rest: schedule downtime without screens.
It looked balanced. This wasn’t just spa days, but a full-picture approach to wellbeing.
What I Tried
I didn’t want to overwhelm myself, so I started small:
- Added a short walk after lunch.
- Wrote down three things I was grateful for every night.
- Put my phone on “Do Not Disturb” an hour before bed.
Simple, doable changes. Nothing too fancy.
The Results
After a couple of weeks, I noticed:
- Better sleep. Cutting screens at night made falling asleep way easier.
- Less stress. Gratitude journaling shifted my mood before bed.
- More energy. Just 15 minutes of walking helped me avoid the afternoon crash.
I didn’t hit every category perfectly, but the structure gave me something to lean on.
What I Learned
- Self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate. It’s often just consistency in small habits.
- AI gave me a framework. Instead of guessing, I had a plan I could adapt.
- Flexibility matters. I didn’t feel guilty skipping a piece; I just picked it up the next day.
Final Verdict
Would I let ChatGPT be my self-care coach forever?
Probably not.
But it gave me the reset I needed.
And unlike most advice online, it felt balanced and realistic. I’ll definitely keep some parts (like journaling and walks) long-term.
Turns out, self-care isn’t about doing everything. It’s really just about doing a few things that actually stick.