Over the summer I decided to sign up for an Ipsy subscription as a form of self care. Seven months in and I’m realizing I do not have the time nor the skill to mess around with all these products.

Don’t get me wrong it’s totally great, but it is not the self care I need.

I thought I would make a list of tiny things I do/need in order to recharge that does not involve: forcing myself to “feel pretty”, getting a massage, going for a jog, or eating kale. For me, sometimes simple things can be neglected when I feel overwhelmed or not myself. Maybe if you are struggling with how to fulfill the concept of self-care in your life, this may help. Here we go, don’t judge me…

• Sing in the car, shower,or while doing chores I carpool during the week and I don’t like people to hear me, so it’s harder to fit in than it seems.
• Ignore my friends’ text messages for a day I know it may seem rude, but I do not always want to be “on”. That can be in the form of giving advice, reading about drama, or speculating for hours why they suddenly stopped texting me back. It’s better for me to avoid the extra stress by giving it a rest.

• Watch a TV show without looking at my phone It’s a form of being present. I also tend to forget what I just watched because I was not fully paying attention.
• Take a shower
• Dab a little essential oil behind my ears Usually lavender, peppermint, or eucalyptus.
• Watch, read, or listen to something that will make me laugh It’s good for the ticker!
• Go outside for a few minutes Believe me, if I do not have to go outside I won’t; there are people and all kinds of danger out there! Sometimes I enjoy spending a few minutes in the sun. It is especially nice if it does not end with me going to work or running an errand.
• Smile more
• Give social media a break
• Avoid checking e-mails outside of work hours This one is hard for me because I like to know what to expect when I enter the office. It only stresses me out and I spend a lot of time thinking about it. I have to tell myself problems are going to be there no matter what. It’s true!
• Cleaning my glasses The world may still be gloomy, I can at least remove the smears and smudges from in front of my eyes.
• Talk about my feelings Also the worst at this! I am getting better though. Turns out it is better than bottling days, weeks, or months worth of negative feelings and directing explosive outburst towards my poor loved ones. Who knew?!

• Spend a couple of hours scantily clad. No pants, no bra, no problem.
• Have a some chocolate
• Get at least 8 hours of sleep Easier said than done.
• Give or a receive a hug. I am not a big hugger, but a little embrace can be nice once in a while. Increased Oxytocin flow and whatnot.
• Spend time with a friend at least once a month I do not like going out and every time I make plans, I immediately want to cancel them. Days and hours leading up to the activity, I constantly say how much I am not looking forward to it. Then I do it, I end up having a good time, and I have fulfilled my quota. My friends know I need at least two weeks notice to makes plans. Something spontaneous? Count me out.

Manasi Deshpande

• Wake up to no alarm
• Think about breathing This taps into mindfulness. Breathing is something we all do without thinking, it is automatic, well for some of us. Sometimes I like to sit or lie down quietly and focus on breathing, actually feel the breath move throughout my body. Honestly, It is kind of weird at first.
• Call my mom
• Wash/comb/brush my hair This is usually the first thing to get neglected.
• Spend time alone

• Complete a small task When you are unmotivated, it feels like doing anything at all takes too much effort, at least that is how it feels for me. One thing I try to do is think of or write down a small, simple task and complete it. For example, taking my clothes off “the chair” or removing the coffee cups from my car. Because I feel so accomplished, it usually snowballs into completing more small tasks.

There you have it! It is not super spectacular or out of the ordinary, but I have become self-aware enough that these things are adequate for me. If nothing else, I hope this confirms that whatever you are doing to take care of yourself is enough, even if it feels like the bare minimum. I know when I come across self care articles, they tend to make me feel uneasy because they suggest things I cannot afford or would not think of doing. I think it’s great to try a new exercise or buy a bath bomb, but make sure in the end, you are doing what is best for you.