"You yourself, as much as anyone in the entire universe deserve your love and affection." -Buddha

The term “self care” refers to intentional actions you take to benefit your physical and emotional health. Self care is not just important for your well-being, it’s essential. So what does it look like? Self care can include things like going for a walk outside or partaking in other forms of exercise, practicing some guided meditation, (such as a mindfulness-based body scan) cooking a healthy meal for yourself, etc.

To some people, self care may seem instinctual. Perhaps you follow a regular exercise routine. Maybe it’s a habit for you to eat a balanced diet. But for others, self care is very much a foreign concept, and it's especially difficult if you're having a bad day. On bad days, seemingly “easy” self care activities can be a major challenge. But it’s crucial to take even just small steps towards caring for yourself when you don’t want to--because that’s when you need it most.

Caring for ourselves doesn’t just meet physical and emotional needs that our bodies and minds have, it also does something much more. When I take a hot shower or watch an episode of my favorite TV show at the end of a long day, for example, I’m proving to my brain that I am worthy of the love that I'm showing myself, even when I am feeling bad.

Remember that self care doesn’t have to be extreme. In no particular order, here is a short list of some of the small things you can do for yourself when anything else just feels like too much:

• Take five slow, deep breaths
• Watch some funny YouTube videos
• Cuddle with a pet
• Read a bit of your favorite book
• Tidy up your desk
• Go to a public space like a coffee shop, and just enjoy being around people for a change of scenery
• Put together a playlist of music you enjoy listening to
• Watch a sunset
• Set a reasonable goal for yourself to achieve within the next week
• Indulge in your favorite food
• Spend some time with a close friend
• Soak in a warm bath
• Write a list of things in your life you are grateful for
• Apply your favorite body lotion or makeup
• Watch a documentary to learn something new about the world
• Sit outside in the sun for a few minutes
• Slowly drink a glass of cold water
• Stretch out your body for a few minutes
• Write a list of things you are looking forward to
• Search the internet for inspirational quotes
• Take a minute to remember that this bad day will be over soon.