What have you done today to preserve or improve your own health?

I feel that the answer is a resounding…nothing. If you can’t think of one thing, then it’s likely you’re not practicing self-care. Or, perhaps a better statement is that you don’t know how. Think of it this way: Your life is a full glass of water (or wine if that is your preference). Each time you have to go to work, do something you’d rather not, or feel stressed or anxious, take a drink.

If you never do anything to refill that cup, eventually—and for some, quickly!—it will be empty. How can you continue to give your best to yourself or to others if your cup is perpetually empty? Self-care is all about how you refill your own personal cup.

Listen to Your Inner Voice

The first step in self-care is finding out what recharges you. I’ve already mentioned that I’m an introvert, so a weekend full of social events, parties, and even lots of sound and noise is far from relaxing for me. I need that quiet, unadulterated solo time alone to feel rejuvenated.

The most important part of self-care is that tiny little voice inside that whispers what you truly want. What do you want? It might be, like me, a bit of peace and quiet. It might also be an hour-long massage. A good book? A long walk with a great podcast? Each individual’s favorite self-care routine is going to look different. And that’s completely okay!

But, mostly, this part of self-care is about developing a healthy relationship with yourself. Your body is happiest when you’re listening to it. And treating yourself to a little pampering is the perfect what to tell your body that its needs are important, too!

When thinking about what recharges you, ask yourself this stream of questions:

• What would I rather be doing right now?

• Will this make me more relaxed? Or more stressed?

• Will this make me happy?

• What does my body need?

Answering any of these questions can help you get right into the self-care mood. Whether I’m feeling it (or not), I make it a point to listen to my body and set aside time in my day to step away at least once and do something for myself (even if it’s 10 minutes!).

Don’t Feel Guilty

Did you read through that last part and think: I don’t know if I can do that? If you feel overwhelmed by daily life events, work, or children, don’t feel guilty when you say, I’m doing this for me. Because, ultimately, it goes back to that initial metaphor. A cup that is empty has nothing to give. If you don’t take the time for yourself—to put your needs first—there will be nothing there. You are able to be better for others when you take time for yourself first.

But what about work? Are you saying: But I can’t just take time off! In our fast-paced hustle culture, you are far from alone. But unlike what you may have been told, working yourself to death is not a virtue. Chronic workaholics are constantly battling stress, anxiety, poor sleep, and even depression. All of this puts a toll on your immune system and you’re likely to end up having to take days off because you’re feeling under the weather.

Self-care, for many, could be as much about developing a healthy work-life balance as it is about a bit of pampering. In fact, there has been evidence that shows that wasting time can actually have a positive effect on your mental health. By creating space for so-called “time-wasting” activities, you give yourself time to disconnect, recharge, and ultimately, return to your productive work hours refreshed and reinvigorated.

So don’t feel guilty. Adequate time for self-care is a need, not just a want.

Stay Consistent & Schedule

What’s the best way to make sure that you do something? Plan it out! Schedule time in your day to devote to self-care. Stressful day at work? Try taking a long bubble bath.

Self-care doesn’t have to be a monetary item. It could simply be sitting down to read, preparing dinner for yourself, or doing absolutely nothing. But just like you would schedule an important meeting or deadline, scheduling time for yourself shows that it’s important.

And really, what’s more important than your health?