Taking care of me in boring ways

Sometimes, whenever I felt bad, I would look for something that would make me feel better. Maybe buy something from Amazon, a new skincare product. Or go get Starbucks or go browse the shops. Or just kill time scrolling through my phone. 

Sometimes those things did make me feel better, but never for very long.

The things that actually do seem to help are much more boring. For example, going to bed when I'm tired instead of staying up because I want a few more hours to myself. Eating breakfast in the morning. Filling my water bottle and actually drinking it. Washing my hair before it gets to the point where I have to. Putting on real clothes even though I'm staying home. Eating a complete lunch. Going outside. Stretching, doing yoga. 

None of this "feels" like self-care when I'm doing it. There are no candles involved. Most of it feels like the kind of thing someone's mother would remind them to do. But I've noticed that on the days when I take care of these little mundane things, I feel better.

Not transformed, not amazingly more productive. Just more comfortable and more "well." And what I realized is that that is actually enough.

So, I hope that you don't beat yourself down too much on the days when you feel bad for whatever reason. Remember to do the little mundane things - wash your hair, eat. Sleep if you are exhausted. Taking care of you is enough.