It’s all right, I’ll go to the gym tomorrow. Skipped lunch? I’ll just eat a big dinner. I don’t have time to shower tonight… We’re told again and again by professors, coaches, parents, and everyone in between how important it is to take care of ourselves. Then things come up: schoolwork, meetings, practices, and somehow self-care gets put on the back burner. We’ll make up every excuse in the book to convince ourselves that the way we live is ok, that we’re just a product of our experiences. This is how you get caught in a destructive cycle. We’ve all been there.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”

No matter how trivial doing little things for yourself each day may seem, they are the foundations on which we build our daily lives. There is a misconception about self-care. We see influencers filming their perfectly healthy daily routines, waking up at 5 am, running their morning mile, and having the most productive day imaginable without breaking a sweat.

But the truth is you don’t have to be “THAT girl” to live a happy, healthy life. One could argue that filming every aspect of your “productive daily routine” to brag on social media is not the healthiest mindset anyways… but what do I know?

Society has given us this conception that self-care is more of a chore than simple daily practices that serve to relax you and boost your mood. Self-care is entirely different for everyone. Instead of thinking of self-care in big gestures, it is important to redefine it in your own terms.

In reality, self-care can be as simple as calling an old friend, going outside and getting some sun, keeping a night routine, getting some exercise, or simply putting your phone down.

It’s crucial to take it day by day and be kind to yourself. 

The reality is, it’s not easy to live a happy life. For 99 percent of people, choosing to live happily is not taking the so-called “easy route” in life. It’s actually quite challenging. It’s easier than ever to be lazy nowadays. But at the same time, there’s more pressure than ever to succeed in every way possible.

It’s a corrupt cycle, to begin with, so how do you stop yourself from falling victim to it? The first step is to take the pressure off of yourself. The lives of others do not define yours. Make a daily routine that brings you peace and set goals.

Now you may be the type that doesn’t like to plan ahead, so take it day by day or on a weekly basis. In this respect, creating a daily routine is essential, especially when it comes to coping with change, burnout, and stress.

According to American Addiction Centers, implementing a daily routine can have extreme mental health benefits, “from alleviating bipolar disorder and preventing substance abuse to managing the symptoms of other mental disorders.” It takes 21 days to form a new routine or habit, just three weeks, and if you stick to it through this threshold, you’ll likely make it a long-term practice.

Now how do you sustain it? It’s simple; surround yourself with reliable people who uplift you and possess positive qualities that you either see in yourself or want to see. It’s also essential to keep yourself challenged. It’s funny how as soon as people become successful, they choose to remove all challenges from their lives. They hire someone to cook their food, clean their house, drive their cars, etc.

It’s a phenomenon that can only lead to stagnancy. However, as young adults, the challenge feels more nuanced. It often feels as though the world is expecting a level of success that we may not be able to achieve. Many choose to react to these pressures with avoidance. They simply decide it is too difficult to conceptualize life’s stresses and choose to escape. The irony is that by doing this, the very thing you are trying to escape is consuming you. Instead, focus on what you can control. Start with the basics: healthy eating, regular exercise, and adequate sleep can take you a long way, as simple as it sounds.

You will notice a difference in your daily life. It won’t be easy to hold yourself accountable, but what’s a better challenge than to become the happiest, healthiest version of yourself?