Why is it that when we are physically sick, we are told to take a break, get some rest, and get better quickly? And yet when we feel our mental health taking a toll, we’re told to soldier through and get over it? Why is that? Why is it that mental health days are frowned upon? Because mental health is not contagious. Physical illnesses often are contagious. Why worry about something when you’re probably not going to catch it?

As someone who rarely gets physically ill, I often feel like my mental health takes the heat instead because I am a workaholic, I pick up way too many hours, I take on way too many side projects, and I forget to say “No” to people. But every now and then, when I feel my mental health wearing thin, I start to say “No” and I take a mental health day. Mental health days are important. Your mental health is connected to your physical health. Since I was young, I was always allowed 1 or 2 mental health days a semester, because my mom recognized that mental health is just as important as physical health. This is a pattern that I continued when I got to college because mental health is important.

Now people call it self-care when we take the time for ourselves and our mental health. And these are some of the ways you can practice self-care.

Spa day.
Go to Walmart. Buy yourself some Epsom salt, a foot scrubber, a dish pan, a new nail color and one of those mini packets of facial masks. Do an at-home spa for a night. Put on some relaxing music and just pamper yourself. Self-care looks like taking the time for yourself.

Buy a coloring book.
Perhaps one of the most common self-care practices currently, coloring is not just for kids anymore! Go out get yourself a nice set of markers or colored pencils and a cool looking coloring book and kick back and relax with a coloring book. Self-care looks like creativity.

Journaling.
Getting all your thoughts out of your head is the biggest help for yourself. Writing everything every day helps you keep track of how you were feeling, what you were thinking, and it helps you process your feelings better. Self-care looks like realizing your own emotions.

Meditation.
Sit down with a guided meditation for positive thinking or chakra realignment or cord cutting or any number of meditations on YouTube. These are usually 10-20 minutes long and can be done every day just like coloring or journaling. These guide you to having a better day. Self-care looks like short-term goals for the long-term you.

Eating healthy.
This is an essential part of feeling 100%. I’m not saying you need to count calories, cut carbs or fat, or stop eating candy, and I’m certainly not saying you shouldn’t have unhealthy days. I’m saying that paying attention to what you’re putting into your body. You get one body and making sure you give yourself its best shot is really important to your health. Self-care means taking care of you.

Self-care comes in so many forms. Sometimes you need to just take a day off and get out of your own head with lots of tea, a good book or Netflix marathon, finding your most comfortable pajamas, curling up with your favorite stuffed animal, and ordering some Chinese food.

Midterms are coming. They are stressful. But try to make time for mental health and #practiceselfcare.