We live in a time where, more than ever, we’re less encouraged to ignore what bothers us and to instead confront the issues that we’re having. We’ve observed how negative feelings, ones that may have originally gone ignored, have snowballed into much more serious and detrimental manifestations of the person. We’re motivated by the value of emotional strength and resilience, because after all, it’s what keeps us alive and productive. But they are not a mask and shield from the very human emotions which come from our inevitable shortcomings and inadequacies.

To move forward, we need a day or two to step back every now and then and make sure we’re doing alright physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Self-care is not letting yourself go.

It’s not skipping the shower for three days straight because you’re indulging in bad foods and letting yourself be lazy. It is taking the time to treat yourself well when perhaps you’ve been falling behind due to other obligations. After all, you only have one body. If you’re in a deep rut, at least give yourself two minutes to brush your teeth or wash your face. If you’re compelled to stress eat, choose a small snack. You can't function efficiently if you don't have the means to in the first place.

Self-care doesn’t compromise your dignity.

There are many people who may dismiss the idea of self-care as useless nonsense who, to be honest, probably need self-care the most. Taking the time to address anything that has been bothering you with yourself is necessary for your sanity. If for you that means seeing a therapist or even buying one of those adult coloring books, don’t feel inhibited to go for it if it improves who you are as a person.

Self-care doesn’t require an audience.

We live in an age where everything we do can be viewable to the public eye, from venting your troubles in five-paragraph Facebook statuses to Instagram bathtub pictures. Sometimes we may be too aware of ourselves when we’re not putting on a front. Taking a day or two away from social media to enjoy some elusive private time for yourself can be immensely rewarding. Don’t be afraid to spend some time off the grid. The world will always exist even when technology doesn’t.

Self-care isn’t missing obligations whenever you feel a little blue.

Taking a day off every so often, but only when you truly need it to recuperate, is not a bad idea. But everybody has responsibilities to uphold. There are times you’ll need to suck it up and deal with it because that’s simply how life is. When sucking up and dealing with it goes from being a mild or moderate inconvenience to something that is noticeably hurting the quality of your life, that’s when you need to question whether or not the obligation is worth continuing.

Self-care is a necessity for survival. It prevents us from succumbing to our deepest anxieties, fears, and troubles that we might have pretended were not problems in the first place to save face. It’s okay to feel stressed and overwhelmed and do what you reasonably can to give yourself time to heal. Responsibility, productivity, and resilience are important to stay afloat, unless you’re already letting yourself sink.