Self-care has grown to be a more common topic of discussion, especially as mental health awareness has become prevalent in the media. One thing that seems to be unclear, however, is what self-care should look like.

Luckily, self-care doesn't have to involve expensive bath bombs or a day at the spa, though both options are always nice. Instead, self-care should be much more common and done on at least a weekly basis. Why you ask?

Self-care is, in many cases, what keeps me, and many others who suffer from mental illness, continuing life day by day.

Now, you may be thinking, "Isn't that a little dramatic?"

No. It isn't.

There are days where getting out of bed is hard. Making the conscious effort to go to class and go to work is hard. Explaining your stress, anxiety, or depression when you don't fully understand it yourself, is hard. Sometimes, being alive is hard. If medicine or therapy doesn't seem to work, we have to turn to other options. Self-care is that outlet.

I personally schedule a self-care day once a week, along with scheduled time for myself daily. This can be something as simple as watching my favorite shows, or it can be more elaborate, like taking a long bubble bath, or going to a movie. Whatever makes you happy, relieves stress, or even serves as a mindless distraction, you shouldn't feel guilty for taking that time for yourself.

We all are busy. Devoting yourself to your work will burn you out, though. You'll be less productive, and the quality of your work will lessen. Without taking time for self-care, you will grow exhausted. This isn't just something frivolous and it isn't a means of wasting time, but instead, is a means of survival.

You don't have to have a scheduled time to take care of yourself, like I do. But you should spend time taking care of yourself. Sometimes, mental health breaks are needed. That isokay. You aren't a failure for pushing back a work to spend time resting. Taking time for yourself is not something you should feel guilty about.

Self care may be discussed more often, and that is a needed step. We need to recognize self care as more than expensive spa days or bath bombs, though. Self care literally is just meant to mean taking care of yourself, and that is something, we all should be willing to do.