When you think of the word “self-care”, what do you picture?

Do you see delicious treats, bubble baths, massages or other indulgences that are often portrayed on social media? Things that seem like more of a reward than an everyday part of life? While self-care can certainly involve these things, it seems to have taken on a meaning that makes people avoid it rather than encouraging the practice. Instead, self-care should be a daily act that is part of your routine.

Taking time to care for yourself isn’t selfish. It helps you show up fully for others in your life. Self-care can prevent burnout, reduce the negative effects of stress, promote a healthy work-life balance and help you refocus.

When work starts to pile up, you have multiple projects at home and other responsibilities to take care of, it’s easy to put aside taking care of yourself and doing the things that help you feel energized.

Forget the images you may have seen on social media and think about what self-care means to you. It can be helpful to start by identifying a list of what is most important in your life. Then, ask yourself how you would ideally show up for those important things and what you need to do to feel that way.

For example, if one of your top priorities is your family and you want to feel energized and present when you’re with them, maybe you carve out alone time to rest or turn off your phone when you have dinner. If you find that self-care is getting pushed aside, try scheduling it to make sure it stays a priority.

Take time for yourself with these 6 self-care ideas. Remember, self-care is all about finding something that helps you recharge:

• Take a 10-minute walk
• Disconnect from your phone for 30 minutes
• Read a book
• Spend time with people you care about
• Try a new fitness class
• Cook a healthy meal for yourself