Self-care has become a buzzword in recent years, with social media and wellness communities reminding us how important it is to maintain our routines. Whether it’s meditating, exercising, journaling, or practicing mindfulness, these habits have one thing in common: they’re meant to make us feel better. But sometimes, despite our best intentions, life happens. We miss a workout. We skip our journaling session. We forget to meditate. And that’s okay.
I think there’s a lot of pressure to always be “on” when it comes to self-care, and while it’s true that these habits can make us feel better, it’s equally true that life can throw a curveball that disrupts even the best-laid plans. Whether you’re feeling under the weather, dealing with stress, or just flat-out exhausted, it’s natural that your usual self-care routine may take a backseat. And here’s the important part—it’s not the end of the world.
When I miss my usual self-care activities, especially if I’m feeling unwell, I tend to get frustrated. That frustration can easily snowball into a bigger issue, making me feel worse rather than better. But I’m learning to accept that it’s okay to take a break. Sometimes, self-care for the day is simply allowing yourself to “just be.” There’s a lot of power in listening to your body and giving it what it needs, even if that’s rest instead of your usual routine.
By accepting that we can’t control everything, especially how we feel on any given day, we can approach self-care with a gentler mindset. The more I try to fight against my low energy or force myself into a routine when I don’t feel up to it, the more I end up feeling drained. Embracing those low-energy days and going with the flow has been an important lesson for me. Sometimes, resting or doing nothing is just as much self-care as a workout or journaling session.
Self-care routines are important, but they’re also flexible. They’ll be there waiting for us on the days we have the energy to engage with them. And that’s something to look forward to rather than something to stress over. Missing a day (or even a few) doesn’t mean we’ve failed—it just means we’re human. We’re still doing our best, even if our best looks different from day to day.
So, next time you feel frustrated for not ticking all your self-care boxes, take a moment to acknowledge that you’re still showing up for yourself. Maybe today, showing up means resting. And that’s perfectly okay.
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