Why is self-care underrated? 7 practices that can actually help women feel less exhausted

Most modern women juggle with work deadlines and family responsibilities on a daily basis. When the day ends, the body and the mind are both exhausted. That is when the need for self-care arrives. But the term itself is greatly misunderstood and underrated. Speaking about self-care, things like expensive skincare routines, spa appointments, etc., first come to mind. Social media does not help either. One scroll and the ₹5,000 facial advertisements can make us put our phone away. Sounds more like a luxury rather than a necessity, right? But self-care does not always come with a big price tag. Sometimes it involves doing simple things that help you without putting a dent in your wallet. Here are seven such simple self-care practices that make a difference.

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In a world that constantly demands our time and energy, taking care of yourselves keeps you functioning at your best. Whether it’s getting enough sleep, having healthy meals, or setting your boundaries, these things are the bare minimum and should not be compromised.

According to a report from Forbes, self-care is closely linked with productivity and overall well-being. The report notes that taking care of mental, physical and emotional well-being can reduce stress, sharpen focus and improve productivity.

Most of us just wake up and immediately reach for our phones. Before we even know it's Tuesday or Wednesday, we are already drowning in messages and notifications. This sets a bad tone for the whole day. Try to get at least 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight before touching your phone. The mornings would feel very positive when your first interaction is not with a screen. This single habit can improve your mood and greatly reduce the exhaustion you feel at the end of the day.

Walking is one of the easiest forms of self-care that costs nothing. An empty road, the neighborhood park, or even your terrace- the location does not really matter. Many people underestimate how much a twenty-minute walk can reset their mood after a stressful day. Bonus tip: leave your headphones at home if you can. Whenever you walk without music or podcasts booming in your ears, your brain starts to actually process things. Notice the trees while walking, observe people passing by, and watch the sunrises and the sunsets.

Watching your favorite show or just scrolling reels while eating is so normalized that we've forgotten what a meal actually feels like without a screen. Without it, people can't even start eating the food. Pick one meal a day. Put the phone face-down or in another room (out of your reach). The discomfort of the first few minutes will eventually fade away. Start with breakfast. It is the meal most people eat fastest and most distracted. Even 15 screen-free minutes changes the experience entirely.

Writing your thoughts daily before sleeping is a fantastic self-care practice. Although maintaining a journal sounds intimidating to some people because they imagine it to be a long emotional text as a writer would pen down. But the point isn't to be a writer. It's to get the noise out of your head. There's no right way to do it. You just need to note down three things: what made you smile today, what was hard, and what you want to think about tomorrow. There is no ideal way to do it. It is your personal document without anyone reading it. So, just do it.

Many people possess this habit of constantly saying ‘yes’ to things because they think too much about not wanting to disappoint others. That one nod to extra work and social get-together plans you don't have the energy for quietly drains you. Protecting your time and energy is not selfish. “I can't do this today” doesn't mean you don't care about people. Healthy boundaries are free, and they're also more effective than most wellness trends.

Somewhere between your teenage years and now, you probably stopped doing it. Sketching, writing, singing, dancing- whatever it was. Adults tend to drop hobbies the moment they stop feeling ‘productive.’ Pick one back up. You don't need to be good at it. You don't need to make content about it. Just do it because it makes your mind lighter and creates a feeling of satisfaction.

What does a body need when it is exhausted? Yeah, rest. Take rest whenever you feel like taking one. Drinking water when you're busy, stepping away from a screen when your eyes hurt, lying down when you're tired instead of pushing through. You don't need to earn rest.

You definitely don't need to spend a lot to feel like you're taking care of yourself. Most of the time, the smallest things are the ones that work because they remind you quietly that you matter too.