Staying away from my phone is nearly impossible unless I’m showering, sleeping, or running for the train. If I wasn’t totally attached to my phone before, I definitely was now. Too much time was being spent watching Netflix, scrolling through my IG feed, or laughing at funny Twitter posts (and catching up on Yankees games). Of course, I have a job and spend time with family and do other things– in other words, I have a life.

But I didn’t always have a self-care plan, and being so attached to my phone certainly wasn’t helping either. It was only earlier this year that I started to truly take the time to create and prioritize it. Now, I realize its been a total game changer, and I genuinely feel like the quality of my life is better than ever.

Self-care has a different meaning for each of us, and for me it’s doing something that eases my mind and makes me feel empowered. Here are some of my self-care go-to’s that help me stay balanced (and keep me from reaching for my phone).

1. Work on my skincare.

Focusing on your skincare is never a bad idea. I remember when I used to smear on all sorts of creams on my face (DO NOT do this), thinking I had a skincare routine. Nope! There’s a science to it, and definitely requires some research so that you know you’re getting it right (and seeing results). I finally found a routine that works for me, and it took me a long time to find a brand that suits my skin. There are still some details I’m working on, like finding the right eye cream, but this takes time so need to worry. Luckily, there are plenty of articles that can be of guidance, like this one from Cosmopolitan.

2. Do my own pedicure & 3. Read magazines.

While both of these things can be done separately, I enjoy doing these at the same time–I love catching up on magazines in between coats. I’ve been doing my own pedicure for the last few years now, but only a few months ago I started subscribing to a bunch of magazines and found that the best time to read them are while commuting, waiting at the doctor’s office, and while getting my feet done. As my toes dry, I flip through articles and cut out anything that looks interesting or inspires me, which brings me to my next activity.

4. Create a vision board.

My vision board doesn’t hang on a wall but rather consists of a journal and a folder with cutouts (there’s limited wall space when sharing a bedroom!). This unconventional setup aside, this is one of my favorite things to do. There are many things I want to do and accomplish such as managing my finances better, traveling more, and learning photography, to name a few. Having a journal with all my favorite book lines and cutouts from an inspiring article about overcoming your fears certainly helps me in this journey. It also motivates me to put in the work, especially on days when I feel lost or down.

5. Prepare my schedule for the week.

Every Sunday evening as I wind down and say goodbye to the weekend, I sit down with my little planner and jot down things I need to accomplish for the week, like running errands, working out, and reading. I’m one of those people that if I don’t write something down, I completely forget about it. So it’s important for me to plan my personal life outside of work, especially now that working from home easily slips past 5 p.m. Setting boundaries keeps me from overworking, and most importantly, it keeps me organized and focused on working towards my goals.

There is so much going on in the world and in our lives that I find it absolutely necessary to make time for self-care. We are all brilliant, unique beings, and the world needs us to be at our best in order to share that brilliance. Remember, self-care is whatever you want or need it to be. It doesn’t have to be elaborate; you just need to start and keep at it. And starting can be as simple as closing your eyes and taking a deep breath.