Even when we’re trying to live our best life and make all the healthy decisions, the plan seldom works out in reality. We get busy, we get tired, and ultimately we often feel like we don’t even deserve to spend all this time caring for ourselves when there are so many other things to worry about around us. We nurture a toxic mindset and convince ourselves that self-care is just a luxury, and then we have to stand by and look at our own health degrading because we haven’t spent enough time paying attention to it. But deep down you probably realized this is wrong, and are looking for ways to change things and finally feel better in your own skin. And that’s what we’re here for.

To help you learn some amazing self-care practices, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite tips that will make you feel rejuvenated.

Change your relationship with food

We have a very strange relationship with what we eat – we both love tasting it and hate what it does to us, and if we keep obsessing over every bite then every meal ends up becoming one big guilt trip. To change this, practice mindful eating and really think about what kind of food makes you happy. Here’s the trick, though: focus on the things that make you happy in the long term, not something that gives you short term, passing pleasure.

If you feel guilty after chomping down that big slice of pizza, then you know the food was a wrong choice. Eat simpler, unprocessed food, avoid late night snacking, and think about what you eat.

Get stubborn and passionate about exercising

The path to success when it comes to working out is to pick the thing that’s actually interesting to you, or at least to pick something that you can accomplish with ease. You don’t need a complicated routine, and you don’t have to spend the time you don’t have just to stay in shape. 30-minute daily workouts at home can be just as effective as going to the gym several times a week, but you can also immerse yourself in a sport, or sign up for dance classes. As soon as you turn exercising into a passion instead of referring to it as a chore, you’ll see results.

Change the things that make you unhappy

It would be foolish to deny that appearance means nothing in the world we live in, and it’s very important for a person to feel good in their own skin. The road to self-acceptance lies in laughter, self-care, and admiring unique qualities about you, but a part of it can also lie in change.

You have to realize that this is your own body and that you get to make choices about what to do with it. Perhaps your big ears have always made you too insecure to wear buns, or maybe you have a big nose that you can’t seem to like no matter how hard you look into the mirror.

Maybe the problem goes further and you have a physical flaw that’s making life a little more difficult than it needs to be. Going to see a plastic surgeon to get septoplasty professionally done so you could breathe more easily and make a slight adjustment to the shape of your nose is a great way not only to look better, but to actually be healthier.

Changing the size of your lips or smoothing out your wrinkles is a physical change, but often it has a lot of benefits for our mental health and the way we feel about ourselves.

Use natural cosmetics

Give your skin a bit of a rest by letting go of the multitude of products that line your bathroom cabinet and using more natural products. Investing in high-quality skincare is a way to have a great complexion and a smooth body. You’ll feel wonderful and gorgeous without even a shred of makeup on.

Fix your sleep pattern

If you’re tired all the time it’s unlikely you’ll have much strength and motivation to do anything. Going to bed at the same time every day (even on weekends) can go a long way in helping your body adjust to a natural pattern, and to help you do this, you should avoid drinking caffeinated drinks in the evening and avoid using electronics. The bright glare from your phone can keep your brain thinking it’s more rested than it actually is, and overuse can lead to insomnia. Learn to unplug and let go of everything on the internet after 8 PM.

Laugh and dance with your family

There’s nothing more beneficial than love and laughter. Self-care can actually come from surrounding yourself with these two things, from being in the middle of a good environment with the people you care for deeply. Why not get silly and dance with your significant other, why not play with your kids or joke around with your parents? Your body and soul will appreciate it.

Relax, enjoy your own body and soul, and don’t ever feel guilty for taking time to care for yourself. You need this, and your loved ones want you to be happy.