If you’re feeling stressed or depressed, you’re not alone.
When stress or depression starts to take a toll, even the simplest tasks can feel overwhelming. Getting out of bed, eating a meal, or taking a shower may require far more energy than they normally would. During times like these, self-care often feels out of reach.
If reading this article is all you have the capacity for today, that’s okay. The fact that you’re here is a meaningful place to start.
One of the biggest misconceptions about self-care is that it always has to look the same. On days when you’re feeling well, self-care might mean cooking a nourishing meal, going for a walk, or spending time doing something you enjoy. On more difficult days, it might simply mean brushing your teeth, eating a snack, or changing into clean clothes.
In this article, we’re focusing on realistic self-care: small, manageable actions that can help you care for yourself when you’re feeling stressed, depressed, or emotionally exhausted.
5 Ways to Practice Realistic Self-Care
Realistic self-care isn’t about doing massive things, but it’s about accomplishing necessary things to take care of yourself when you’re struggling. Here’s a checklist if you aren’t quite sure where to start:
1. Take a Shower
When you’re feeling stressed or depressed, even basic tasks like taking a shower can feel overwhelming. The energy it takes to wash your hair, get dressed, or start your day can feel like more than you have to give.
If you’re able, taking a shower can be a simple way to care for yourself. Beyond helping you feel refreshed, regular hygiene supports your physical health and can provide a small sense of accomplishment during a difficult day.
2. Eat Something
Eating is one of the most important ways to care for yourself, even if it doesn’t always feel that way when you’re struggling.
If you have the energy, preparing a nourishing meal or ordering something you enjoy can be a meaningful act of self-care. But if all you can manage is a snack or something simple, that’s okay too. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s making sure your body gets the nourishment it needs.
3. Brush Your Teeth
When you’re feeling low, brushing your teeth may feel like an insignificant task, but it still counts as self-care.
Looking after your oral health helps prevent future dental problems, and completing even one small task can create a sense of momentum. If brushing your teeth is all you accomplish today, that’s still something worth recognizing.
4. Clean Up Any Dirty Dishes to Prevent Mold
Dirty dishes have a way of piling up, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed. What starts as one plate can quickly become a sink full of dishes that feels impossible to tackle.
If washing everything feels like too much, try rinsing dishes after you use them to prevent food from drying on and reduce unpleasant odours. Small habits like this can make the task feel much more manageable later.
5. Brush Your Hair
When you’re spending more time resting or finding it difficult to keep up with your usual routine, it’s easy for your hair to become tangled.
Taking a minute to brush or comb your hair every day or two can help prevent knots from becoming difficult to manage. If you have longer hair, putting it into a loose braid can also help reduce tangles while requiring very little effort.
When you’re feeling stressed or depressed, taking care of yourself can feel much harder than usual. The small things that once felt automatic may suddenly require a great deal of effort—and that’s okay.
Self-care doesn’t have to mean doing everything on your to-do list or having the “perfect” routine. Sometimes it simply means doing the next manageable thing, whether that’s drinking a glass of water, brushing your teeth, or taking a shower.
Be patient with yourself. Progress isn’t measured by how much you accomplish in a day, but by continuing to show yourself care in whatever ways you can. And if your stress or low mood has been persistent, is affecting your daily life, or feels too heavy to carry on your own, reaching out to a trusted person or a mental health professional is a meaningful act of self-care, too.
You deserve support—and you don’t have to navigate it alone.
