Being a Taurus, my at-home routine is sacred to me. We are natural home-bodies who need time for ourselves. So on my days off, I have a list of things I take care of so that I can feel both productive and relaxed. But lately, I’ve noticed that my list has been getting shorter on the relaxed side. I’ve been so focused on being productive that I’ve put my self-care needs aside.

But this month, I’m focusing more on things that help me relax. The pandemic is far from over, so a little indulgence is more than necessary. Here are three things I did for myself that helped me make it through the month.

First, I’ve been reaching out to my friends to meet in person. Because we can’t gather in groups much anymore, socializing is hard. While texting is a wonderful way to connect, for me, it’s not the same. I miss having a face-to-face conversation. But scheduling with another person can get frustrating. The process of pinning down a time that works for both parties is exhausting, which is why I haven’t been proactive with it. Also, it’s hard for me to sacrifice time that could be spent doing errands. In the end, seeing a friend is always worth it. I’ve successfully scheduled two friend dates, and both times I felt rejuvenated. I had forgotten how special it is to spend a simple hour enjoying the company of another. I used my successes as motivation to continue scheduling future dates.

The second thing I did happened after one such friend meeting. I took a nap. After lunch, I had developed a mild migraine. They don’t happen often, but when they do, they are draining. I don’t like to nap because it throws off my sleep schedule, and I’m bad enough at sleeping already. But the older I get, the more I am learning to listen to my body. So long as my naps are between a half-hour to an hour, I can get to bed at my normal time. If I get more opportunities to nap, I’m not going to feel guilty about taking advantage.

Finally, I did something I’ve never done. I steamed my face. As a woman, my hormones do a number on my skin. I also wear a mask for over 8 hours a day at work, so my skin has taken an extra beating. I’ve noticed that the area around my chin has broken out more than ever. It started to remind me of the acne I had in high school, which did not make me happy. I researched at-home facial steams to see what would happen. The process was easy. The article I read suggested a quick baking soda face scrub first. Then, I boiled water and put it in a bowl with a few drops of peppermint oil. I set my timer for ten minutes and sat over the bowl with a towel draping over my head. After the timer went off, I rinsed and dried off my face. I didn’t notice any major transformation, but I did feel cleaner. It even cleared out my sinuses. If anything, it taught me to sit and do nothing for ten minutes. I’d like to try again soon and see if my skin improves.

Doing three extra things might not sound like much, but to me, it was a win. Everybody’s routine is different. But I suggest doing something small to keep yourself sane. The year is close to being over. Let’s do what we can to make it through.