One of the biggest reasons people put off self-care is time. We imagine that taking care of ourselves requires a free afternoon, a long morning routine, an hour of meditation, or enough space in our schedule to finally slow down. But some of the most meaningful forms of self-care don’t require much time at all.

When you hear the words self-care checklist, you might picture a list that includes drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, exercising, and taking time to relax. Those things certainly matter. But taking care of ourselves goes much deeper than checking off a few healthy habits.

Self-care is often treated as something we do when we finally have time. We take care of our responsibilities, our work, our families, our homes, and everyone who needs something from us—and then, if there happens to be anything left over, we take care of ourselves.

You are creating your life every day. Not only through the things you do, but through what you focus on, what you believe, what you expect, what you allow, and the energy you bring to your experiences. This is at the heart of conscious creation.