When people talk about self-care, they usually picture candles, bubble baths, yoga, and maybe a vacation you can’t afford to take. But self-care isn’t just what you do after work. Sometimes, the most essential self-care happens during the workday.

If you’re neurodivergent, chronically tired, mentally overwhelmed, or just living through late-stage capitalism, taking care of yourself at work isn’t optional. It’s how you survive.

Here’s what self-care actually looks like at work, even when it’s messy, imperfect, and done between tasks.