By this point, we all know that Instagram is not real life. No one looks slim and toned all the time, is always smiling, or is constantly hanging out with friends – no matter how they make it look.

But while both the body positivity movement and mental health awareness have come to the forefront of our attention, overall self esteem still seems to be at an all-time low.

Why is that?

My speculation is that it’s still so easy to get swept up in social media and comparisons. We’re all trying to be and do everything, which is an impossible amount of pressure to put on ourselves.

Not every day is a good day. Period.

I don’t think you can just will yourself to have a good day. Especially when external factors, like work, create some issues.

This post might seem highly specific. I’m providing you with a list of powerful affirmations for women, to use especially during a rough work day.

Why did I want this list of affirmations to hit these specific criteria?

Because as I’ve slowly tailored this blog to women – most specifically, young women in and recently out of college like myself – I’ve realized that we young women don’t talk about how much work can suck sometimes.

“That’s the beauty of self care! It doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.”

The cat’s out of the bag! It’s no secret that self care is an extremely necessary part of anyone’s routine.

Life is hard! Between balancing work, exercise, eating healthy, sleeping, and managing a home, sometimes it feels like there’s little time for anything else.

Or if you do have time, you have zero energy.

But that’s the beauty of self care! It doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. If you want to do something a little more involved, you can. But if not, all you have to do is find something that helps you relax and feel refreshed.