Let's get one misconception out of the way right off the bat: self-care is not the same thing as self-indulgence, nor is it the same thing as being selfish. Practicing self-care entails attending to your own needs in order to ensure that you are in good physical and mental health, that you are able to perform the duties of your occupation, that you are able to offer assistance and care to other people, and that you are able to achieve everything you need to and want to in a given day.