If you’re reading this on your phone, laptop, or tablet—no surprise there. Tech has pretty much seeped into every corner of our lives. I know because I’ve lived it. As a former “always-on” worker who powered through endless coding marathons, I thought screen time was just part of the deal. But then came the headaches, the eye strain, and the constant hum of anxiety that never seemed to shut off.

When I first dipped my toes into freelancing, I was terrified. No guaranteed paycheck, no health insurance, no safety net. But the freedom? It was intoxicating. Later, when I moved back into a full-time job, I rediscovered the comfort of a steady income and the built-in support of a team. That’s the thing about work—there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

When I first started apartment hunting, I remember the sinking feeling of seeing rent prices that looked more like mortgage payments. Skyrocketing rents have a way of draining not just your bank account but your spirit, too. If you’ve ever stared at a lease and thought, How am I supposed to save anything with this?—you’re not alone.

I used to think of “self-care” as bubble baths, spa days, or maybe the occasional Netflix binge. And while those things are nice, they don’t always touch the parts of us that really need care—the tired body, the anxious mind, the stretched-too-thin emotions. Over time, I realized self-care isn’t an occasional indulgence. It’s about the small, daily choices that keep us balanced, healthy, and, frankly, sane.