For Christmas, I traded Northeast winter weather for warm temperatures and sunshine in the Caribbean. It was one of the most relaxing vacations I’ve had in a long time. Even after a crazy plane ride home and waiting in the freezing cold for an Uber driver that never showed up, I was still in a calm state of mind. When I finally arrived home and opened the door, I instantly realized that I had completely forgotten to care for my future self.

I entered a home in disarray — rolls of wrapping paper lying around, empty boxes, stacks of papers and catalogs on the coffee table, and a full hamper of dirty laundry waiting to be washed.

And just like that, I was jarred out of my peaceful state into the stark realities of a day already filled with responsibilities, aggravations, and to-do lists. I was not quite prepared to face all this, but here it was - ready or not.

I read about the concept of our “future self” a while back, and it made a lot of sense to me. Thinking ahead is a basic form of self-care, and there are things you can do today to set yourself up for a better tomorrow. I usually tidy up and clean my home before going on a trip but this time around I was too tired and decided to wait until I got back – and forgot. In hindsight, I should’ve put on a fresh pot and cleaned up before my trip.

If your future self wants to start the day gently, wake up with a feeling of calm and quiet, then the kind thing to do is to spend a few minutes creating some order in your kitchen and living space before you go to bed.

Treat your future self like a guest in your own life. Remember that the things you do now are a gift to the future you. Your future self will be grateful you were thinking of them. And they will thank you for the beautiful life you have given them.

Start weaving in simple tasks into your routine that will ensure you lead a more relaxed and centered life. It’s easy to start doing nice things for your future self, and it’ll feel good both now and later. Here are some ideas for little gifts you can give to future you:

• Get 8 hours of sleep.
• Write a note to yourself and stick it in a nightstand drawer you rarely open.
• Practice meal planning.
• Write an email to yourself and delay delivery to a specific date in the future.
• Do the dishes the same day you dirty them.
• Request a random day off work.
• Hydrate.
• Write a few favorite quotes on future pages in your paper planner.
• Hide a candy bar in the back of the fridge.

This Weekend: Do something nice for your future self.