Self-care is Overrated
There’s a huge self-care trend happening right now. Everywhere you look, people are talking about it—whether it’s on social media, in magazines, or even in casual conversations with friends. Self-care has become a buzzword, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s clear that there are many misconceptions about what self-care means.
I’ll admit it: I was curious to see if there was anything new I could be doing to enhance my self-care routine, so I Googled "self-care" to see what would come up. What I found was a flood of information, much of it well-meaning, but honestly a little disappointing. A lot of the advice centered around surface-level activities like taking bubble baths, meditating for five minutes a day, lighting candles, or enjoying a glass of wine at the end of a long day. While these things are nice—and they have their place—they aren’t the magical fixes they’re often made out to be. They might help you feel relaxed for a moment, but they won’t solve the deeper issues that affect your well-being.
The truth is, real self-care is so much more than a temporary escape. True self-care isn’t just about stress relief; it’s about fundamentally taking care of yourself inside and out. If you’re not meeting your body’s basic needs—like eating nutritious meals, staying properly hydrated, getting enough sleep, and moving your body regularly—no amount of bubble baths or spa days is going to compensate for that. These foundational habits should come standard in any genuine self-care practice. They are the non-negotiables that support your physical health and, by extension, your mental and emotional well-being.
Beyond the physical, self-care should also involve a lot of inner work. It’s about acknowledging your weaknesses, embracing your imperfections, and treating yourself with kindness and understanding. Nobody is perfect, and expecting yourself to be will only set you up for frustration and burnout. Forgiving yourself when you fall short, trying your best without obsessing over being flawless, and cultivating gratitude for the things you do have—these are the real, hard parts of self-care that make a lasting impact.
Some of the best self-care advice I’ve come across doesn’t involve spending money or indulging in luxuries. It’s about setting healthy boundaries, which sometimes simply means saying "no" without feeling guilty. It’s about protecting your time, energy, and mental health by refusing to overcommit or spread yourself too thin. It’s about maintaining a gratitude journal, where you take a few minutes each day to reflect on the positive things in your life, big or small. It’s about getting organized, not just to be more productive, but to create a life that feels calmer and more manageable.
Real self-care is intentional. It’s sometimes boring, and it doesn’t always feel like an immediate reward. But over time, it builds a stronger, healthier, more resilient version of you. So while there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a bubble bath or savoring a glass of wine now and then, it’s important to remember that true self-care digs deeper. It’s not about escaping your life for a few minutes—it’s about building a life that you don’t feel the need to escape from.