We are 100% in the self-care era. The concept is so popular and celebrated that it feels like everyone is doing face masks, ice rolling, and practicing breath work. But with so many voices applauding new rituals and practices in the name of wellbeing, I’ve been feeling a teeny bit overwhelmed trying to keep up with it all. And that sensation of feeling overwhelmed makes me wonder: Is all of this actually making us healthier and happier? And what if I’m not doing it “right?”
I can’t scroll through #wellness TikToks or my Instagram feed, without seeing someone talking about the importance of practicing self care. And invariably, I find myself comparing MY methods of self care to what I see in my feed–a glossy, highly stylized matcha-infused aesthetically pleasing display. And I start wondering if I need to do more, do better, or change my routine entirely? Am I being so rigid with being “healthy” that it becomes unhealthy?
Before we dive in, you should know that I am 100% pro-wellness. Like it-saved-my-life kinda vibe. Especially being the parent of a child with a disability AND someone that has a chronic disease. I believe we should all have self-care routines. I believe our bodies deserve (and need!) time, energy, and tools to help them feel their best. But sometimes, we become so rigid and borderline obsessed with our habits—and get sucked into the latest trends—that the practices meant to help us could become a bit…….stressful.
Self Care Looks Different for Everyone–You Do You!
I’ve compiled a huge list of things that I’ve found have helped care for myself–spiritually, physically, and mentally. Some of them are quite simple and some of them are a little more in-depth. These are connected to my “why” and things that I want to do–not things I feel like I “should” be doing because they are trendy or everyone on my Instagram feed are doing them.
Ultimately, I’m the one in charge of my self care. (That’s where the “self” part comes from!) It can be tempting to try keeping up with the trends, but the constant seeking, changing course, and second-guessing can drag me down. It’s up to me to advocate for my own relationship to care–what feels good for me isn’t necessarily going to light everyone else’s heart on fire. I am really grateful though to be living in an era where self-care is applauded and encouraged.
With an abundance of resources and suggestions at our disposal, it’s up to us to decipher which practices will have the most impact on our minds, spirits, and bodies. And most importantly, you do not have to try them all! When you trust your intuition and lean into your “why,” your self-care routine will care for, recharge, and energize you.
Here’s my list of self care habits–take what works and leave the rest–as always, my goal is to share what’s worked for me and changed my life in hopes that it can impact someone else!
- Moving my body every day.
- Turning my phone to airplane mode at 8PM every night.
- More water (less Diet Coke!)
- Introducing supplements (I LOVE Cymbiotika).
- Adopting a skincare routine.
- Red Light Therapy.
- Sitting in silence/meditating. I started with 10 minutes and that’s definitely doable for me.
- Writing to do lists.
- Clearing clutter from my environment (home, email inbox, and social feed).
- Eating whole, unprocessed, organic foods.
- Meal prep.
- Setting boundaries.
- Practicing gratitude.
- Stretching.
- Cold showers/cold plunge.
- Buying myself flowers on the regular.
- More reading less scrolling.
- Asking for help.
- Taking the stairs.
- Laughing as much as I can.
- Blue light glasses.
- Solo dates.
- Journaling.
- Spending time outside (Vitamin D!!!) daily.
- Clothing that fits and feels good against my skin. I’m 100% in my comfort girl era.
- Using the “nice” stuff on an ordinary day–the fancy plates, the pretty shoes, the nice purse.
- A latte from a local coffee shop
