When Self-Care Doesn’t Feel Like Care

In the last couple of years, the importance of self-care- which is defined by Merriam-Webster as “care for oneself”- has skyrocketed. Many individuals swear that partaking in self-care can improve your mental health. We all work so much and are so busy nowadays that we need to indulge in some self-care. That way, we don’t burn out and mentally crash without any warning.

Everyone practices self-care differently. For some people, it means putting on a face mask, getting their nails done and even getting a massage if possible. Others will disconnect from technology in favour of reading. It can even feel as simple as listening to music. The main point is you do whatever you wish to take a break and recharge your batteries.

But when does self-care not feel like care anymore?

This may seem like a silly prospect, but it really isn’t. Self-care isn’t a band-aid that can fix your mental health in one fell swoop. Depending on the state of your mental health, practicing self-care may not be enough. It can even bring about added stress that you don’t need. That’s not self-care is supposed to do- it’s not supposed to stress you out and hurt your mental health.

There’s so much more to self-care than using face masks and listening to music. There are so many other ways that you may have to practice self-care that can truly improve your mental health. This includes (but not limited to):

• Going to therapy
• Reading self-help books
• Decluttering & organizing your home
• Beginning to quit any bad habits (i.e. smoking)
• Facing any mental health issues (i.e. anxiety) head-on

Self-care is about improving your mental health and caring for yourself. But the key here is that you have to do whatever you need to do in order to better yourself. Remember- self-care is about caring for yourself, so it should feel like care. If it doesn’t, then why the hell are you doing it?

xo,

Elizabeth