Prioritising mental health has taken centre stage, and so has its cousin, self-care. But with so many wellness rituals and TikTok hashtags, deciding whether to relax with a massage or head to a sound bath event can leave you feeling overwhelmed, and overwhelm is a downward spiral to stress.
The question then becomes – just how healthy is jumping on the self-care trend? While it is so important to have a self-care routine, sometimes what is deemed “healthy” isn’t always better.
As wellness writer Killian Lopez puts it: “sometimes we become so mindless with our habits – and get so involved in the latest trends – that the practices meant to help us become harmful.”
Let’s not forget that while the wellness industry is there to help us become our best selves, it’s also there to make money.
If you’re looking to switch things up in the best way possible, here are a few ways you can re-evaluate your self-care routine:
1. Honesty
Like most relationships, the first step is, to be honest with yourself. What kind of relationship do you have with self-care? If it leaves you feeling energised and ready to take on the world, then great! If it leaves you feeling stressed because there are so many trends you need to keep up with, then perhaps it’s time to re-look and reframe things for yourself.
2. Why
Sometimes “why” is a great question to ask, no matter the circumstances. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the trends showing up on your Instagram and TikTok feed, then this is certainly a good question to ask yourself as “why” will often connect you to your values. A great way to look at self-care is to understand what’s important to you – is it the latest face cream or spending time with yourself while reading a book? Self-care looks different for everyone.
3. Re-define
On that note, self-care is what you make it – it’s not called “self” care for nothing. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to hop on a few wellness trends, it’s important to remember that what works for one person won’t necessarily work for you. It’s up to us to nurture that relationship with ourselves through self-care, but thankfully, we’re living in an age where it’s something to be applauded and encouraged.
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