4 Stereotypes About Self Care That Aren't Always True
Lately, self-care has been a hot topic in the media. As with a lot of things in the media, some of the content can be misconstrued and easily cause confusion. We often hear people talking about the benefits of self-care, but what really is it? Does everyone’s self-care look the same? It’s girly, right? There is just not enough time in the day! Read below to debunk these four common myths about self-care.
1. THE SAME THINGS WORK FOR EVERYONE
Face masks and taking long, hot baths are not for everyone. If you enjoy going paintballing to de-stress, this can count as your self-care, too! The point of self-care is to do something that you enjoy simply because you enjoy it, not because you feel obligated or pressured into doing it. Grabbing a nice dinner with a friend, cuddling with a pet, trying a new hairstyle, or taking a weekend trip to the mountains can all be considered self-care if they help you slow down and relax from a usually busy schedule. Just find what you enjoy doing, and plan for when you are going to carve out time to do it.
2. IT’S ONLY ABOUT PHYSICAL HEALTH
Self-care is not all just lotion and bubble baths! It is important that you are consciously aware of the time you are taking out for just yourself. It is beneficial for your mental health to take time to enjoy life’s simple pleasures amid the daily hassle of work, kids, or school. Life can quickly become overwhelming if you do not have a self-care plan in place.
3. IT’S “A GIRL THING”
Regardless of gender, everyone gets stressed and overwhelmed at some point and needs to have a few moments set aside to decompress. No matter your gender identity, self-care is beneficial to your overall mental health. Don’t worry about the stereotypically male or female self-care trends; do what makes YOU relax.
4. IT TAKES UP TOO MUCH TIME
Self-care doesn’t have to be a long process. You can benefit from just 10 minutes of doing something relaxing. The important thing is that you take time to consciously be aware of your emotions and decompress from the day.
Therapy is a great way to examine how your current self-care is working (or not!) and to talk about some ways that you can better meet your own wants and needs. If you are interested in talking to a therapist about self-care, reach out and schedule a call with us!
