Unpopular opinion here.

Self care has actually degraded in my opinion.

In my mind, it started out as a mantra to tell women to get pedicures, meditate more, journal, take yoga etc.

It is now, being promoted as anything that gives you rest and time to yourself including, but not limited to the following things that take no extra time:

1) saying “no” more and letting someone else take care of it

2) setting boundaries and sticking to them

3) not answering the phone of a needy friend who uses you as a sounding board and never reciprocates

4) setting the alarm later and asking your kids and/or your partner to start Their day on their own.

5) going into the office later and:or leaving an hour earlier (If financially possible) least once a week

6) scrolling funny tik toks while waiting for your child to get out of practice and getting some laughter therapy

7) lighting more candles, using a diffuser with scents that have aromatherapeutic effects like peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus and ginger.

8) not hoping out of bed when you first wake up and just lay there for several moments doing nothing or mindlessly scrolling Pinterest

9) quitting a gym or a studio or a club or some other activity you don’t really like but feel obligated to maintain

And most importantly…

10) working on not feeling guilty about 1-9 because self-care is a new word for what we call it then you think of yourself first, selfish, but it has a negative connotation.

In my Opinion, the Ultimate form of self care is being selfish at times and not feeling bad about it either because so many, women are especially, told they don’t have the right to be that.