Self-care is a hot topic. This is great, because self-care is vital to anyone’s mental health and wellbeing. However, it can be misunderstood at times, and instead of being a necessity, it is seen as an out of reach luxury that only rich people can afford.
Self-care can be a spectrum; it can range from spa retreats to boundaries. There are many things that can come under the umbrella of self-care, but without awareness of what these are or what your own needs are, you are not going to be able to access self-care or reap the benefits of it.
Unfortunately, there are many mistakes people make when it comes to self-care, including misunderstanding what it should be. To help you on your journey to better take care of yourself, here are some common mistakes to avoid.
Ignoring what you actually need
One big mistake people make is to follow self-care trends. When you follow something that works for someone else, you may be neglecting your own needs. Personal needs should be at the forefront of self-care, especially if you want it to be effective. By seeking someone else’s routines, you may end up causing yourself more frustration than relief.
For example, journaling and meditating early in the morning is an excellent tip for some people; however, if you are not a morning person or you work late shifts, an early start is not going to be practical for you or helpful. You will feel more drained. It is important not to just copy what you see online, but to take it as inspiration and adapt it to your own needs.
Thinking you have to do everything alone
Self-care doesn’t have to be done sitting quietly in a room by yourself. You can involve other people or leverage services like massages or therapists to support you on your journey.
Some people can benefit from spending the day at Spencer’s Spa, where they can fully switch off and spend a day moving mindfully and slowly, with body based treatments to support the everyday stress and burnout.
Other people may benefit from seeking regular therapy, so they can process their busy minds and learn coping mechanisms that can support them.
Self-care doesn’t have to be done in isolation. It is important that you seek out support, whether through a spa day or a therapist, depending on your individual needs.
Overcomplicating the process
Self-care is often presented as a long checklist of things you must do. While the list might be filled with great things, it takes away the self-care element by turning them into another chore for the day. Many people make the mistake of combining their self care checklist with productivity, which can then make it overwhelming very quickly.
The result is often burnout, from the very routines that you were trying to leverage to prevent it. Self-care works best when it is simple and sustainable.
Self-care doesn’t need to be complicated or perfectly curated. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can build self-care that genuinely supports you.
