On social media, self-care is typically depicted as slapping on a face mask, throwing a bath bomb in the tub, turning on your favorite music, and climbing in for a relaxing soak, However, self-care isn’t always easy. Sometimes, self-care is cleaning your room after letting the mess pile up for months.
Sometimes it’s taking out the garbage after it starts to overflow from the trash can. Self-care can also be making your bed, doing your laundry, brushing your teeth, or taking a shower. Yes, neither of these things are fun, but you’ll feel better after you do them and no longer have to live in a messy room, smell garbage all day long, sleep in a messy bed, or feel dirty.
Self-care can also be things that require less physical effort, like blocking the number of someones who have been harassing you or unfollowing your ex on Instagram.
Yes, self care can involve putting on a face mask or taking a relaxing bath. If doing these things make you feel better, you should do them. However, remember that sometimes self-care isn’t pretty. In some cases, you have to do things that make you uncomfortable now to help yourself in the future.
You might not enjoy cleaning up your room or taking out the trash, but I promise you, you’ll feel so much better afterward. You might feel like you’re “making things awkward” by blocking or unfollowing someone, but if they’ve been harassing you, why not cut ties so you don’t have to deal with them anymore?
You don't owe anyone follows and likes on social media, and you never owe anyone your friendship.
Now, just because these things aren't fun doesn’t mean that you have to be miserable while doing them. Turn on your favorite music while cleaning your room, or if it’s too overwhelming to do by yourself, ask a close friend for help -- if they’re a real friend, they’ll be happy to help and they won’t judge you.
If cleaning all at once is still too overwhelming, do it in chunks -- clean your floor, take a break, come back, and make your bed. Put your laundry in the washing machine and relax while waiting for it to be ready for the drier. Don’t worry if you can’t clean and tidy absolutely everything all at once -- some people need to break tasks down, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all.
Sometimes self-care is a face mask and a bath bomb, but sometimes it isn't. There's more than one way to make yourself feel better and to do what's right for you. Some things aren't fun to do, but afterward, you'll feel much better. There are many different ways to practice self-care, but remember that not all of them involve instant gratification.
