I am a huge fan of self-care, but recently it’s been turned into a gimmicky marketing ploy used to sell expensive skincare products, weird stones to massage your face with, and $100 candles–all in the name of “self-care.” I was excited to find an art series about “boring” self-care: namely, things that actually promoted nurturing yourself instead of being a self-care consumer. Here are some of the ideas the artist included:
- Made breakfast
- Cleaned the toilet
- Went outside
- Realized I could not heal in the place I got sick
- Curated my insta-feed to be positive
- Opened a window
- Brushed my teeth
- Picked up my meds
- Washed my hair
- Drank enough water
- Rested
- Replied to emails/texts/DMs
- Booked a doctor appointment
- Showed up to appointment on time
- Did the dishes
- Got out of bed
- Remembered to breathe
- Survived a day at work
- Brought snacks to work/school
- Went food shopping
- Put sunscreen on
- Did my homework
- Stuck to a healthy routine for me
- Did a devotional
- Vacuumed
- Did not hang with people I don’t like
- Got an eye exam
- Cut my toenails
- Did my skincare routine
- Changed my sheets
- Let myself cry
- Started a budget
- Had compassion for myself
- Went out in the sun
- Said something nice to my body
- Went for a blood test
- Celebrated my period and took it easy
- Did my banking
- Attended to my dental care
- Woke up and got out of bed at a reasonable hour
- Opened my mail
- Calculated my spoons
- Had a cup of tea
- Sorted my paperwork
- Opened the curtains
- Went to bed at a reasonable hour
- Wore day clothes in the day and night clothes at night
- Went to a fellowship meeting
- Learned to identify when I am self-sabotaging
- Took my medicine as prescribed
- Put the recycling out
- Did my laundry, took it down, and put it away
- Made my bed
- Was honest about how I feel
- Met with friends
- Cooked and ate a nourishing meal
- Had a shower
- Went to therapy
- Made that important call I’ve been putting off
- Made a list of early warning signs and things that help for my mental illness
- Picked my underwear up off the floor
- Practiced good sleep hygiene
- Engaged in my hobby
- Asked for help
Feature image found here.
