Why “Self Care” or “Treat Yourself” Is Problematic, and How To Redefine What It Means

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1765

Abstract

hat it means to treat ourselves. Self care means <i>real </i>nourishment. It means what is best for us, especially long term. It’s what our body and mind <i>needs</i>, vs what our taste buds or egos <i>want</i>.</p><p id="fb23">Some little tips and tricks I’ve found to be helpful include:</p><ul><li>Don’t increase your inventory. Keep what you have, and appreciate it. When you bring something new in, escort something old out and donate it.</li><li>Keep a budget, and stick to it. Learn to experience the thrill of saving money and vs spending it. The rush of seeing your savings account lasts much longer.</li><li>Keep healthy snack options on hand. Each time I try to shop for only healthy foods, I regret it when I want something legitimately crunchy. Substituting my salt cravings from chips for crunchy pickles, hearts of palm, and banana peppers helps.</li></ul><p id="1e97">More than anything though, knowing that getting up off of the couch and moving is one of the best forms of self care and self love you can do for yourself. Whether it’s on a walk, a run, through yoga, or even cleaning a room in the house.</p><p id="738a"><i>That’s</i> the self care we need to start glamorizing more. Self care isn’t purchased via materialism. In light of the holiday season, maybe a better reminder of this can be found in the ending of How The Grinch Stole Christmas:</p><p id="c463" type="7">“It came with out ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!” And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.</p><p id="c0ca" type="7">Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!” ❤</p><p id="4f87"><i>If you enjoy

Options

reading my work, please consider becoming a member <a href="https://medium.com/@higginssarah12?source=entity_driven_subscription-1cdc1b7357d7------------------------------------">by clicking this link</a> and creating your own stories for other readers like myself! We each have a unique experience to share, and there’s always someone who finds meaning in your story. I also receive some love from each referral made!</i></p><div id="62a4" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/do-you-reciprocate-in-your-friendships-4034c0914682"> <div> <div> <h2>Are “Friends” Taking Your Energy, Leaving You Weary and Anxious?</h2> <div><h3>If you still feel empty after devoting your efforts, it may be time to walk away.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*6YgIWENv9qcZGipdK7xI_g.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="740b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/what-i-regret-more-than-anything-ecaf0f80854f"> <div> <div> <h2>What I Regret More Than Anything</h2> <div><h3>Not saying “thank you” for all of the lessons you taught me in this life. Not calling to say “I love you, and I’m…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*Q_cwuebTrF1_uNYr.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Why “Self Care” or “Treat Yourself” Is Problematic, and How To Redefine What It Means

Photo Credit: huskypawprint.com

Parks and Recreation’s “treat yourself” quickly became one of my favorite themes throughout the show. I love that it’s only one day, used to indulge on otherwise frivolous and unnecessary spa days, fuzzy slippers, and batman costumes galore.

A day in the year can be fine. The problem starts when we use “treat yourself” too often as an excuse for potentially unhealthy foods in response to a bad day. Or when we splurge on an unnecessary gadget for the sake of having the latest and greatest, when what we have already works fine.

I’m guilty of the first scenario. I am a stress eater, and love to go for the salty, crunchy things when I am not having a good day. I’ll crush two bags of popcorn to myself or a bag of tortilla chips, easily.

Then comes the inevitable fatigue and forehead/ eye cluster headache I get when I eat either too much salt or sugar (does anyone else experience this?). It sucks, but I earned that headache. Three minutes of eating chips and satisfying my taste buds inevitably turns into three hours of unnecessary pain.

Is anyone else guilty of something similar?

These little, split decision moments can compound into a bad habit. What we’re wanting to call “self care” or “treating ourselves” actually becomes the opposite and harms us, our health, or our wallets.

It’s important to remember what self care really is, and what it means to treat ourselves. Self care means real nourishment. It means what is best for us, especially long term. It’s what our body and mind needs, vs what our taste buds or egos want.

Some little tips and tricks I’ve found to be helpful include:

Don’t increase your inventory. Keep what you have, and appreciate it. When you bring something new in, escort something old out and donate it.

Keep a budget, and stick to it. Learn to experience the thrill of saving money and vs spending it. The rush of seeing your savings account lasts much longer.

Keep healthy snack options on hand. Each time I try to shop for only healthy foods, I regret it when I want something legitimately crunchy. Substituting my salt cravings from chips for crunchy pickles, hearts of palm, and banana peppers helps.

More than anything though, knowing that getting up off of the couch and moving is one of the best forms of self care and self love you can do for yourself. Whether it’s on a walk, a run, through yoga, or even cleaning a room in the house.

That’s the self care we need to start glamorizing more. Self care isn’t purchased via materialism. In light of the holiday season, maybe a better reminder of this can be found in the ending of How The Grinch Stole Christmas:

“It came with out ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!” And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!” ❤

If you enjoy reading my work, please consider becoming a member by clicking this link and creating your own stories for other readers like myself! We each have a unique experience to share, and there’s always someone who finds meaning in your story. I also receive some love from each referral made!