Self-Care: What Does It Mean & What Can It Look Like?

Trust me, I know what you're thinking from just reading the title of this post. You may be wondering why this topic has become so prevalent lately, appearing constantly on your TikTok "For You" page. To put into perspective just how many TikTok users are exploring this topic, in 2022, self-care content reached more than 22 billion views. That’s more than the world’s total population!

So, what's all the fuss about self-care? What even is it? Let me explain.

Self-care is all about taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It’s about putting yourself first, taking time to recharge, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and peace. When it comes to self-care, it’s important to realize it's not selfish or indulgent; it's a necessity. In fact, it’s essential to living a fulfilled and authentic life.

Why is self-care so important? The answer is simple: you can’t give your best to others around you if you’re not taking care of yourself. When you’re feeling burnt out, stressed, or overwhelmed, it’s hard to be present and engaged in your relationships, work, or hobbies. You may find that you’re constantly running on empty, and your energy and motivation are at an all-time low.

Being a college student, I often feel like this when I find myself in a slump. Prioritizing self-care, however, changes everything. You start to feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on whatever comes your way. You’re able to be more patient and understanding with others, and you’re more focused and productive in your work and hobbies. By taking care of yourself, you’re not only making yourself a better person, but you’re also improving all aspects of your life.

So, what does self-care mean to me? To me, self-care is all about making time for the things that make me feel at peace, and closer to myself. It’s about taking a break from the stresses of everyday life, and indulging in activities that recharge my battery. Whether it’s reading a good book, going for a walk along the beach, or spending time with the ones I love, self-care is about doing what’s best for ME. You should live by that too.

But self-care isn’t just about engaging in activities that make me happy. It’s also about taking care of my physical, emotional, and mental well-being. This means making time for regular exercise, eating a healthy and balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and managing stress in a healthy way.

On the days where life seems like it's moving too fast for you to catch up, or you feel unhappy, ask yourself a few questions. Am I doing things everyday to show up for myself? Am I pouring all my energy into others, my work, etc., without reserving any to pour into myself? Am I trying new things? Is it because I'm too busy to journal or that I don't want to connect with what I'm feeling deep down?

Most times, we use the excuse that we're too busy to practice self-care. The truth is, this is a coverup to hide the fact that we aren't ready to work on ourselves.

My goal is to guide each of you on your personal journey of incorporating self-care into your lives. Even on a busy schedule, it's possible if you really want it.

It's time to start taking care of the most important person in your life: YOU!