Myths About Self-Care – Shedding Light on Some Common Misconceptions

Written by: Zafra Aswar Ali

Photo by Freepik

Self-care can be simply defined as any action that ensures your overall health is taken care of. This word has become very popular in the recent past due to its significance being emphasised on social media platforms. From social media influencers to mental health professionals, many are advocating for and promoting several self-care techniques for the betterment of our well-being.

Despite its popularity, there are many misconceptions associated with self-care due to the lack of understanding of what self-care fundamentally is. This article focuses on addressing some common myths about self-care, the reality of it, its importance for mental health, and its incorporation into our daily lives.

Myth #1: Engaging in self-care is being selfish

The Reality: Self-care must be prioritised

One of the common false perceptions of self-care is that it is certainly an act of selfishness that arises from the belief that allocating time for oneself leads to neglecting responsibilities and being self-centred. On the contrary, self-care is essential because through self-care we can maintain a balanced state of mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Moreover, it is only by taking care of ourselves first that we develop empathy and compassion as well as the ability to support the others around us.

Myth #2: Self-care is costly

The Reality: Not all forms of self-care are expensive

Another common myth about self-care is that it merely involves activities that may break your bank, such as investing in expensive skincare products and spending time at a luxurious spa. However, self-care is not limited to these activities that are often expensive. There are various affordable methods of self-care like reading a good book, taking a relaxing bath, and practising meditation. Hence, self-care can be any activity that brings about joy and aims to improve our well-being in the long run, and may require little to zero expense.

Myth #3: Self-care is time-consuming

The Reality: Self-care does not require a significant amount of time

Due to the hectic lives led by most of us, another misconception about self-care is that it should have a fixed schedule and that it always requires large amounts of time. In contrast, self-care could be activities like a five-minute meditation, enjoying a cup of coffee or tea, or any activity that brings us joy within just a few minutes. Nevertheless, it is recommended to have long hours of self-care sessions occasionally.

Myth #4: Self-care is a cure for mental health issues

The Reality: Self-care is not a quick fix

As self-care has proven to have a positive impactive on our overall well-being, specifically mental well-being, some people believe that it is also effective in treating complex mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. This is a false belief because self-care can only provide immediate joy and relaxation. To overcome serious mental health disorders, it is recommended to seek therapy from a mental health professional as self-care is not a form of care that can treat such disorders.

Myth #5: Self-care is only for women

The Reality: Anyone can indulge in self-care

As beauty and skincare have mostly been associated with the term self-care, it is misunderstood that self-care is restricted only to women while men are excluded from such topics. Apart from that, men may tend to focus less on self-care in general. However,it has to be accepted that every individual’s well-being matters, making self-care an essential practice for everyone without bias towards any gender.

Myth #6: Everyone can follow the same self-care practices

The Reality: Self-care varies from person to person

As much as self-care is important for everyone, each person may integrate different ways of self-care into their routines because what works for one may not necessarily work for another  – similar to how challenging times are tackled differently by each individual. In addition, a person’s lifestyle and preferences determine the forms of self-care practices they choose, which can also change over time. Therefore, it is vital to experiment and identify what type of self-care practice is effective for us.

Conclusion

Self-care is a useful tool in enhancing our overall well-being. But due to certain misconceptions, the concept of self-care may be misunderstood in terms of practising it. Thus, understanding the true meaning of self-care is crucial to lead happier and healthier lives.