With growing dependence on social media to validate ourselves, never did we see this coming. While we are busy scrolling our feeds in the wee hours of the night, we as a generation have plummeted in the valley of insecurity, low self-esteem, and distorted understanding of what really makes us a whole person. Self-care didn’t even exist as a popular concept until few years back. It won’t be wrong to derive that it started ‘trending’ only after Social Media became an indispensable part of our lives. Pictures of sweaty workout bodies in fashionable athleisure wear, pricey face masks and heavenly spas to kick back and relax are a rage. The young ones are constantly battling doubts about their body image and insecurities are getting ingrained deeper.
Self-care may seem like a rosy idea to those who want to dive into a pool of mental wellbeing. It may not be the case for those battling anxiety and depression. It seems just like another pinterest idea. After being asked to several friends, patients, and people around, Self-care mostly appeared as an hour of expensive Spa session, holidays, lounging in the best yoga bar of the neighborhood. This speaks volumes about the influence of Social media on our understanding of things.
Self-care is truly a personal agenda. It is a concept, a time, or an activity that relaxes you, takes the weight off your shoulders and rejuvenates you to go back to face the world again. Even though a mental refresh button, it need not even be an activity per se with a fixed timing daily. Just sitting still watching the birds outside your window can count for self-care. What makes it intimate is that we all are very different. Our mental connections are wired differently, we come from varied backgrounds, our pasts, and our present lives. A special espresso machine you bought yourself and sipping on freshly brewed coffee in your own space maybe a task impossible for someone pressed on time or even money. It is best we do not tag self-care as romanticized ideas and activities to post on Social media or show off to others.
A friend was suggested by another to spend time everyday doing yoga and some “self-care” totally forgetting the fact that this person was having a hard time getting out of bed even. You see, it doesn’t work like that. So, what would be a good example selfcare or how do we define what is right for us? Any activity that lightens the tightness in chest, eases clenched muscles in body, calms quick breathing and relaxes the palpitations. It is alright if it checks any two of these criteria. This mainly comes from the rush of the brain hormones responsible for our feelings. The happy hormone, Dopamine, is a neurotransmitter which signals between neurons. It is released during activities like post exercise, after eating a good meal even. So are endorphins important for feeling that “rush” of happiness.
Many people respond well to ASMR, which stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. This mainly includes tingling sensation and relaxation through sensory perception. The same trigger may not work for everyone, so it is mostly a “trial and error” method till you find what works for you. Mostly it is music, sounds, light touching, tapping and many more. A huge community on Internet exists compiling sensory response -evoking collection of sounds and videos. But again, you can do it without the support of internet. Isn’t that the essence of Self-care? Being self -reliant for wellbeing of our own.
So, open your windows and watch the sky. Sip on Chamomile tea. Smell the books. DIY a face pack. Do it for yourself. Do it, you are worth it.