If you live a busy lifestyle or if you have kids or family members who constantly depend on you for support, then taking time to tend to your self-care may seem difficult, or downright selfish. You may want to slow down, rest or treat yourself to some self-love and pampering, but your work or family obligations may prevent you from doing so.  To help release some guilt, or confusion about self care, I’m going to tell you what self care is not. Below are 6 common myths about self care:

Self Care Myth #1: It’s Selfish 

Fact: No one will take care of you if you don’t do it. The people who are most effective in helping others have first helped themselves. It is simply not sustainable to care for others before you care for yourself. Taking time to tend to your mental, emotional and physical needs ensures that you can bring your best self in any situation or relationship.

Self Care Myth #2: No One Understands Me Or Wants to Help 

Fact: You may not be asking for what you need. You may have been letting people walk all over for a long time. You need to enlist help in achieving your extreme self-care and you can’t expect others to just automatically know what you need. Start small, share your honest feelings with those around you, and help them understand how they can best support you. Believe it or not, people truly want to support you, they just need you to tell them how.

Self Care Myth #3: There’s No Time

Fact: When you engage in self-care, it may feel like you are doing less, but you are actually making it possible to accomplish more. You will hone in on your priorities and what really matters, instead of wasting your time on things of little importance. Organizing and caring for your life ultimately translates into more time.

Self Care Myth #3: I Have To Do Self-Care Perfectly Or I Shouldn’t Do It At All

Fact: Give yourself some wiggle room. Any amount and any kind of self-care is better than nothing. In fact, the best kind of self-care involves listening to your body and doing as it requests. You don’t have to follow a list of self-care rules – invent your own and be creative!

Self Care Myth #4: I’ve Already Tried Self-Care And It Doesn’t Work

Fact: Knowing and doing are two very different things. Extreme self-care is not for everyone and signing up for every seaweed wrap or colon flush just because you watched somebody do it on tv is not recommended. Doing so may turn you away from self care for good.

Perhaps you went too big, too fast. Maybe you tried something that you didn’t know a lot about and it left you frustrated. Start with something small – a walk alone (without your phone), a hot bath or shower, a 5- minute meditation, 10 deep breaths, stretching, or even reading for 5 minutes. These small wins will set you up for larger ones and encourage you to keep going.

Self Care Myth #5: It’s Too Expensive

Fact: A walk outside is free. So are deep breaths, self-massages, turning off screens, drawing, reading, petting an animal, and touching your toes. There are numerous things you can do that are free or inexpensive to care for yourself. In fact, just having quiet time alone where you won’t be interrupted for 20 minutes can be incredibly healing and soothing for your body and your mind. For more information about self care, click here to learn more. I hope this helps!

In Good Health,
Amber Stewart BS,
Holistic Nutritionist
Certified Master Life Coach
ACSM Exercise Physiologist,
CTNC Mental Health Specialist
TBMM Corrective Exercise Specialist