Self-care: the buzzword you can’t escape, right up there with “kale” and “manifesting.” Scroll through Instagram for two minutes, and you’ll see endless photos of artfully arranged smoothie bowls, people meditating on mountain tops, and suspiciously well-lit “candid” bubble baths. While it’s great that everyone’s talking about wellness, it sometimes feels like the real meaning of self-care has gotten lost somewhere between a Himalayan salt lamp and a $15 green juice.
Here in Australia, folks are giving self-care their best shot, but many still end up tired, frazzled, and ready to hibernate till next year. The issue usually isn’t a lack of effort – it’s that the “right” way to take care of ourselves has gotten buried under a pile of hashtags and half-baked advice. If you find yourself doing everything “right” but still feeling wrecked, you might be making one of these classic blunders.
1. Treating Self-Care as a “Nice to Have”
Mistake number one: acting like self-care is a luxury reserved for birthdays or because you survived another work week without flipping a table. Many treat wellness like a bonus round – only available after you’ve ticked off everything else (including things that should never have made the list). But waiting until you’re running on fumes to look after yourself is like waiting for your car to start smoking before you ever check the oil.
Think of self-care as your own personal maintenance plan. Your phone needs charging, your plants need watering, and you – yes, you – need regular TLC. It’s not an optional upgrade, it’s standard equipment.
2. Mixing Up Self-Care and Self-Indulgence
Let’s get real: inhaling a whole cheesecake in one sitting might be delicious, but it isn’t the same as practicing self-care. There’s a sneaky difference between nourishing yourself and caving to every passing whim. Self-care is grown-up babysitting – it means sometimes tucking yourself in early, eating greens instead of chips, or being a Responsible Adult by paying the bills on time. Fun? Maybe not. Good for future you? Definitely.
It’s about giving yourself what you need, not just what you want – even if that means swapping a Netflix marathon for a solid night’s sleep.
3. Copy-Pasting Someone Else’s Routine
Raise your hand if you’ve tried to copy a fitness influencer’s 5am ice bath routine and ended up grumpy, wet, and unimpressed. We’ve all been there. But just because “Rebecca” swears by 90-minute sunrise yoga doesn’t mean it’ll work for you – especially if your internal clock thinks 7am is ambitious.
Good self-care is as individual as your coffee order. Extroverts might thrive on brunch catch-ups, while introverts recharge by hiding under a doona with a good book. Do what feels right for your brain and body, not what looks good on someone else’s story.
4. Feeling Guilty for Putting Yourself First
There’s a special kind of guilt that appears the moment you try to put yourself ahead of everyone else – especially for caregivers, parents, and anyone with a goldfish that depends on them. But here’s the deal: you cannot pour from an empty mug. If you’re running on empty, you’ll have nothing left to give to the people (or pets) who count on you.
Caring for yourself isn’t selfish; it’s what makes you better at caring for others. The world needs you rested, not running on fumes. One way to get over this is to go all out – don’t just take ten minutes, book a trip to somewhere amazing, like Soulshine Bali. You’ll find it impossible not to throw yourself in.
5. Playing the “All or Nothing” Game
Spoiler: skipping self-care for weeks and then trying to revive yourself with an over-the-top wellness weekend isn’t a winning strategy. Sustainable habits beat grand gestures every time. Ten minutes of stretching each morning will do you more good than an epic, once-a-month “detox” that leaves you curled up in bed, regretting every life choice.
Wellness is more daily brush-up than massive overhaul. Think bite-sized, not buffet-style. Sure, take the buffet, but fill in those gaps too.
Rethinking the Self-Care Playbook
If any of these sound familiar, relax – you’re in good company. The path to feeling better is paved with trial, error, and the occasional face-palm. Ditch the guilt and the perfectionism, and focus on small, steady tweaks that actually suit your life. Start now by asking yourself: Is my self-care routine helping future me, or just patching up the present? (Bonus points if you manage this reflection without opening Instagram.)
