Why You Shouldn't “Treat Yo’ Self.” Well, At Least Not So Much.
Written by Rachel Hale, Culture Editorial Assistant
As we’ve figured out how to adjust to life in a COVID-19 world, the self-care movement is more prevalent than ever, serving as an important reminder to take care of our mental and physical wellbeing. However, somewhere along the line, self-care got confused with self-indulgence. Satiating a sweet tooth with sugary snacks, binging on an entire Netflix series and sleeping in can all be classified as self-care, and each has a place in the overall picture of health. However, when overused, forms of care like these quickly turn into overindulgence. While “treating yourself” can play a role in self-care, it shouldn’t be the whole picture.
“Treat yo’ self,” the phrase that originated in a 2013 episode of NBC’s Parks and Recreation, has gained traction in recent years, and in Spring 2020 the term “self-care” hit a five-year peak in Google searches, indicating a general upwards engagement in self-care (NBC,2013) (Google, 2020). There’s a strong argument to be made for taking a mental health break from school or work: sometimes we need time to rest or could use a pause from our obligations altogether. However, sometimes taking time away from our responsibilities only results in more stress than if we had dealt with them in the first place. Likewise, forgoing a night of homework to binge-watch Netflix under the label of “self-care” does more harm than good for our health, leaving us groggy and yawning for our 9 a.m. lectures. The same can be said of skipping class for a nap following a tough night or taking our stressors out on our credit cards via an online shopping spree.
Caught up in the stress of schoolwork or jobs, it’s natural to resort to these methods of procrastination and comfort. But if the self-indulging decisions you made last night left you with a feeling of sludge, underprepared or more stressed this morning, rest assured that there are other routes you can take toward taking care of yourself that don’t worsen your reality. The American Psychological Association recommends focusing on the basics: eating well, getting ample sleep and exercising. Outlining a plan, prioritizing your responsibilities, and sticking to a routine can help mitigate stress, while methods like journaling, talking to a friend or listening to a podcast are great ways to release built-up tension (American Psychological Association, 2020). If looking for some extra guidance, a plethora of health apps offer up recorded meditations and self-care strategies from mental health experts, including Calm, Headspace, and Ten Percent Happier.
True self-care is understanding when to rest in order to continue working toward our goals. Whether this break comes in the form of a 20-minute power nap or a few sugar cookies, it’s important that it’s just a pit stop on the road to success, not a breaking point. So next time you have a math test coming up set an intention to study for a reasonable period of time, with self-care as a much-deserved award 一 your calculus teacher and your mind will thank you.
Sources:
“Self-care” search term. Google Trends, 2020 https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=self-care
Self-Care Has Never Been More Important,” Monitor on Psychology (American Psychological Association, July 2020), https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/07/self-care.