What Is Self-Care – And How Therapy Can Help You Build It

Self-care. I'm sure you've heard of it. It isn't just face masks and bubble baths. Let's talk about what it really means. If you've ever rolled your eyes at the word self-care, you're not alone, but it might be more important than you think.

Hi, I'm Dr. Andrea Zorbas. I'm a psychologist from Therapy Now SF. Self-care has become a buzzword in pop culture, but at its core, it's actually a powerful practice for maintaining your mental, physical, and emotional health.

Today, let's talk about what self-care really means and how it takes many forms, and how therapy can help you make it a consistent part of your life.

So first one is the true meaning of self-care. Self-care is the intentional act of supporting your wellbeing. So again, this is the physical, mental, and emotional pieces of your wellbeing. It's not a one size fits all. For one person it might be journaling or walking in nature; for another, it might be cooking a nourishing meal, or even spending time with loved ones.

So number two, why the term can feel overused, and I would argue it is overused. And in recent years, self-care has been used to market everything, from self-care products to luxury vacations. While those things are definitely a part of self-care, it's important to remember that self-care is also about balance and sustainability and doing what genuinely restores you-- it's not about just what feels good in that moment.

So then there's everyday self-care versus what avoidance can be. Activities like gaming or watching anime or streaming a favorite show can 100% be self-care if they help you recharge, and leave you feeling better afterwards. And if it doesn't become eight hours at a time. But if they become a way to avoid your feelings or responsibilities, then that might not be serving you for your long-term wellbeing.

So how do we strengthen self-care? In therapy, we explore what actually supports you, not just in moments of stress, but in everyday life. And we also are trying to be proactive and not do self-care when we're already at the stage of full burnout. So we can identify your personal signs of burnout to help you create routines and work through any guilt or resistance you may feel around taking care of yourself. And I think that's a big piece of it too, is we often feel guilty for taking care of ourselves, but the reality is we can't take care of others, we can't do a good job at work, we can't do a lot of things if we don't put ourselves first in the sense of taking care of ourselves.

In summary, self-care is more than just a trend-- it's essential skill for a healthy and balanced life. And when you work on it in therapy, you can give yourself the tools to make it a lasting habit and to have a more successful, fulfilling, and happy life.