Why self-care isn't just about bubble baths and face masks

Collaborative Post | Self-care gets talked about a lot. It often shows up as photos of bubble baths, luxury skincare, or perfectly brewed herbal teas. While there’s nothing wrong with those things, reducing self-care to surface-level treats can miss the point entirely.

Looking after yourself isn’t always pretty or relaxing. Sometimes, it’s about hard decisions. Sometimes, it’s about saying no. Sometimes, it’s about doing the thing you’ve been putting off for months. It’s personal. And it’s more layered than what’s often shared online.

Let’s break it down properly — and look at what self-care can actually mean day to day.

Photo by Harper Sunday on Unsplash

The mental load no on talks about

Some days feel like one long to-do list. Wake up, sort the kids, work through emails, chase appointments, cook, clean, repeat. That constant buzz of responsibility isn’t always visible, but it’s heavy. This mental load — the invisible juggling of everyone’s needs — often lands hardest on people expected to “just get on with it.”

You might find yourself mentally calculating dinner while replying to work messages and folding laundry. It’s exhausting, even if it looks ordinary from the outside. That tiredness isn’t laziness. It’s mental overload, and recognising it is part of taking care of yourself.
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Self-care here might mean asking for help. Or switching off your phone earlier. It could mean giving yourself permission to rest before you reach burnout. You don’t have to earn it. You just have to notice when you need it — and act on that.

Creating space for emotional health

It’s easy to put emotions to the side when everything else feels more urgent. But ignoring them doesn’t make them disappear. They hang around — in your thoughts, your sleep, your energy levels.

Making space for your emotional health doesn’t always mean dramatic changes. It can be as simple as getting things out of your head. That might be a quick journal entry, a voice note to yourself, or sitting in the car for an extra few minutes before going inside. These quiet moments can be the difference between coping and unravelling.
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Talking to someone helps, too. It could be catching up with a friend who actually listens or speaking with a trained professional – just expressing what you’re carrying can take some of the weight off. Emotional self-care is often invisible, and no one claps when you work through your anxiety. But it matters more than most things.

The physical side of self-care

When energy is low and time is tight, physical wellbeing often slips down the list. But how you treat your body affects everything else — your focus, mood, patience, and sleep. Physical self-care isn’t always about going to the gym or following a routine. Sometimes, it’s about checking in with how you feel in your own skin.

This might mean stretching for ten minutes, drinking more water, or booking that health check you’ve been avoiding. It might mean making small swaps to feel better in your clothes. For some, it’s also about appearance and confidence — and being honest about what helps them feel more comfortable in themselves.

That could include cosmetic treatments. For example, choosing a private hair transplant London clinic can be a way for someone to address long-term hair loss — not out of vanity, but to reconnect with how they see themselves. These decisions aren’t about meeting beauty standards. They’re about restoring confidence, in a way that feels right for the individual.

Physical self-care should feel supportive, not punishing. It’s not about perfection. It’s about giving your body what it needs to function well and feel like your own.

Rethinking time for yourself

Time for yourself can feel like a luxury you don’t have. But carving out even small pockets can shift everything. That doesn’t always mean booking a weekend away or clearing an hour for yoga. It might mean making a cup of tea and drinking it alone. Or choosing to pause for a few minutes between tasks instead of rushing into the next one.

This time isn’t about being productive. It’s about recognising that your attention, energy, and care are used up constantly — and they need refilling. You’re allowed to have moments that exist for no one but you.
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What that looks like will differ from person to person. For some, it’s reading a chapter of a book. For others, it’s a solo walk, even if it’s just to the end of the street. These moments remind you that your needs matter, too.

What is self-care?

Self-care isn’t something you perform. It’s something you live — often quietly, and without praise. It's in the decisions you make to support yourself, even when no one else sees it.
You don’t need anyone’s approval to care for your mental health, your body, or your emotional space. What helps one person reset might not work for someone else — and that’s fine. There isn’t one right way to do it.

It starts with noticing what you actually need—not what looks good on social media or fits into a tidy routine, but what leaves you feeling a bit more grounded, calm, or clear-headed.

Whether that means a walk alone, a medical consultation, or simply going to bed earlier, it counts. You’re allowed to prioritise yourself in ways that aren’t always obvious or easy. That’s what real self-care often looks like.


Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.