5 Ways Our Western Lifestyle Blocks Our Self-Care
In our fast-paced Western society, self-care often takes a back seat to the demands of work, family, and social obligations. We're bombarded with messages that self-care is a luxury reserved for those who can afford expensive at home self care products, or lavish retreats. However, true self-care goes beyond material indulgence and requires a deeper understanding of our needs and priorities. Here are five ways our Western lifestyle blocks our self-care and how we can overcome these barriers:
Self Care Does Not Require Spending a Lot of Money/Buying Fancy Things: One of the misconceptions about self-care is that it requires a hefty budget or purchasing fancy products. While treating yourself occasionally can be beneficial, true self-care is about prioritizing your well-being in everyday life. Simple practices like taking a leisurely walk, practicing deep breathing exercises, talking with a good friend, or enjoying a warm bath can be just as rejuvenating as the expensive luxury solutions.
Meditation/Self-Care Doesn't Have to Be Rigid: In Western culture, we often approach self-care with a rigid mindset, viewing it as a chore or something to be scheduled into our busy lives. However, self-care should be flexible and adaptable to our individual needs and preferences. Whether it's a five-minute meditation session in the morning or a creative outlet like painting or journaling, finding what resonates with you is key to sustainable self-care. Finding ways to make our self care enjoyable, like taking your meditation to the beach or bringing a book to a park will promise us better success in sticking with the habit, rather than trying to force it upon ourselves like a chore.
You Aren't Failing by Needing More Self-Care, Everyone Struggles: There's a pervasive belief that needing self-care is a sign of weakness or failure, especially in a culture that values productivity and achievement. However, everyone experiences periods of stress, burnout, and emotional fatigue. Recognizing when you need extra care and support is a strength, not a weakness. Self-care is an essential part of maintaining balance and well-being. Don’t judge yourself based on the kinds of things you see people posting online, we all show our best side on the internet, and tend to hide away all the moments when we aren’t feeling so picture perfect.
Giving Your Body What It Needs Is Self-Care, and It's Not Always Fun and Indulgent: Self-care is often associated with indulgent activities like spa days or shopping sprees. While these can be enjoyable, true self-care also involves listening to your body's needs and responding with nourishing actions. This may include getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, staying hydrated, and engaging in regular physical activity. Sometimes self-care means setting boundaries, saying no, or seeking professional help when needed.
Self Care Is About What Makes You Feel Good, Not What Should Make You Feel Good, Based on Articles and Posts: In the age of social media and influencer culture, there's pressure to conform to certain self-care trends or practices that may not resonate with our individual preferences. True self-care is about authenticity and honoring what truly makes you feel good, whether it's a quiet evening at home, spending time with loved ones, pursuing a passion, or simply being present in the moment. It's important to tune out external expectations and focus on what nourishes your soul.
True Self Care is about nourishing the 5 pillars of happy living; Our Emotional, Physical, Social, Spiritual and Creative health. The western lifestyle is always going to make us feel like we need to have some accomplishment or accolade to show from the time we put into any of our pursuits, which is why it’s so important to remember that Self Care is about doing the things that make you feel good and bring a feeling of inner satisfaction.
