Move over, skinny jeans and overpriced hipster avocado toast for breakfast – there’s a new trend in town. And it’s one you won’t regret in five years. That’s right: self-care is the new black. It’s chic, it’s on point, it’s everywhere and best of all, it doesn’t make you feel guilty for eating carbs.
You see, self-care is the ultimate and timeless trend because it pairs well with literally everything. Whether you’re wearing pyjamas, yoga pants, or even (gasp) real pants, self-care is always in style. Plus, unlike your favourite pair of jeans that you had to painfully break in, self-care is soft, cozy, and doesn’t require any tugging, sucking in, holding your breath nor any dangerous jumping off the wardrobe to get into.
The Evolution of Self-Care: From Face Masks to Feeling Feelings
Remember the good ol’ days when “self-care” meant nothing more than slapping a cucumber face mask on your skin, grabbing a glass of wine, and calling it a night? Sure, you had a sticky face and a mild hangover the next day, but you were taking care of yourself! Or at least, that’s what you told yourself.
But self-care has evolved. It’s no longer just about putting on a sheet mask and binge-watching Netflix. Nope. These days, self-care is about embracing the awkward, uncomfortable parts of life that you used to shove under a rug (or hide in the depths of your laptop). Feelings? Turns out you have to feel them now. Journaling? Yeah, you’re going to have to break out a pen and actually write something, even if your handwriting looks like a toddler’s first attempt at the alphabet. And yep it’s definitely okay to cheat and type it in your laptop, phone or tablet.
Self-Care: Now With 20% More Guilt-Free Napping
The best part about this whole self-care trend? It’s given naps a glow-up. No longer do you have to feel guilty for curling up in the foetal position at 2pm on a Wednesday. Nope. It’s self-care, sweetie (and yes I’m an Ab Fab tragic). The world may be on fire, but you’ve got your weighted blanket and a 20 minute power nap that somehow lasts two hours. Who’s judging? (Not me – I’m too busy napping too.)
And while we’re on the subject of rest, let’s not forget that self-care has finally made doing nothing socially acceptable. Want to spend your Saturday binge-watching terrible reality TV or You Tube videos (guilty as charged) while wearing a robe that you definitely should have washed by now? Congratulations, you’re a self-care icon.
The New Status Symbol: A Cracked Phone Screen
Once upon a time, it was all about flashing your designer bag or sporting the latest gadget. Now? It’s all about not answering emails, ignoring texts, and letting your phone battery die a natural death. The most fashionable people these days are the ones who don’t immediately reply to group chats – they’re too busy meditating in their candle-lit bathroom, practicing “being present” while taking a bubble bath. (Or they just really, really hate group texts – did I say that out loud?)
Your cracked phone screen? That’s the new Birkin bag. It says, “I’m not a slave to notifications. I’ve transcended this digital prison, and I don’t even care if I have 24 unread messages. I’m doing me.”
Self-Care for the Overachiever
For those of you who like to overachieve (not looking at anyone here), don’t worry – self-care has room for you too. There’s a whole new level of competition in the self-care world, and it involves meticulously tracking your mindfulness with a spreadsheet. (How many times have you meditated this week? Only five? Yikes.) Better still, use an app that does that for you! How lazily self-care is that?
It’s not enough to drink water anymore – you’ve got to hydrate with the precision of a professional athlete. You’ve got an app that reminds you to drink and stretch every 30 minutes, a daily yoga practice, and a calendar filled with journaling prompts, manifestation mantras, and gratitude exercises. You’re basically a self-care ninja. Except instead of throwing stars, you’re throwing positive vibes and essential oils. Oh how this describes my day and how those around me are so annoyed by my incessant alarms …
Self-Care is the New Black (But Fuzzy Socks Are Still In – mine actually need replacing …)
So, whether you’re diving into deep emotional work or just pretending you’re busy while actually napping for three hours, remember: self-care is always on trend. It’s the little black dress of life – but with way more snacks and no judgment if you don’t leave your couch all weekend. Guilty!
Because at the end of the day, who needs skinny jeans when you’ve got fuzzy socks and a “treat yourself” mentality?
Photo by Taryn Elliott: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-book-near-brown-wooden-table-4426559/