Toxic Self-Care Habits to Leave Behind in 2022

Self-care can mean different things to different people. Whether that involves a 12-step skincare routine, or weekly therapy sessions, there are many ways we try to improve our overall well-being.

Part of the reason it’s so palatable to the mainstream is that self-care is an extremely broad category under the even bigger (and more profitable) $4 trillion global industry of health and wellness.

It’s time we recognize how these self-care habits create a toxic environment for us to truly flourish and become the best version of ourselves.

Treating yourself to a debt spiral

[{"selector":"#anim-fe675ac2-f9a1-47e5-9fc3-53ef6565be4a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65eae8b7-c54a-4d6b-a980-1562856e3b86","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Retail therapy, for one, is considered by many as a way of decompressing. But anything we do on emotion can develop into a compulsion. Learn more

Find alternative ways to relieve stress. Habits like journaling, going for a run, or even crying into a pillow can be more effective.

[{"selector":"#anim-a9fdce4c-6ee5-4897-a592-45aafa87b027","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-566e5625-61c4-44f7-a650-6142688126d5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Striving for a perfect self-care routine

[{"selector":"#anim-4b97e8fe-284b-492b-b0d6-d18ba53300f7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7720dbaa-0b9d-4bc9-bf85-dc3fa073420d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Here’s a secret wellness influencers don’t want you to know: the perfect self-care routine doesn’t exist. There isn’t a singular path to improving one’s well-being. Learn more

What works for one might not necessarily work for you. It’s time to stop trying to curate the perfect self-care routine and focus on improving one thing at a time.

[{"selector":"#anim-c5825ea0-6803-4857-b1e5-148be4e261a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf96793b-bdb8-4708-b171-2950f4de3782","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Ignoring professional interventions for DIY self-care methods

[{"selector":"#anim-0a273281-8b04-440e-b7e7-3c13854a5232","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ba1be9f-c9d1-415b-a5c1-90f134d35e3b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(100.00000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] If you find that your usual self-care routines are doing little to improve your well-being, you might need professional intervention. And for a lot of us, professional help means therapy. Learn more

Swipe up to read the full post!