Self-care isn’t just face masks and massages.

Why we need to redefine self-care.

I am a very, very anxious people pleaser. There’s no doubt about that. I’ve been denying it for years, trying to twist it into being a good friend or co-worker. But the truth has always been there: I’ve been putting other people’s joy before mine. And this has taken a toll on my mental health.

So you imagine how happy I’ve been to discover the self-care movement. Instagram is rife with posts about taking long, nice baths, doing face masks and dedicating time to our hobbies and interests.

All of these are, of course, fantastic and beneficial to our physical and mental health, but I want to stress one thing:

Real change comes from within.

Take all the hot, bath-bomb filled baths you want, but if you don’t take the necessary steps to emancipate yourself from the inside, it will all bounce back.

1. First, please, for the love of God, set boundaries. We all require our own space and time to do things. Telling your friends you don’t want to hang out with them tonight because you feel like resting might seem hard if you’re a people-pleasing disease sufferer, but fear not. The people who matter will not take issue with this.
2. Connected to the idea of boundaries is saying no at work, or being…