Common Harmful Self-Care Habits That You Need to Unlearn

Dec 21, 2021 | Ebru Yildirim

Several external influences have misled a lot of people in thinking that certain feel-good habits are healthy. While a lot of them are effective short-term, they can become toxic towards a person’s well-being over time. Listening to toxic positivity. Oftentimes, people can be quick to dismiss negative situations. Unsolicited advice is being given instead of hanging back and taking time to listen with empathy and understanding. Listening to this kind of toxic positivity habitually can be harmful to your well-being. In order to truly find peace and achieve an improved well-being, it’s necessary to accept that there will be bad times, and that it is okay to feel down during those bad times. Downplaying and invalidating important emotions are only temporary solutions that will eventually catch up to your mental health so it’s best to do work through these emotions for an improved outlook. Only relying on extravagant activities as a form of “self-care”. In recent times, social media has perpetuated a romanticized idea that self-care should only be enjoyable and costly pursuits such as traveling, taking long baths, and going on shopping sprees. In reality, while those activities are pleasant and uplifting, they do not make significant internal changes in a person’s outlook. True self-care is actually an uneventful combination of taking valuable breaks, constant self-evaluation, and most importantly: physical and mental health checks. The latter are often overlooked as they are not the easiest and most convenient activities but going to healthcare specialists are actually some of the best things individuals can do for themselves. Not being selfish enough. There is a degree of selflessness that can be considered harmful to one’s well-being. Overloading with responsibilities and being unable to decline can be an unconscious form of self-neglect. It is important to remember that it is always okay to say no – regardless of how you will spend that time for yourself. Feeling guilty is normal, but learning to put yourself first will be better for your well-being in the long run. Putting too much pressure on feeling better. Self-care is not a linear journey but a mindset. It is not a goal that should be achieved, rather – it is a continuous way of thinking that you must ingrain in your daily life. Being consistent with good habits and unlearning toxic ones daily can take you long ways into improving your way of life. Indulging in bad food and activities under the guise of self-care. Consuming junk and practicing bad lifestyle habits can be detrimental to your health when done in excess. They can serve as temporary comforts, but they could be counterproductive in the long run. A good tip to unlearn this behavior is to change the narrative of what accounts for a healthy choice. While preparing healthy meals may take more time and effort, they are still better for your body than instant or processed food. Giving yourself treats now and again as opposed to over-indulging is fine, so long as you’re aware of the limits. There is no one angle to providing yourself the care that you need. In the end, it all boils down to finding the right balance with everything – in behaviors towards yourself and others and in lifestyle habits. Unlearning misconceptions in what constitutes self-care early on is only a fraction of the process, but it’s already a good start in your self-love journey.