What Emotional Self-Care Actually Looks Like (Spoiler: It’s Not Instagram-Worthy)
Okay, real talk? I used to think emotional self-care was for people who had their lives together. You know, the ones who post #blessed sunset pics while doing yoga at 5 AM. Meanwhile, I’m over here eating cold pizza for breakfast and wondering why I feel like garbage.
Turns out, emotional self-care is less about perfect routines and more about not treating yourself like crap when life gets hard. Which, let’s be honest, is like… always.
Signs You Might Need Emotional Self-Care (From Someone Who Ignored Them Way Too Long)
- You refer to 3 AM anxiety spirals as “me time”
- Your idea of “decompressing” is aggressively scrolling TikTok until your thumb cramps
- You’ve ever cried because the Starbucks drive-thru line was too long (no? just me?)
How I (Barely) Learned to Take Care of My Emotional Mess
1. Started Naming My Feels (Even the Dumb Ones)
Instead of “I’m fine” (liar), I try:
- “I’m overwhelmed because adulting is hard and also my wifi sucks”
- “I’m hangry and that’s why everything is terrible”
2. Embraced the Power of the Ugly Cry
Pro tip: If you haven’t sobbed into a pint of Ben & Jerry’s while watching The Notebook, are you even doing self-care?
3. Set Ridiculously Small Boundaries
Like:
- “No, I won’t answer work emails after 7 PM. I’ll be busy staring at the wall and questioning my life choices.”
- “Yes, I will take a mental health day to watch Friends reruns in my pajamas.”
Confession Time: I Still Suck at This Sometimes
Last week I:
- Had a meltdown because I couldn’t find matching socks
- Ate an entire family-sized bag of chips for “dinner”
- Stayed up until 2 AM doomscrolling instead of sleeping
But here’s the thing—that’s still emotional self-care. Because sometimes self-care is just surviving until tomorrow.
Final Thoughts (From One Messy Human to Another)
Emotional self-care isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up for yourself even when—especially when—you feel like a hot mess.
Accidental Finger Sunset: Imperfect Beauty Captured
