This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Amna Faheem. Find her on Instagram at @amnaf.aheem. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
In the age of rising social media influence, with Instagram and TikTok seemingly impacting every decision many of us make, we’re beginning to lose our independence and ability to make choices based on what is right for us, not what is trending on the For You Page. Many dangerous habits are becoming normalized on our timelines, boosting a certain lifestyle and making it the standard for everyone. The wellness side of social media has become very significant for many users, yet what started as a simple interest with minimal routines slowly grew into something too big for many of us to handle.
Overconsumption has saturated the wellness side of social media and instilled a negative effect on users, leaving them with the feeling of inadequacy for not having the ability to participate in the expensive trends and styles that sweep through the different platforms weekly. Self-care is more mundane than acquiring the same face wash that Jennifer Lopez uses or adopting the same diet Gwyneth Paltrow follows. Unfortunately, it has now become synonymous with owning a considerable amount of products and being pressured to take part in extravagant activities in the name of ‘self-care.’
Self-care has become increasingly important as the years have gone on. Influencers and content creators have created an era of self-priority: you are the prize, and taking care of yourself is above all else. Get-ready-with-me videos exude wealth, with social media personalities showing off their 35-dollar serums and face washes in the 60-dollar range. Almost every video is accompanied by the signature line, “You can find all of these products in my Amazon storefront or the link in my bio!” But what if we don’t have the 50 dollars to shell out for an Amethyst Body Scrub? How can we still practice self-care without giving in to the toxic consumerism that has enveloped the practice?
The Evolution of Self-Care
Self-care is seen as the practice of taking care of oneself, not only physically but mentally and emotionally too. What started as a simple sheet face mask and cucumber slices on your eyes steadily grew into something contradictory to what it stands for. Now, self-care is comprised of step after step of intricate layering and creams accompanied by red light therapy face masks promoted by stars like Chrissy Teigen and the Kardashians. Self-care is now ground zero for unsatisfactory habits and toxic mindsets, replacing what should otherwise be a product of self-serenity and peace.
Toxic self-care has been born and nurtured as the more wealthy have taken over and set the standard for the activity. Content consumers are flooded with people going to expensive Pilates classes, visiting facial specialists, and traveling to resorts whose forte is enhanced self-care programs. The constant promotion of these actions gives the impression to the ‘normal’ person that without taking part in the same lifestyle, they’re failing at taking care of themselves; that feeling of not doing something ‘right’ or ‘good enough’ only worsens one’s mental health and throws them further into a negative mindset. Self-care is never something that should cause an outcome but rather be the solution. However, due to the current state of the wellness realm on social media, that is not the case.
Overconsumption in Self-Care
Toxic self-care is rooted in overconsumption. Magazines, Instagram accounts, TikTok videos- almost every form of media is consistently pushing the ideology that if you are not buying the latest skincare line, investing in the newest fragrance, or treating yourself to an expensive weekend trip, you cannot possibly be doing self-care correctly. The pressures to make these big purchases only add more stress and defeat the purpose of what self-care is supposed to be. The growth of toxic self-care is stunting the evolution of what should be a routine of healthy habits. What was once something to look forward to, a way to unwind after a log day, is now a constant feeling of missing out and coming up short.
The overwhelming encouragement of toxic self-care through certain wellness procedures based on the popularity of what’s trending on social media platforms strips away the significance of real and true self-care. The reality of blindly following in someone’s footsteps based on the large platform they have is not healthy. The common phrase utilized of “If you don’t buy this, you’ll regret it; your skin will thank you!” more often than not sets up the viewer for failure. What works for their skin will not always work for ours. Just because something is expensive does not mean it is the best one on the market. Caving in to stay connected to what everyone else is doing is a dangerous habit to have and will not always end in your best interest. Staying true to yourself and choosing the products and practices that work the best for you is the embodiment of self-care
How to Practice Better Self-Care Habits
There are many different ways to practice self-care and not overextend your finances or dabble in lavish activities that are not sustainable. Buying skincare products at the pharmacy is a great way to take care of your skin and your wallet. A simple gym membership helps promote physical movement, which has been proven to improve mental health and physical well-being. While Whole Foods might be labeled as the one-stop shop for all things healthy, it can often be out of our price range. Shopping for groceries at more affordable places like Trader Joe’s is not something to be ashamed of. While a trip every now and then can be relaxing, it is not to be expected that one can hop on a plane to a meditative retreat and come back rejuvenated- such a reality is not applicable to everyone. Indulging in a massage occasionally or attending a yoga class is not only more affordable and accessible but is a great way to improve strength and cardiac health and also improve your energy.
Self-care is not about what is lining your medicine cabinet in your bathroom. It’s using the trusted face wash that happens to be 12 dollars and the Ordinary serum that’s only six dollars. It can be doing an at-home workout when you want to do anything but. It’s reading a book about self-improvement and understanding that while you might not be able to afford a ski trip at the drop of a hat, that does not mean you are any less worthy of taking care of yourself.
Take some time this weekend and discover your own self-care habits away from those made prominent on social media! Pick up a calm addition to your routine and ditch the excessive inclusions that are too often normalized in toxic self-care.
Have you seen toxic self care trends online? What free self care trends do you do? Let us know in the comments below!
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