What is self care? And Do We Even Care?!

If you read any magazine article or post online it seems like self care is taking a bubble bath, making time for a few hours reading a book or talking to a friend on the phone.

But that is NOT it.

Self care is much more grown up than that. Self care is deeper than a few fluffy blankets, a cup of cocoa and a stroll to the farmer's market. It's about a deep, sustainable and long-lasting commitment to your own physical and mental health.

In a world where we are constantly told to “treat ourselves” with fleeting indulgences, it’s easy to mistake those small luxuries for true self care. The reality is that real self care is far more profound. It isn’t a one-off or a weekend treat; it’s a thoughtful, deliberate practice that underpins everything we do. It’s about creating a foundation of wellbeing that allows us to live our lives with resilience, joy, and clarity.

Self care is not something that we simply do overnight. It's a lifelong commitment to ourselves that is grown-up, sensible and deeply important. It’s not about "Sunday Fundays," larging it up all weekend or being so lazy that we forget to eat vegetables for weeks on end. True self care is that fabulous, all-encompassing feeling of great health that makes us feel like everything is possible. It’s about a feeling of joy for each day that we only get when we take care of ourselves. And it’s about knowing that, despite what life throws at us, we have something of a firewall to safeguard our mental and physical health from the onslaught that modern life so often brings.

When we talk about self care, it’s important to recognise that it comes in more than one form. It’s not just about one dimension of your life or about one small ritual. Real self care is multifaceted—it touches both mental and physical health, and it’s a practice of balance, consistency, and respect for yourself. It's holistic. In other words it's about every part of your life and having an understanding that one part effects another.

Let’s start with mental health, the part that often gets overlooked in favour of instant fixes or indulgent treats. Mental self care is about carving out space for yourself to think, breathe, and exist without pressure. It’s about giving yourself time outside of obligations and distractions, and allowing yourself timeouts to reset. It’s about not letting others step over your boundaries, whether at work, in your social life, or within family relationships. Protecting your energy isn’t selfish; it’s essential. It’s also about safeguarding relationships that matter. True self care means investing in people who lift you up, not drain you. By taking care of your mental wellbeing, you build a resilience that acts like a buffer against stress, burnout, and the relentless pace of modern life.

But self care doesn’t stop at the mind. Our bodies are our homes, and taking care of them is just as vital. Physical health self care starts with the basics: a good diet, plenty of water, and regular movement. It’s about being mindful of what you fuel your body with and taking the small, daily actions that support your overall wellbeing. Avoiding too much junk food isn’t about restriction—it’s about creating habits that make you feel alive and energetic. Looking after your weight, checking in with your eyesight, and making regular visits to the doctor are all part of this grown-up approach. Time outside is another pillar: walking, hiking, or even just sitting in fresh air reconnects us with nature and provides a mental reset, while also benefiting our physical wellbeing.

What’s beautiful about real self care is that it doesn’t feel like a chore once you make it a practice. It’s a way of life, not a fleeting indulgence. It’s about creating rhythms and rituals that nourish you on a daily basis, rather than expecting that a single bubble bath or a weekend brunch will somehow be enough. Over time, these consistent choices become habits that elevate your health and happiness, allowing you to meet life head-on with energy and confidence.

A key point I want to emphasise is that self care is deeply personal. What works for one person may not work for another, and that’s okay. The core idea is that you take responsibility for your own wellbeing in a way that is sustainable and meaningful to you. It may involve quiet mornings with a cup of tea, it may be regular walks in the forest, it may be saying “no” more often or actively seeking support when you need it. Each choice, no matter how small, is a brick in the foundation of your long-term wellbeing.

At its heart, self care is about respect—respect for yourself, your body, and your mind. It’s a commitment that grows as you grow, and it’s a practice that adapts with life’s seasons. It’s about building a protective layer around yourself, so you can live fully, respond to challenges with calm, and celebrate the joy of being alive without feeling constantly depleted.

So, let’s move away from the clichés of self care. Let’s stop measuring it in bubble baths, brunches, or indulgent weekends. True self care is mature, intentional, and deeply nurturing. It’s about mental and physical health, about boundaries and relationships, about daily choices that may seem small but add up to a lifetime of resilience, vitality, and joy. When we embrace this grown-up understanding of self care, we unlock a sense of freedom and wellbeing that no magazine article or Instagram post can ever replicate.

Self care is not a luxury. It’s not a trend. It’s the essential, ongoing, life-affirming practice of living well—mind, body, and spirit. And that, in my view, is the real Nordic way to care for yourself.