Is Your Self-Care Routine Actually Helping?
Over the years, I've come to realize that some activities I had thought were self-care were, in fact, more akin to 'pseudo self-care'.
What's Pseudo Self-Care? It's those activities that appear to be self-care, often fun and entertaining, but carry hidden costs that negate their beneficial aspects.
How Data Helped Me Understand
Since 2019, I've been using an Oura ring to track my sleep quality and other biometrics. This data, combined with closer attention to my mental well-being, has been instrumental in understanding how my activities impact my health.
My analysis and reflections led me to a surprising revelation: two things I considered self-care - having a glass of wine and playing video games - were actually pseudo self-care.
Illusion of Achieving Self-Care
Picture this: I'd pour myself a glass of wine, and mentally, I'd check off a box in my mind:
✅ Self-care achieved! Enjoying a relaxing glass of wine.
Or, after a long day of work, switching from my laptop to my gaming PC to play a favorite video game, and checking off this todo item in my mind:
✅ A hectic day, but embarking on a digital adventure - self-care accomplished!
Hidden Costs
The reality, however, was different. Despite the pleasure of enjoying a glass of wine in the evening, I'd consistently wake up to low sleep scores on my ŌURA ring. It's also worth noting that recent studies suggest no amount of alcohol is entirely healthy.
Likewise, despite the enjoyment of playing video games, I'd often end up:
Realizing that while I'd been absorbed in the game, real-world issues were untouched, and precious time had slipped away.
Feeling stiffness or soreness - the kind from prolonged inactivity, not from a healthy workout.
Depending on the game, feeling more frazzled due to the adrenaline rush.
Like Junk Food
Today, I still enjoy a glass of wine or a video game from time to time. However, my perspective on these activities has changed. I no longer label them as self-care. Instead, I see them as indulgences that carry a certain cost - a cost I've become more intentional about deciding when to pay.
In many ways, pseudo self-care activities are like junk food. I enjoy them and I'm not under any illusion that they're healthy or nurturing for my body.
