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Self-Care Won’t Solve My Problems, And It Probably Won’t Solve Yours
We can’t take care of ourselves when we’re not taking care of each other
Every time I hear the term “self-care” these days, I feel like vomiting a little in my mouth.
To be clear: There’s nothing inherently wrong with self-care. I don’t actively oppose a good night’s sleep or an early-morning run.
In fact, both of these things are part of my daily regimen, along with a steady diet of nuts and avocados, a designated 30 minutes of Solitary Thinking Time on my front porch, and a nightly glass of wine accompanied by a pull from my weed vaporizer. (I firmly include the latter two rituals in my self-care routine, even if my doctor disagrees.)
I’m actually pretty good at prioritizing self-care, particularly given that I’m a working mom with two children in elementary school. Even back when I was breastfeeding, I used to surreptitiously extend each office pumping session so I could fit in a 10-minute online workout. I also napped unapologetically on the weekends, and I mastered the art of stroller jogging.
And yet, even with all my meticulously planned and executed self-care routines, I’ve still been as frazzled and sleep-deprived as the next working mom. Why? Well, to start:
