It may be shocking to find out, but millennials didn’t actually invent self-care! I know, it’s hard to believe.
Self-care is a deliberate action taken to reconnect with oneself. It’s taking a break from the rest of the world for a while, and nourishing yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Self-care is less about changing yourself and more about loving your current self.
While self-care has been around for centuries, it has been popularized and consumerized in recent years. From celebrity influencers to self-care gift boxes, millennials (also known as Generation Y, Generation 9/11, the Lost Generation, iGen, the Net Generation) have seemed to adopt this trend of caring for oneself as part of regular daily life.
Spoiler: Millennials didn’t invent self-care
The practice of self-preservation dates back to ancient Greece. Some scholars suggest that modern self-care practices are a reinvention of two ancient philosophies: caring for oneself and knowing oneself.
Philosopher Michel Foucault asserts that ancient philosophers like Socrates thought self-care meant to self-reflect, meditate, and engage in ascetic practices to remain in an ideal state of being. This self-care was a requirement to truly know oneself.
Socrates saw self-care and self-discovery as essential components to ethical development because self-care requires a self-disciplined, almost spiritual commitment to the truth and growth.
Caring for oneself is considered the foundational principle of moral rationality. While today’s self-care does not always include a moral component, it does require knowing oneself to truly work. Self-examination and reflection is an integral part of caring for oneself.
This was popularized in modern times by Abraham Maslow and his ideas around self-actualized people. He thought that people who realize the fullness of their nature without harming others could live the happiest and most fulfilled lives.
Self-Care Isn’t Self-Help
Self-help is centered around the idea that people should undergo some sort of radical change. Maybe a mindset around money or exercise, or perhaps a new communication style. Self-help is a drastic change to a current state.
Where self-help changes you, self-care cultivates you. The act of caring for oneself is holistic wellness. It revolves around loving oneself through reflection, grounding, and time spent doing joy-producing activities rather than improving perceived flaws.
Self-Care Reinvented
While New Year’s Resolutions have been around for a while, research shows that more young people than ever before are committed to personal improvements. In fact, millennials spend twice as much on self-care than their parents’ generation.
This self-improvement spending can be on fitness or gym memberships (especially those with a large social media presence), life coaching, organic food, or mobile apps.
The Profitability of the Self-Care Industry
There are many entrepreneurs in the wellness space. Much of the marketing is minimalist and streamlined to appeal to millennials with a clean, high-class vibe.
From exercise and diet leaders to product manufacturers, the business of self-care is vast and often offered at exclusive price points that make it difficult for the average person to partake.
For example, Gwenyth Paltrow’s Goop offers various goods such as a Gemstone Heat Therapy Mat for $1049 or an Amethyst Crystal-Infused Water Bottle for more than $80.
The self-improvement industry generates more than $10 billion per year. Much of that revenue comes from repeat spenders–people are more likely to continue to spend money on self-care if they have seen results from it.
People who purchase a gym membership are likely to continue the next month. Folks who read a self-help book are likely to buy a guide, manual, journal, or other self-care related book. Because we as people are continually developing, growing, evolving.
So there will never be an end to self-discovery or the need to care for ourselves. The industry will always exist because the need always exists.
The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know…
The Role of Information on Self-Improvement
Millennials spend a lot of time on the internet. They have grown up with access to information at their fingertips, which impacts their understanding of themselves and society.
Social Media’s Influence
YouTube and social media have definitely played a role in the surge of millennial self-care. There are people their age focusing on self-care or trying a specific exercise or diet, which increases awareness and self-reflection.
On Instagram, there are more than 18 million posts tagged #selfcare. At the time of this post, there Twitter had nearly 1000 posts with that hashtag in the last hour.
Access to Information
With a quick Google search, people can learn about almost anything in seconds. This thirst for knowledge, paired with an understanding of who we are, creates a generation that cares about care.
There are mental health awareness events, free exercise classes, online therapists and coaches, and sound bath meditations on Zoom. People have an awareness of self-improvement and have access to easy self-care ideas that fit any budget.
Especially in the COVID era, people are looking for ways to make time for themselves outside of their work and family commitments.
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
Lorde, BURST OF LIGHT
Millennial Inspired Self-Care Ideas (for all generations to enjoy)
Self-care is a wellness ritual. These routines are meant to calm the nervous system, focus the mind, and create separation from the world. There are no specific principles or organizing rules to self-care because it truly is derived from what helps you care for you.
Millennials on social media can make self-care look scripted or performative, but it seldom looks that way in real life. Self-care practices are often small daily habits rather than large gestures or public exercises.
Easy Self-Care Ideas
If you’re looking for an easy self-care idea, start by thinking of things that help calm your nerves or bring a smile to your face. For some people, it’s cooking or baking something new. Other folks enjoy reading a book or coloring an intricate design. Maybe you’d prefer to practice yoga or stroll through nature.
Remember, self-care is not the self-help of previous years.
You do not have to focus on denial or tedious exercises or diets. Instead of depriving yourself, focus on how to nourish yourself in a healthy and holistic way.
This practice of self-care helps you to create a sustainable routine versus a temporary fix. Think about something that you actually want to do FOR YOU every single day.
Start small.
Some simple self-care ideas include:
- Add something to your shower/bath routine—add a scent, try a new shampoo, put on a guided meditation, or create a new post-shower ritual
- Find a new way to release stress or tension—grab an adult coloring book, download an audiobook, go for a run
- Download a new app or habit tracker
- Cook or bake something
- Make a vision board
- Go on a date with yourself
- Diffuse essential oils
- Watch your favorite TV show or movie
- Plan a getaway
- Refresh your morning or evening routine
Budget-Friendly Self-Care Ideas
Self-care does not have to break the bank. It doesn’t even have to cost as much as your Hulu + Live TV subscription.
It can be as easy as adding a morning playlist to listen to as you get ready in the morning. You can put up quotes in your workspace that help affirm you. If that doesn’t sound fun, try making art or doing something creative. Other budget-friendly self-care ideas include:
- Spice up your hydration—add fruit to add a flavor boost to your daily water or try a new tea from the sale bin
- Take advantage of your library—try a new book or audiobook (they have a ton of digital services now too)
- Be creative—draw, paint, craft with things laying around the house
- Go outside—embrace the healing powers of nature
- Write things down—start a daily journal or gratitude log to create some quiet time and record memories
- Set boundaries—put limits on screen time, work hours, or people
- Cuddle an animal—pets provide so much love! If you don’t have a pet, you can visit a friend, local shelter, or pet store to get your fix
- Listen to music—put on your favorite album or pick a random playlist to change the mood
- Declutter your social media—unfollow people that upset you or people you don’t talk to in real life (or mute accounts that you’d rather not see)
- Get organized—go through your closet or take the time to sort out the garage to create a less-cluttered or chaotic space
- Try meditation or a new breathing exercise—find a guided class on YouTube to reduce your heart rate, relieve stress, and clear your mind
- Sleep.
Conclusion
Self-care has been around since Socrates, but millennials have brought a new vibe to it. Access to information, ingenuity and resourcefulness, and an understanding of emotional intelligence created the perfect storm for millennials to reinvent self-care.
Self-care is not a fad or phase. Wellness is a lifestyle that people of all generations have adopted by the millions. Self-care is also not self-help. It doesn’t need to cost a ton of money.
Prioritizing self-care is necessary for maintaining your well-being—both mentally and physically. Taking care of mental health, work-life balance, and intuitive eating are among the most common categories of self-care.
Self-care isn’t just for millennials, though they have paved the way for us all to care a little bit more about ourselves. If you’re looking for more self-care ideas, join our free 31-Day Self-Care Challenge. xoxo Mo
