Self care is not vanity!

"You're so cool, you're like a dude in a girl's body."

"You are not like other girls"

"You are a beauty with brains."

Sound familiar?

We must have heard these sentences being used as compliments. But are they?

What they're actually saying is, being sensitive, emotional, expressive is not okay, that girls who are beautiful are usually dumb. It is time these notions change. We need to normalize empathy, expressing emotions, taking care of ourselves etc. And being beautiful definitely does not equate to being dumb.

For people who take the time to take care of themselves, their physical and mental wellbeing are not vain. Vanity is “skin-deep” and it only recognizes your physical looks. Self-care is something that all of us need to practice and not judge others for practising it. When someone puts an effort to smell nice or when we see someone with a good skin routine or someone who eats a balanced diet or works out regularly or takes time to manicure and pedicure, we need to appreciate the time and effort that they have put in for their physical well- being.

When we pay enough attention to our well-being, we are being the best versions of ourselves for the people around us. People around us benefit from our new found enthusiasm and joy. Therefore, it is definitely not selfish. By practising self-care, our self-image improves. We are more confident and not worried about how others perceive us. We are better prepared to face the challenges that life throws at us.

There are different types of self-care; physical, psychological, emotional and more - here I would like to share a few examples of physical self-care:

• Have a sleep routine

• Stay hydrated

• Exercise at least 3 times a week

• See what your body needs and eat accordingly, instead of going on crash diets

• Understand your skin and hair before going for new products. Most often than not the problems are internal.

Let's pledge to practice some self-care and learn from people who do that beautifully instead of calling them vain.

Always remember, and it's beautiful being You!