Self-Care or Self-Sabotage? Asking for a Friend…
Share: More than tees. More than snark. This is where soul meets sarcasm (and you meet yourself).
You know the drill: light a candle, pour a generous glass of wine (read: half the bottle), grab a face mask, and call it “self-care.” Except… is it? Or are we just numbing ourselves with Cabernet and cucumber extract while avoiding the hard stuff?
Don’t get me wrong—bubble baths are sacred and I’ll defend a 3-hour Netflix binge to the death. But somewhere between the spa kits and Instagram quotes, “self-care” got hijacked. Now, half the time it’s less “healing your soul” and more “dodging your feelings in yoga pants.”
“Self-care is nourishment. Self-sabotage is numbing. One fills you up; the other keeps you running on empty with a Pinterest aesthetic.”
The Sassery Snark
Modern self-care is a billion-dollar industry, which is hilarious because actual self-care isn’t always cute or Instagrammable.
- Buying a $60 crystal-infused face mist? Adorable.
- Drinking water and going to bed on time? Boring as hell… and actual self-care.
If your “me time” leaves you more drained, more broke, or more in denial than before, we’ve crossed the line from “nourishment” to “numbing with glitter.”
The Compassionate Truth
Here’s the thing: you’re not wrong for craving comfort. You’re not weak for wanting to check out for a bit. We all do it. But true self-care? It’s not always the cozy option. Sometimes it looks like:
- Saying “no” to that dinner invite because your body is begging for rest.
- Doing the budget check-in you’ve been avoiding.
- Choosing water over wine this time (don’t panic—I said “this time”).
- Letting yourself cry ugly tears instead of pushing them down with a cookie.
Self-care is about nourishing future you, not just soothing present you. One fills you up; the other keeps you running on empty with a Pinterest aesthetic.
The Practical Sassery Wisdom
When you’re about to declare something “self-care,” try this gut-check:
- Will this help me feel better tomorrow, or just for the next 20 minutes?
- Am I doing this to connect with myself, or avoid myself?
- Would future me send me a thank-you card… or a strongly worded email?
“Would future you send you a thank-you card or a strongly worded email?”
A Real-Life Sassery Moment
Confession: last week I called an entire charcuterie board and 2.5 episodes of true crime “self-care.” Did it feel good? Absolutely. Did it actually help? Not so much.
But the next night, I turned off my phone, journaled for 15 minutes, and went to bed before 10. Future me sent me a thank-you card with a cash bonus.
The Audacious Nudge
This week, pick one thing—just one—that nourishes instead of numbs. It doesn’t have to be big or Instagram-worthy. Sleep. Breathing. Laughing until you snort. Let yourself feel. Fill your cup for real.
👕 Check out our Dark Mode Energy Collection – because true self-care sometimes means leaning into your edge and owning your energy unapologetically.
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