Self-Care Is Dead. Long Live the Non-Negotiables
I think I’m officially over self-care.
It hit me — smack in the face — the day I got stuck in the bath.
After my beloved Barney crossed the rainbow bridge, I thought, “Okay. It’s time. Now I can do all those bath rituals he used to get confused about. This will be my healing moment.”
But the bath took forever to fill. It wouldn’t stay warm. And when it came time to get out… I realised I actually couldn’t. My dodgy knee wasn’t strong enough to get me out without a huge amount of pain.
I genuinely considered staying there until my mum got back from her holiday… two months later.
The moment of truth
And that’s when it hit me:
This? This isn’t self-care.Or at least — it’s not the kind that’s kept me alive this year.
Here’s what’s worked for me
So no, I don’t want your bath bombs.
I want non-negotiables. The things I need to stay steady in a year I’m affectionately calling: “2025: The Year of Sh*t.” Here’s what’s been working for me:🌀 Meditation (even 3 minutes)
🌤️ Slow mornings when I can manage them
😌 Leaving things undone — on purpose
📓 Gratitude stickers in my planner
🧘♀️ Gentle movement that meets my body where it is
🍲 Intuitive eating, not punishment
🛌 Rest days built into the plan
These aren’t self-care treats. They’re my emotional first aid kit.
They’re what help me show up for this weird, hard, beautiful life.
So yeah. I might be done with self-care. But I’m not done with caring for myself.
Big difference.
I’d love to know: What are your non-negotiables? What actually helps you feel like yourself again?
