Although I grew up in the mix between Millennial and Gen Z, I couldn’t help but notice the dramatic difference in self care that has evolved over the last century. Being that I was fortunate enough to have my great-grandparents around until last year, I was able to take note of the differences in the ways I look at self care compared to my great-grandmother.

At 100 years old, my great-grandmother would never leave the house without a full face of makeup on and a gorgeous pant suit. I found this to be particularly interesting because self care to me is a bare face & sweatpants. So where did this differentiation come from?

The “self-care” we know and love today took on a completely different definition than what it is today. The origins of self care actually rooted in the Feminist Women’s Health Movement in the 1960s. Before this, self care to many women was keeping up appearances for when the man of the house came home from work. The efforts to redefine the idea of self care being more than just treatment of disease to promote one’s own health were truly pushed along during the ‘60s & ‘70s. In this political landscape, self-care was seen as a radical and political act – imagine that! 

The real shift in our modern idea of self care came post 9/11 where the tragic aftermath left many people traumatized and looking to take better care of their mental health. Self care has taken on many different faces, but the core ideology has remained the same. It is a daily practice, to be good to yourself, to say “sometimes, it’s okay to put myself first.” It is whatever you want it to be. It is my opinion that many people see self care as being vain or just choose to overlook it, but I have truly noticed a major shift in my overall mood when I take time I need for myself. It allows for space between you and the overwhelming world around you.

Self care for me is putting on my favorite playlist (linked below), lighting a delicious smelling candle, rolling on some essential oils, and giving my body what it needs in the moment – usually involving a few of my many skin care products. But the true beauty of self care is that it can morph into whatever shape you want it to take. I’m constantly expanding my definition of self care and try to make it a priority each and every day.

In this day & age, many people have lost sight of the value self care can bring into their lives. Even one simple act of meditating for 10 minutes can really shift my mindset for the day & create heightened awareness of myself and my surroundings. Self care is just as important to me as it was to activists back in the 60’s however I’m truly excited to be part of how it will change in the future.