Self-Care: 8 Reasons We Should All be a Little Kinder to Ourselves

Kindness to others. It’s something we’re taught from birth, right there on Sesame Street. And sure, we can probably all agree that compassion to others is pretty important. But what about taking care of ourselves? That’s where most of us score a D or even a big fat F. In this case, seems our old Puritan values are a gift that keep on giving. And not always in a good way. They teach us that true goodness lies in grinding it out, in shouldering the burdens of life with total disregard for our own well-being. Getting a massage? Pausing to recognize ourselves in a job well done? Heck, sleeping thirty extra minutes because holy-cow-we’re-exhausted-and-our-bodies-damn-well-needs-this? Somewhere deep inside, we’ve grown to see all of it as indulgence. Opulence. Or worse — a sign of weakness.

But here’s the truth: Self-care is not a treat. Again. Self-care is not a treat. It’s an essential component to living a balanced and contented life. As Mary Katherine Schenkel, cofounder of Sweet and Kind skincare puts it, “Sometimes it seems like we have to hold the entire world on our shoulders. It has to be ok to set it down once in a while.”

So if you’re looking for permission to take a little time for yourself, look no further. Here are six reasons to get your butt in the bathtub, right about now.