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THE BLOG

Sep 28

Wellness Fatigue: When ‘Self-Care’ Becomes Another Chore


We’ve all been there. 

Waking up early to squeeze in a meditation session before your day starts, blending up that green smoothie because you read somewhere that you need a 'cleanse', or maybe trying to keep up with a workout regimen that feels more like punishment than self-care.


What started as a genuine desire to take better care of ourselves can, so quickly, become another overwhelming to-do list.





Wellness fatigue 


It’s real. It’s draining. And yet, it’s rarely talked about. Because, let’s face it, we’re constantly being exposed to the underlying idea that more is more when it comes to self-care. More steps in your fitness routine, more supplements to support your body, more mindfulness exercises to calm your mind. But when does it all become too much?


The Irony of ‘Self-Care’

Isn’t self-care supposed to make us feel better? Yet, how often do we find ourselves overwhelmed by our own wellness routines: our 5-step nighttime skin-care routine, our morning cold shower routine, our daily 10k steps routine? It’s like chasing a mirage—we keep adding more, thinking that the next thing will finally make us feel whole, balanced, or fulfilled.


Here's a simple example from my life


Many years ago, I attended a life coaching event where several speakers discussed the importance of self-care practices, like breath-work, meditation, and hydration. That was the first time I learned that I should be drinking 3 litters of water per day.


As I had no clue how much water I was drinking daily until then, I set a strict goal for myself to start counting how many glasses I drink, and to never drink less than 3 litters.

I was chugging water every chance I got, even though it felt bad at times and I absolutely wasn't thirsty.


Such a simple physiological need became a psychological burden because I'd spend time and energy thinking about and counting my water glasses.

Of course, at some point I stopped counting and tuned into my thirst cues, which ultimately ended up in me drinking enough without thinking about it. However, my road to get to that point was tougher than it could have been, only because the information was presented to me in such a deterministic way by that coach, as in: If I drink this much and I am healthy, you must drink this much to be healthy too, and urgently so.


Consolidation


This leads me to my next point: do we have enough time to consolidate in this constant process of 'growth'; this never-ending pursuit of wellbeing?


Think about it: we live in a world where ‘wellness’ is marketed as the ultimate achievement. If you’re not waking up at 6 a.m., meal prepping for the week, hitting the gym four times, meditating, practicing gratitude daily, and most importantly having something to show for it- like a lean body- are you even trying?


But let’s be honest—do we all really need to be doing all of that?

Or do we perhaps just need some time to consolidate and enjoy being in the process of becoming.


Maybe all you need is some fresh air and a chat with your friend or partner. And maybe that's all you need in terms of self-care, at least for the time being- or until that gentle breeze on your walk one day stirs a new desire, where you suddenly feel the need to move your body in a different way, maybe try that yoga class or finally take those dancing lessons.

The Pressure of Perfection


We’ve created a culture where taking care of ourselves has become another task to master, another area to excel in.


Social media doesn’t help, either. We scroll through endless posts of people seemingly balancing everything—work, family, fitness, mental health—and we wonder why we can’t get it together. You open Instagram and: There she is. Just posted a reel about her morning routine, catching the morning sunlight at 7am while drinking matcha with home-made almond milk in her garden outside her villa in Tuscany, that she just recently bought with her dreamy Italian partner with a full set of wavy hair.


So, naturally, you find yourself sticking your face out through your kitchen window to catch the last rays of sun that made it to your apartment through the city skyline, hoping it's enough to get that famous dose of vitamin D you're most likely deficient in because you've been putting off investing in yet another daily supplement. Phew, that was a long sentence.


Spoiler alert: most of us are struggling, but no one talks about it.

And yes, even the lady with the Tuscany villa and the dreamy Italian partner.


The problem isn’t with wanting to be healthier or happier. It’s with the pressure to be perfect in every aspect of our lives. To have the ‘perfect’ morning routine, the ‘perfect’ diet, the ‘perfect’ self-care practice. It’s exhausting. And more importantly, it’s unsustainable.

Less Is More: Redefining Self-Care


Maybe it’s time we redefine self-care. What if instead of trying to do more, we focused on what genuinely nourishes us? What if we started tuning in to our own needs rather than following the latest trend?


Sometimes, self-care means skipping the gym because your body feels tired. Sometimes, it means eating that piece of chocolate cake because it brings you joy. And sometimes, it means saying no to that yoga class and, instead....doing nothing- or whatever it is that you truly want to do.


It’s okay to do less. It’s okay to rest. It's ok to not be 'productive'.
We need to get comfortable with the idea that self-care isn’t a competition. It’s not about doing more. Real self-care is messy, imperfect, and constantly changing because we’re constantly changing.

Self-awareness

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t need to follow every wellness trend or have the perfect routine to be healthy and happy. The key is to listen to yourself—to what you really need in each moment—and give yourself permission to let go of the rest. The key is to get to know yourself- to be able to know what YOU need in each moment; that's what self-care is.




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