Building a Sustainable and Meaningful Self-Care Routine: Beyond Bubble Baths and Candles
When most people think of self-care, they picture spa days, face masks, or bubble baths — all lovely things, but not the whole picture. True self-care is deeper. It’s about consistently choosing practices that support your emotional, mental, and physical well-being — even when it's uncomfortable or unglamorous. For trauma survivors and chronically overwhelmed individuals, especially within marginalized communities, self-care must be realistic, intentional, and sustainable. That’s where guidance from a trauma therapist or BIPOC therapist can help reframe what self-care truly looks like.
Why Self-Care Needs to Be Redefined
In capitalist and wellness culture, self-care has been commodified — reduced to products and aesthetics. But real self-care often looks like:
Saying no when you’re burned out
Turning off your phone when you’re overstimulated
Asking for help instead of powering through
Scheduling your online therapy session even when it feels hard
Letting yourself rest without guilt
Self-care isn’t always soft — sometimes it’s setting boundaries, taking accountability, or getting uncomfortable to create growth.
Why Trauma Survivors Need Sustainable Self-Care
For those living with trauma, nervous system regulation is often disrupted. This makes routines difficult to maintain, emotions feel unpredictable, and basic needs easy to overlook. A trauma therapist can help identify where survival mode is masquerading as “high functioning,” and support clients in building care routines that don’t rely on perfection or pressure.
Small, trauma-informed practices might include:
Body-based grounding (like walking, stretching, or deep breathing)
Creative expression (drawing, music, journaling)
Mindful routines like tea rituals, prayer, or aromatherapy
Emotional hygiene — checking in with feelings, not just pushing through them
Representation Matters in Self-Care Conversations
Working with a BIPOC therapist adds an important layer of context. For many BIPOC individuals, rest and softness haven’t always been accessible or culturally supported. Self-care may have been framed as lazy, selfish, or indulgent. A culturally competent therapist can help reframe care as resistance, restoration, and ancestral healing — not avoidance or privilege.
Using EMDR to Unblock Self-Care Sabotage
Sometimes, deep-rooted beliefs block self-care: “I don’t deserve rest,” “No one else will take care of things,” or “If I slow down, everything will fall apart.” These core wounds often stem from trauma — and EMDR can help reprocess them. By targeting the roots of shame or unworthiness, clients can move from just “trying to take care of themselves” to actually feeling worthy of it.
Online Therapy Makes Routine Support Easier
With online therapy, clients don’t have to rearrange their lives to show up. They can build care into their day, on their terms. This flexibility makes it easier to stay consistent — one of the most important parts of building a self-care routine that lasts.
Conclusion
Self-care isn’t something you have to earn or perform — it’s a relationship you build with yourself over time. Whether you’re starting with five minutes of silence or a weekly check-in with a BIPOC trauma therapist, know this: sustainable self-care is not selfish. It’s how you reclaim your peace, your power, and your presence — one choice at a time.
If you're ready to embark on a journey of healing and personal transformation, I encourage you to reach out. I am passionate about trauma-informed care in all spaces as well as creating safety so you can process your experiences at your own pace. Please contact me to schedule a consultation and learn more about how online trauma therapy can help you achieve your goals.
I am dedicated to helping you create a life filled with greater joy, fulfillment, and resilience. Let's work together to start your healing journey.
