noun Internet Slang

Self-Care

/sɛlf kɛr/ · noun · informal

Looking after your own wellbeing — from real rest to ironic bad decisions.

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Definitions

1

Sometimes critiqued as a commodified, consumerist buzzword.

“Brands turned self-care into a $200 candle, somehow.”
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2

Intentional activities to protect your mental and physical health.

“Saying no to that event was an act of self-care.”
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3

Ironically, justifying indulgence or laziness as 'wellness.'

“Skipping the gym for a whole pizza? Self-care, honestly.”
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Self-Care In A Sentence

My self-care is ignoring my phone for six straight hours.
Bought myself flowers, called it self-care, no regrets.
True self-care is going to bed instead of doomscrolling, but here we are.

Origin & Usage

A term from medicine and the civil-rights era (Audre Lorde framed self-care as political survival). It became a mainstream wellness buzzword in the 2010s and a meme staple after.

Variants Self CareSelfcareRadical Self-Care
Tags #gen-z#american#texting#meme

People Also Ask

What does self-care mean?

It's intentionally looking after your own mental and physical wellbeing. Online it's also used ironically to excuse indulgence.

Who coined self-care?

The concept has medical roots, but writer Audre Lorde famously framed self-care as an act of political survival.

Why is self-care criticized?

Critics say brands turned it into consumerism, marketing products as wellness instead of real rest.

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