No spa required – The case for boring self-care

If I asked you to think about self-care, what would come to mind?

A few years ago, I probably would have thought of a spa day: a massage, a facial, perhaps something involving salts of some kind and geyser-like vapours.

Social media has certainly encouraged this image: that looking after ourselves means candles and sheet masks, indulgent treats, or escaping somewhere far away to “find ourselves.” While there’s nothing wrong with any of that, it can make self-care feel distant, expensive, and unrealistic, another thing we should be doing better.

Then, a few years ago, I came across some illustrations on Instagram with the hashtag #boringselfcare. It was a campaign created by occupational therapist and illustrator Hannah Daisy (@makedaisychains), who celebrates the ordinary, unglamorous everyday acts that support wellbeing, like brushing your teeth, doing laundry, eating a proper meal, taking a break, or asking for help.

When I first saw her illustrations with very mundane captions – “washed my dishes,” “had a shower,” “took my medication” – I didn’t quite understand it. I immediately thought, “but aren’t those ordinary things we should all do?” And then I thought about those times I feel exhausted and can’t do much at all.

I thought about how mental health, health conditions, disabilities, or bad days can make these ordinary tasks feel very difficult and very heavy – and how care can take many forms.There is care, too, in the unglamorous, unwitnessed acts that honour our need for nourishment, health, hygiene, rest, peace, and connection.

They don’t look exciting, but they bring comfort, ease, and stability. They take effort and awareness of our needs, and they are worth celebrating.

So maybe take a moment to notice: what’s one small, “boring” thing that makes your day run a little smoother? Could asking for help with something be one of them?

Boring and mighty. No Spa required.