self-care is coming back to the basics.

Self-care has been turned into something glossy and glamorous. Bubble baths, spa retreats, fancy skincare routines. And while there’s nothing wrong with those things, they’re not the heart of what self-care really is.

True self-care is quiet. It's foundational. It's the decision to return to your body, to your breath, to the small rituals that keep you feeling safe, nourished, and whole. It’s not always pretty or relaxing. Sometimes, it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes, it means finally drinking the water you’ve been avoiding, finally putting your phone down to rest, or saying no when your people-pleasing instincts are screaming yes.

It’s easy to forget how much the basics matter, especially when you’re in survival mode. But hydration, sleep, nourishment, movement, sunlight, stillness… these are not luxuries. These are lifelines. They are what regulate your nervous system, what ground you when everything feels too much, what help you show up not just functioning, but actually feeling alive.

When you start meeting your most basic needs consistently, something shifts. Your body starts to trust you again. Your mind begins to settle. Your emotions feel less chaotic. You’re more present, more resilient, more at home in yourself. Not because everything is perfect, but because you are tending to yourself in the ways that matter most.

And this is where healing begins. Not in doing more, but in coming back to what you need. In honouring yourself, again and again, through the little things that say: I care for you. I choose you. I’m here.

You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to hit rock bottom before you let yourself be supported. Start with what’s already in your hands. A glass of water. An early night. A slow walk outside. A deep breath.

It might not look like much… but it’s everything. Because the more you care for your basic needs with love and consistency, the more you return to yourself, gently, slowly, fully.

This is self-care. The real kind. The kind that changes everything.

With love & support,

Shorina | Mindful Soul Collective

Holistic Counsellor, Wellbeing Coach & Business Mentor

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