Why is There Still a Negative Stigma Around Self-Care?
“Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.”
—M. Scott Peck
The Modern Dilemma: Productivity vs. Pause
Why is loving yourself sometimes seen as selfish or indulgent?
And more importantly, why are those words even considered bad?
In a world that glorifies hustle culture and nonstop productivity, we’ve been conditioned to associate our worth with how much we can do, make, and achieve. Every moment is expected to be spent pushing toward a visible goal, ticking off a to-do list, or proving our value through physical achievements. Slowing down is often seen as a weakness and something that is unnecessary, especially if you are considered ‘doing well’. It’s something all of us can improve, especially myself.
But what if we changed the narrative?
Reframing Self-Care as a Strength
What if taking time for yourself was just as celebrated as securing a promotion or submitting an assignment? What if lighting a candle, turning on soft music, and sinking into a warm bath was not only acceptable, but admirable? And most importantly, what if you appreciated these moments more than starting the next big project?
We need to rewire our thinking, because rest isn't the opposite of productivity. It's what fuels it.
The truth is, without intentional moments of rest and self-prioritisation, our bodies and minds can’t keep up with the constant demand for output.
Rest isn’t lazy, it’s the recharge your system needs to function. Like a phone with no battery, we simply can’t perform at our best when we’re running on empty. And when we ignore those internal signals for too long, we hit burnout, physically, emotionally, and mentally.
True productivity isn’t shown by how much and how well you can push through. It’s about long-term sustainability for your dreams and wellbeing. It’s about showing up with energy, clarity, and presence, and that only happens when we give ourselves the time to pause, reset, and nourish the person behind the work.
Prioritising self-care and rest is not an obstacle to success. It’s the very thing that makes lasting success possible.
The Power of Pause
There are so many ways to recharge, yet, having a moment of rest such as a bath, is somehow still seen as “wasting time” or “doing nothing.” You might constantly think, ‘I can do something better with my time’, but what if that same bath gave you space to process a thought that shifts your entire mindset? What if you read a line in a book, soaking in lavender-scented steam, that plants the seed for a business idea, a new perspective, or a moment of clarity you've been searching for? It’s happened to me, and it can definitely happen to you too.
You see, we rarely recognize the power of pause in the moment. But often, when we look back, we realise that the gentle, quiet moments we allowed ourselves were the very ones that reconnected us to who we are and what we’re capable of.
One of the most transformational ideas I ever made started in the bath. Not in a boardroom. Not on a deadline. In warm water, surrounded by stillness, where I gave myself permission to just be. And from that space of self-respect and restoration, I created something new - my own small business, built around the value of everyday rituals and reclaiming time for ourselves.
You Deserve It
Self-care - whether it's a 10-minute walk, journaling, a nap, or a bath, is not ‘self-indulgence’. It's self-respect.
And it’s not ‘selfish’. It’s essential.
We show up stronger, clearer, and more aligned when we take care of the vessel that carries us through the world.
So here’s your reminder:
NEVER feel guilty for taking a moment for yourself.
NEVER feel like you don’t deserve it.
Because you do.
And sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do - is pause.
