I don’t know about you, but lately, I’ve been feeling totally exhausted and in major need of a self-care moment. Between juggling writing, work deadlines, travel, family, relationships, and more, it’s easy to burn out and it can feel challenging to put yourself first. That said, I’ve been trying to remind myself that self-care comes in many forms, whether it’s binge-watching Schitt’s Creek after a long workday, doing some gentle yoga poses, or FaceTiming my family just to see my dog. Of course, one of my all-time favorite self-care practices nowadays is scrolling through TikTok for a smile, so you can imagine how excited I was to discover the “It’s Called Self-Care” TikTok trend on my For You Page.
In the new viral trend, TikTokers are justifying their favorite self-care practices and indulging their guilty pleasure activities, from peacefully sipping coffee in the morning to buying new dresses. Not only is it amusing (and wildly comforting) to see what fellow TikTokers are doing for self-care these days, but I must say, I suddenly feel less apologetic about my impulses to get manicures and waltz around Target to buy stuff I don’t need. There’s nothing like a good pick-me-up when you’re feeling stressed, and in the “It’s Called Self-Care” TikTok trend, creators aren’t afraid to share what they’re doing to fill their own cups.
The trend originated when TikTok user @simplylaurennicole posted a mirror selfie-style video last week. In the video, she’s rocking comfy clothes and holding what appears to be a glass of Aperol spritz or sparkling wine with ice cubes (hey, we don’t judge). The text overlay reads: “When someone asks why you need a giant glass of wine every night after work,” followed by Lauren saying out loud in an optimistic, yet sassy tone: “Mmmmmm….it’s called self-care. Look it up!” The caption of the video says, “let me do a face mask & have my wine in peace thank u #selfcare #hehe.” Honestly, Lauren, I couldn’t agree more. You do you!
TikTokers were quick to comment that the sound had major viral potential, and it appears that’s exactly what’s happening. Now, all over TikTok, creators are using Lauren’s voiceover as trending audio and making their own versions of the “self-care” trend, and the results are awesome. The goal is to think of your favorite self-care practice or any activity you love indulging in without shame, even if people question you. The idea is to pick something that genuinely makes you happy, whether it’s funny or not — like eating Nutella by the spoonful, adding to your neverending crystal collection, or dressing up for the library even though you know you’re bound to watch Euphoria at a desk for five hours. Think of something you love to do for self-care, add text overlay to describe it, write a brief caption, and that’s it!
If you need some inspiration for your video, check out the variety of amusing examples from TikTokers who are experts at #selfcare. For example, @milktea.meg goes to IKEA just to buy a mushroom lamp and rearrange flowers for fun. TikToker @mamacanplan fills her planner with stickers even though there isn’t much on her schedule, and when people tell @actualfoodie that she doesn’t need any more coffee, she drinks even more. Same with @scrunchielux, who can’t stop buying hair accessories even though she owns 458,382 of them already, and @trish_patel, whose boyfriend just questioned why she spent $80 on a candle. Sir, it’s called self-care…look it up.
I love this career-inspired version from @corporatesupervisor that says, “When your boss asks why you have so much time blocked off on your calendar” (it’s called self-care!), and @unbreakablelatina’s video, which says “co-worker: didn’t you just take a day off last week?” (Pro-tip for my fellow workaholic besties: Stop feeling guilty for taking a day off!). If you’re in college right now, you’ll love this version from @nataliesafai who is planning a vacation and online shopping while partially participating in her Zoom class and @plantsandpaintss who has the prettiest desk aesthetic ever even though people question her decor choices.
Whether it’s enjoying a glass of wine after work like @simplylaurennicole or aimlessly perusing romance novels at Barnes and Noble because you can’t get enough #SpicyTok in your life, don’t be afraid to make time for a little self-care this week. And remember, while self-care can definitely look like an at-home spa day in your dorm or going on a shopping spree, it can also mean stuff like making time to do nothing, blocking toxic people on Instagram, going to therapy, or dressing up like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City and dancing around a new city simply because you can. Regardless of your preferred activity, carve out some time for self-care and let us know what you’re doing to unwind with the “It’s Called Self-Care” TikTok trend.