In honor of Halloween, I'm swapping in the phrase "Treat Yo' Self" for "Trick or Treat." Let this serve as a reminder both that self care is about doing what makes you happy and that it is best not to talk down the things that bring you joy.
Minimalism and self care are terms that should align, but the way they are treated in pop culture puts them at odds. Minimalism is living with less, while self care has been capitalized on as a way to promote the next, newest product, often one with a sizable price tag.
In actuality, the two concepts should be reconciled to mean finding satisfaction and fulfillment in listening to, and being with, yourself. Self care doesn't involve following a specific regimen of products or practices. Instead, self care involves doing things that you find personally uplifting and that make you enjoy the time you have with yourself.
On the subject of doing things for yourself that spark joy, I think we would all benefit from not talking down those, perhaps unique, activities we find happiness in doing.
I recently watched an individual giving recommendations to a couple visiting the area on Seattle's top dumpling restaurants. After listing off a few favorites in different neighborhoods, she paused and said, "I have my own bamboo steamer for dumplings. It works great, but I eat a lot of dumplings, so that's not so good." The turn at the end of her sentence caught me by surprise. Everything had been positive up until the point where she criticized herself for doing something she enjoyed. She was energetic, healthy, and pulled-together and had a passion for a specific type of food, yet she didn't view that as a positive quality.
It would be better if we could manage to not bring ourselves down for the things that spark joy within us and don't harm others. Life is about balance, after all, and indulgences should be viewed as a signal to yourself that you're rewarding yourself for what you've accomplished and uplifting yourself to tackle the next challenge or task that comes your way. Use Halloween as a marker on the calendar to reset your mindset towards treating yourself.