#SelfcareSaturday. As of late, the hashtag has taken over Twitter and Instagram, becoming more common than the longstanding #MotivationMonday.

While scrolling through social media, students are often bombarded with words such as “self-care” and “wellness.” Articles advertise new wellness trends such as jade rolling, goat yoga, and juice cleansing. Meanwhile, self-care Twitter accounts generate massive followings by posting threads of face mask recipes, workout routines, and Instagram captions.

The umbrella of self-care and wellness as it is presented on social media and through marketing seems to be unclear and widespread. Because of this, it is easy to assume that self-care has been repurposed as a marketing ploy. Sophomore Raini Birnbaum said that she thinks self-care is about taking the time to evaluate feelings.

“Self-care is making sure that you’re mentally and physically OK,” Birnbaum said. “That could be taking time for yourself or surrounding yourself with people you like.” While the representation of self-care on social media is often prescribed, social worker Meg Scamardo said that she thinks it looks different for everyone. She said that she defines self-care as doing what it takes to feel restored.

“For a lot of people, self-care is just getting rid of stuff, whether that’s getting rid of social media or not having a cluttered lifestyle,” Scamardo said. “It ’s finding whatever it is that allows you to take care of yourself. On social media, I think it seems almost unattainable.”

Birnbaum said that she also thinks self-care is misrepresented on social media. She said that it’s often too simplified and isn’t effective for most people.

“Just doing a face mask and drinking water isn’t really self-care,” Birnbaum said. “I think self-care should be more accurately represented on social media,”

Scamardo said that because users of social media cultivate a perception of perfection, it can muddle the purpose of self-care. She said that because methods of self-care that are presented on social media are so focused on action, already burnt out students can feel as though they don’t have time to care for themselves.

“You’re feeling really stressed and feeling really overwhelmed and there are people telling you to do things like yoga,” Scamardo said. “So you look up how much a yoga class is and you don’t know if you can afford that or if you have time for that.”

Sophomore Kelli Waring said that she thinks that students can refer to social media as guidance when they need it but should put more attention on checking in on themselves physically and emotionally. She said that the priority for students who are feeling overwhelmed should be on getting in touch with their feelings.

“Part of self-care is making sure you’re comfortable in situations you put yourself in,” Waring said. “Self-care is deeper than Twitter usually makes it seem.” Scamardo said that while social media can misrepresent self-care techniques, she hopes that students will adjust suggestions they find online to work for them. She said that if students feel that things such as yoga aren’t attainable, they could practice deep breathing.

“I’m a big believer in brainstorming and sharing good ideas,” Scamardo said. “I think it’s helpful in that way.”

Self-care on social media can also be negatively influenced by marketing. Companies such as Gwenyth Paltrow’s Goop promote wellness and self- care while selling expensive products for these purposes. Scamardo said that this can also make self-care seem unattainable.

“(Paltrow is) one of those people that talks about self-care and eating healthy,” Scamardo said. “But my life is not like Gwyneth Paltrow’s.”

Scamardo said that to correct the misrepresentation of self-care on social media, it needs to be portrayed more realistically. She said that if people see examples of more accessible self-care, they might be more compelled to care for themselves in those ways.

“What’s missing is that self-care needs to be real,” Scamardo said. “We miss self-care when we don’t think we’re worthy.”