Certified life coach and therapist Raquel Hopkins is reminding everyone that real self-care isn’t about aesthetics or escape—it’s about restoration and intention.
In a recent Instagram post, Hopkins shared insights as she prepared for a summer vacation with her family, pointing out the importance of taking proactive, intentional breaks.
“I don’t wait until I’m exhausted or burned out to take a break,” she wrote. “I take care of myself before it becomes a necessity.”
Hopkins, who says she genuinely enjoys working and finds joy in commitment, also noted the value of planning downtime.
“Shutting my brain off isn’t always easy, so I plan for downtime,” she said. “That’s what this video is about. Real self-care.”
In an accompanying video, Hopkins broke down five core principles for maintaining a self-care routine that truly serves you:
- Know the difference between rest and retreat. Rest replenishes; retreat avoids.
- Ask yourself if your self-care helps you re-engage with life.
- Don’t use emotional language to bypass action. “I’m overwhelmed” should sometimes mean pause and reorganize—not shut down.
- Keep self-care quiet and authentic. If it must be seen or posted, it might be performance, not peace.
- Use self-care to build capacity. The goal is growth, not isolation.
“Self-care isn’t the goal,” Hopkins explained. “Becoming more whole is. Anything that pulls you away from that—even if it feels good—is not care. It’s just retreat in disguise.”
Hopkins also teased the release of her new newsletter, 8 Signs You Have Capacity, and her new ebook Expanding Your Capacity, aimed at helping adults recognize and build emotional resilience.
Her message is clear: take care of yourself on purpose, and let real rest restore your energy so you can return to life fully engaged.
