Life is relentless—work deadlines, a group chat for every vibe – chats blowing up, that one friend who’s always planning a night out you can’t say no to. A night out that starts with tequila and ends with someone losing a phone. A brunch reservation on hold.
You’re juggling it all, posting the highlights, and maybe even squeezing in a yoga class or a bubble bath to call it “self-care.” Your calendar is full, your photo dump is flawless, and your life is one big carousel post.
But here’s the question
Dr. Simbiat Adighije wants you to ask: when was the last time you took care of yourself without making it content?
Known to her patients as Dr. Sim, she’s the founder of
Conscientia Health, a global mental health practice that skips the fluff and goes straight for the root. She’s not trying to kill the vibe, in fact she understands the occasional need for the vibe. She’s just trying to make sure the party doesn’t cost you your peace.
“A massage is great,” she says. “But if you’re still overwhelmed, emotionally wrecked or mentally running on fumes the next day, it wasn’t self-care. It was an escape.”
Her practice serves over 12,000 people across 33 states and 16 countries, but her tone is more best friend who knows your weaknesses than clinical provider. She’s not against indulgence. She just doesn’t want you confusing luxury with self-care or healing.
“We live in a culture that glamorizes self-care as something flashy, cute and photogenic—like splurging on luxury face masks or exotic retreats,” she says. “But the truth is, real self-care doesn’t have to cost a dime; it’s often found in the small, everyday choices that ground us. It’s setting quiet boundaries with loved ones, saying no to that extra commitment when you’re drained, or simply unplugging from social media for an evening walk around the block. It might feel inconvenient or even mundane at first, but these little acts build the kind of inner strength that keeps you steady through life’s chaos, especially in a fast-paced world where we’re all juggling jobs, families, and endless notifications.”
Dr. Sim’s own rituals are simple. Sacred Sundays. One day a week with no phone for the first four hours of the day. A social feed curated with surgical precision. No doom scrolling. No aspirational influencers who make you feel like your entire life is behind schedule
