An ever-growing health concern during the pandemic, soft addictions refer to addictive behaviours that are rationalised and/or excused under the guise of self-care. 🍞📺

Things like making and consuming high-calorie baked goods on a regular basis, indulging in alcohol more frequently than usual, turning to low-energy activities such as Netflix-binges in place of your usual exercise. 🍷 + 🚴‍♀️ = 👌

These activities are of course necessary for our wellbeing but, like any excess in life, it can quickly turn into an addiction. 😞

First, recognize when a new pattern is starting to form. For example, have you been binge eating during lockdown? When you get the craving, before going for that piece of cake grab your phone. You can audio journal about what you’re craving, how you’re feeling in the moment, and whether there is something else you could be doing instead? If after audio journaling for 15 minutes, you still have the craving then go for it. 🤫

This isn’t about eliminating self-care from your life, but about controlling some of our addictive impulses.

Script by: Joss Harvey