Self-care is a relatively new concept that has gained increasing popularity in recent years. This reflects a growing and widespread awareness of the importance of taking care of one’s own well-being in all its forms.
Etymology
The word self used in modern English is thought to derive from the Proto-Germanic *selbaz (in historical grammar the use of the asterisk associated with a specific term indicates that the latter is not attested in the sources but is reconstructed by linguists). From *selbaz it changed in Old English to self, which then remained unchanged even in modern English. Despite its ancient Germanic roots, the meaning of the term has remained relatively constant throughout the history of the English language. In our case self inherently emphasizes the individual and personal aspect of care.
Care derives from the Old English caru, cearu (“grief, anxiety, mourning,” also “worry”) which in turn goes back to the Proto-Germanic *karō (“lament, sorrow”). Then the word care evolved to include the idea of providing, protecting or caring for someone or something with affection and attention. The first attestation in this sense dates back to the 15th century.
In contrast, the first known use of the union of the two words dates back to the mid-sixteenth century. In fact, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first record of the expression self-care dates back to 1567, in the writings of the poet and translator George Turberville.
Meaning
If we combine two basic words of the English language such as these the resulting expression takes on an interesting meaning, as it encapsulates the idea that individuals have a strong responsibility to themselves, not only with regard to physical health, but also in maintaining a well-being that must also be emotional and mental. It reflects the realization that we should care about our own health and happiness as much as we care about those of our neighbors.
It is significant that in Italian there is no single word for this concept but it is necessary to use a compound expression, moreover imported from another language. This testifies to how much self-care has yet to really enter our culture and be fully accepted. In fact, too often we tend to see self-care as a manifestation of selfishness, forgetting instead that taking time for ourselves is not only good for us but also essential to nurture our ability to provide for others effectively.