Chloe Gardener
Presuming you haven’t been living under rock the past few weeks, you’ll have been on Tiktok and heard of the bones or no bones trend. I’m here to tell you about this trend and look into why it has taken Tiktok by storm.
To put it simply, Tiktok user @jongraz teams up with his 13-year-old pug, Noodle, to find out whether the day will be productive or chilled out. He does this by gently holding Noodle above his (very cosy looking) bed and then letting go. If Noodle continues to stand on his own, it’s a bones day. If he lies back down, it’s a no bones day. It’s almost like a weather forecast but for the mood of the day.
Jonathan always puts an emphasis on telling people to practice self-care regardless of the result. It’s a wholesome idea that is booming in popularity online. The Tiktok account currently has a following of 4.3 million. There’s even a merch store (https://noodleofficial.threadless.com/) where you can get all kinds of Noodle-related merchandise, from beanies to t-shirts and stickers.
Regardless, it really is a breath of fresh air on social media during these hectic times. People have a lot on their plates in 2021; climate change, COP26, the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit has been causing mayhem in people’s lives, not to mention the struggle of getting through each day or money troubles.
Personally, I think this is why the bones or no bones trend is popular right now.
A cute dog, a charismatic owner, and a quirky activity looks like the right amount of wholesome content for a daily uplift. It allows people to turn their brains off, at least for a minute. I think Jonathan is well aware of this, which is why he puts such an emphasis on practicing self-care and treating yourself. It’s something that we could all use at the moment.
SELF-CARE IN 2021:
Self-care is defined as:
“The practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.”
Oxford Languages
Through media, we are taught that self-care means buying something to treat ourselves. While retail therapy can sometimes be helpful, it teaches us that to look after ourselves we have to shell out for something, which isn’t sustainable in the long run.
Self-care can be anything. Getting through that pile of dishes that sits ominously beside the sink, or even just snuggling up and watching a comfort movie. Literally, it’s just taking time out to look after yourself.
The Blurt Foundation, a mental health charity in the UK, has some great advice for self-care. Here’s a great article to get you started on your self-care journey:
Featured image courtesy of Matthew Henry on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
Chloe Gardener
I'm a journalism student at Glasgow Clyde College by day and a podcast producer/editor/co-host by night for "Film Queery", which is available on all main podcast streaming sites. I also currently write for The Clyde Insider - GCC's student-run newspaper.