Dark Academia Self Care: Journaling, Tea, and the Art of Solitude After 50

There’s something deliciously rebellious about being over 50 and still sinking into your feels like it's a velvet chaise lounge. Forget hustle culture. Forget anti-aging everything. This is about depth, not deadlines. Romance, not routines. And if you're anything like me, there's no greater luxury than lighting a candle, flipping on November Rain, and getting into a full-on funk - for the sheer thrill of it.

Welcome to Dark Academia Self Care - a moody, brainy, gorgeously introspective way of tending to your soul. Think leather-bound journals, candlelit tea, classical playlists, and long solo walks under cloudy skies. This isn’t your average bubble bath-and-face-mask routine. This is solitude with substance. This is healing with eyeliner on!

What Is Dark Academia Self Care?

Dark academia is more than just a TikTok aesthetic (though we love a good moody bookshelf reel!) It's a whole vibe rooted in intellectual romanticism.

Picture this:

Candlelight flickering beside a half-finished journal.
A rainy playlist of Chopin, strings, and that one sad Alanis Morissette song you keep on repeat.
Your favorite pen scratching across thick, textured paper.
The scent of bergamot and cedar swirling through the air.

Now add to that the richness of midlife wisdom - where solitude becomes sacred, and your thoughts are finally yours to explore. This is the self care that doesn’t beg for attention. It simmers. It smolders. And it’s SO much better with age.

Journaling as a Ritual, Not a To-Do List

Let’s be real: journaling in midlife hits different. We’re not just venting about the day. We’re time traveling. We’re writing love letters to our past selves, giving voice to the shadows, and documenting the grace that’s come with time.

Try This:

Shadow Journaling: Write to the version of yourself who felt unseen. Let her speak.
Legacy Pages: Jot down the wisdom you’ve earned - the messy, hilarious, triumphant stuff no one talks about.
Mood Journaling: Let the music guide you. Play November Rain, pour a drink (or tea - we’ll get there), and just write what shows up.

And listen… journaling by candlelight with a deep, moody essential oil in the diffuser (like vetiver or patchouli)? A whole event. If you want to feel like the brooding protagonist in your own story - this is the chapter!

Tea Time as Sacred Time

Your tea ritual deserves main character energy.

Forget lukewarm grocery-store chamomile. I’m talking intentional blends - handcrafted, soul-soothing, and brewed with a sprinkle of magic. When you steep a cup of tulsi, rooibos, or ashwagandha, you're not just drinking tea... you're making a potion. A slow, herbal affirmation that says, “I’m worth this moment.”

My fave blends for this vibe:

Clarity & Calm: Tulsi, lemon balm, spearmint
Hormone Balance: Rooibos, red raspberry leaf, licorice root
Get-Me-Out-of-My-Own-Head: Holy basil + hibiscus + a drop of bergamot essential oil near your diffuser

Pro Tip: Sip your tea slowly while listening to classical guitar or old vinyl. Suddenly, the stress melts and you're a philosopher on a porch in Tuscany. (Even if you’re just in yoga pants in the kitchen!)

The Art of Solitude (Without Feeling Lonely)

Solitude isn’t sad. It’s a superpower. And honestly? It gets BETTER with age.

My "me time" is sitting in a dark dive bar and drinking a beer alone or sitting down to a nice dinner out all by myself! Yours might involve other people, but you get the vibe!

That’s the kind of unapologetic solitude we’re talking about. Dinner for one? Yes. A slow walk in silence, no phone, no destination? Yes again. Choosing your own company over small talk? YES x 100.

Solitude is a radical act of midlife rebellion in a world obsessed with constant connection. And the older we get, the more sacred it becomes.

Try making a Solitude Altar - one corner of your space that’s just for you:

Journal + your favorite pen
One candle (moody scent encouraged)
A playlist that matches your soul
Maybe a photo that reminds you of your power

Your Life Deserves a Soundtrack

Music makes the moment. And in Dark Academia Self Care, it sets the whole tone.

Here’s a few playlists to spark that romantic, broody energy:

“Rainy Window + Fountain Pen” - soft piano, strings, ambient lo-fi
“Main Character Energy” - sweeping movie scores, Florence + The Machine, brooding indie
“November Funk for Fun” - your personal playlist of deep, emotional bangers (Guns N’ Roses, anyone?)

Music isn’t background noise. It’s soul therapy. So cue up the soundtrack that sees you, and let it hold space for all the feels.

(P.S. Diffuse frankincense, sandalwood, or bergamot while you listen - the scent + sound combo is next-level!)

You’re Not Starting Over - You’re Deepening

Here’s the thing about self care after 50: it's not about reinventing yourself. It’s about honoring the woman who’s already been through some stuff and came out wiser, funnier, and way more interesting.

Dark Academia Self Care isn’t about hiding your age under layers of filters or pretending to be 30 again. It’s about romanticizing every laugh line, every lesson, every late-night beer you sipped alone in a dive bar while writing poems in your head.

Because you’re not done. You’re deepening. You’re blooming in shadow and ink and firelight!

And you’re doing it with style.

Your Dark Academia Self Care Ritual (Build It!)

Here’s how to bring it all together:

Choose your journal (go luxe, leather, or vintage).
Pick a tea that makes you feel seen.
Create a moody playlist (sad, romantic, brilliant).
Set your solitude scene: candle, oils, quiet.
Let yourself be in the moment, even if that moment is moody as hell.

Because solitude isn’t lonely when it’s chosen. It’s sacred. It’s sexy. It’s yours!

Here are some more great posts you might like to check out:

AI Image Disclosure: Some of the images in this post were made using AI, kind of like how I used to use stock photos back in the day—but now I can make exactly what I want to help you visualize what I’m talking about. The vibe is totally me—just with a sprinkle of tech magic to bring it to life!