Between caring for family, work, and responsibilities, women often put themselves last. But daily self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s the key to well-being. Practicing simple, everyday tips for self-care can help reduce stress, boost energy, and improve your overall well-being.
Whether you’re navigating the busy years of raising children or adjusting to the shifts of midlife, these self-care practices can give you the reset you need to feel balanced and supported.
Why Do Women Put Self-Care on the Backburner?
We are nurturers by nature
In our younger years, many of us had little ones to tend to and/or a partner whose needs we tried to meet. Some also had careers to nurture, which brought along the sometimes difficult task of keeping the boss content with our job performance.
It’s in times like these that daily self-care becomes the first thing women let go of, even though it’s what we need most.
During this time of our lives, we may be thinking about how much easier life will be once the children grow up, or what we will do with all our free time when we retire.
So many things to speculate about.
Along comes midlife…
Once midlife rolls around, life does shift a bit, but it really doesn’t get any easier. Still, many if not most, women find themselves caring for others, having their own needs take a backseat to the needs of others.
In this midlife stage, if we are fortunate, our parents are still living, but their needs are changing, and perhaps they need more care from us.
Children may still live at home or be off at college, but still need us. There may be the wonderful blessing of grandchildren who sometimes need our care.
Pets can be added to the list. They are likely aging right alongside us and requiring more care.
Then, there are those friendships we would like to rekindle, perhaps people we lost touch with during the child-rearing phase of our life.
All the caring and nurturing we do as women can become overwhelming at times.
We may become anxious, stressed, cranky, irritable – the list goes on.
I am very passionate about helping and caring for others, but I have learned through the years that I need to take time for myself to avoid all those yucky feelings mentioned above.
Thankfully, I have started implementing many of the tips of self-care listed below into my daily routine.
10 Basic Self-Care Tips for Women
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There are so many ways to practice self-care. This is not a selfish act by any means. It is a necessity to keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Remember, you cannot pour from an empty cup.
These tips have been quite helpful for me in lessening my feelings of stress and anxiety. I hope they will be beneficial for you too.
.Tips for Self-Care: Learning to Say No Without Guilt0
This is a big one! I know this can be difficult for many of those who are givers by nature. However, you need to set boundaries and take time for yourself. Saying NO does not make you a bad person.
.Take Time to Relax
Set aside time every day to relax and reset your mind. It does not have to be very long, perhaps 15-20 minutes. Take this time to do some deep breathing, meditate, or just close your eyes and rest. You will feel refreshed and ready to take on the next task needing your attention.
.Choose Joy
Start your day with positive thoughts. Don’t let negativity cloud your mind. Starting my day with positive thoughts has been so helpful in keeping stress at bay. I love the idea of these positive affirmation cards to start the day on a positive note.
.Tips for Self-Care: Relieve Stress with a Daily Walk
Walking for as little as 15 minutes is a wonderful way to rid your mind of stress, boost your mood, and increase your energy. Listen to your favorite music or podcast while you’re out on your walk.
.Indulge Yourself
Take an extra-long hot shower or bath. Let the water melt away the stresses of your day. Add a bath bomb or a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your shower and enjoy the aroma. Lavender is my go-to essential oil for relaxation.
.Find A Hobby
Find something you love, and take the time to do it. It could be sewing, reading, gardening, cooking, yoga, etc. If you love what you are doing, you will feel so good afterward.
For me, volunteering at a local horse rescue is extremely therapeutic. Even though the work is very physical, I feel energized after being with the horses. There is something therapeutic about spending time with these majestic creatures.
.Stay Organized
Keeping your space tidy can do wonders for your mindset. If your home feels overwhelming, check out my post How to Declutter Your House in One Day . It gives you a step-by-step plan to create order fast, which can really help reduce stress. Click here to get all the tips on How to Declutter Your House in One Day.
.Get Cozy
Cozy up in a soft, warm sweater, and make yourself a warm drink such as coffee or tea. Perhaps read a book while you enjoy each sip. Taking this time to take care of yourself is so rewarding.
.Take A Nap
This is one of my all-time favorite things to do. I prefer a long nap on a rainy day, but even a power nap (20 minutes or so) can help you feel revived.
Also, be sure you are getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night, which will allow you to be awake and refreshed in the morning.
.Tips for Self-Care: Journaling to Clear Your Mind and Boost Joy
Writing down your thoughts can be very healing. Seeing your words on paper can help you work through negativity and gain clarity. If you’re not sure where to begin, check out my post [Mindfulness Made Simple: 20 Easy Journaling Ideas for a Calm, Clear Mind] for inspiration and simple prompts to get started.
Visualizing positive thoughts can help get your mindset headed in the right direction.
If you’d like a little guidance getting started, I’ve created a Self-Care Workbook available in my Etsy shop. It includes a self-care checklist, daily and gratitude journals, a habit tracker, joy journal, planners, and more to help you create a personalized self-care plan and stick with it. It’s a simple but powerful way to make self-care a part of your daily life. Check it out here: Self-Care Workbook
Conclusion
It is my hope that you find at least a few of the above tips for self-care helpful and that you can implement a few of them into your daily life.
Self-care is giving the world the best of you, not what’s left of you.
Which of these self-care tips will you try first?
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Great article. I need to focus on many of these tips 😉
Thank you for taking the time to read this post! Yes, I agree, you do need to focus a bit more time on yourself – you deserve it!
These are all great ideas! I definitely need to use most of these tips.
Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed this post! Yes, you do need to show yourself some love girl. Give a few of the tips a try. You are so worth it!
Your great article reminds me of something I read years ago…can’t remember where. Something about moms will take the burned toast for themselves and make sure everyone else’s bread is perfectly toasted to a golden brown. I think that echoes what you said above about moms and women of all ages putting themselves last. We do…especially when the children are young, or we are newly wed, or just jumping into our careers. Or all 3!! And then we wake up and we are 45 and haven’t loved ourselves well enough. I have pinned your thoughtful tips for future reference and reminder. You are so wise.
Thank you for your kind words. You are so right, once we reach middle age we have a wake up call and realize we have neglected our own needs. It is my hope that my message reaches the younger generation and resonates with them so they aren’t waiting until middle age to take care of themselves.
Hi Karen, Your words are so true!!! I’m also a daughter, mom, and grandma. And, my youngest son has been repeatedly telling me to learn to say “no” and take time for myself. I feel so inspired by your wonderful and encouraging post. Sometimes you feel like you’re all alone on this journey, until you cross paths with someone who understands. Thank you so very much for sharing this content!
Cheri, I am so glad you found this post helpful. It has taken me a very long time to learn to say no, and I don’t always practice what I preach lol. I fall off the wagon sometimes to be honest. However, learning that it is ok to put myself first has been a huge stepping stone for me towards a healthier mind and body.
Know you are never alone, there is always someone out there who understands.
Wonderful post! I find that saying no to people can get really uncomfortable but sometimes essential for my own wellbeing. Plus, when I feel overwhelmed, sometimes taking a nap makes me feel better 🙂
Saying no can be very uncomfortable for sure. I’m glad you recognize the importance of doing so. Naps are my jam, my escape from reality for a little bit lol. Thanks for your comments 🙂
Going for a walk is SO important. When I quit my job to work at home, I realized how little activity I was getting! Once I started walking in the mornings, the rest of my days felt so much better.
I agree! Once you get your body moving it sets the tone for the rest of the day. 🙂
Great post, thanks for sharing.
My pleasure Roberta 🙂