Self-Care Tips For Women

We know self-care is important, but for some reason it’s not always practiced. In this post, we’re reviewing seven self-care tips for women.

What Is Self-Care and Why Is it Important?

Chances are if you’re reading a health and wellness article like this, then you’re familiar with the term “self-care”, but what does it mean exactly? 

Maybe when you hear “self-care” you visualize a woman dressed in a white, terrycloth robe, matching towel wrapped around her head, face covered in a green, mud mask with cucumbers over her eyes, sipping a glass of champagne. Is that accurate?

What is Self-Care Really?

Is self-care just about spa days or does it go deeper than that?

Self-Care Definition

From Dictionary.com, Self-Care is a noun meaning:

1. the act of attending to one’s physical or mental health, generally without medical or other professional consultation (often used attributively):
   • It’s been a rough week, so this weekend is all about self-care through exercise.
2. the products or practices used to comfort or soothe oneself (often used attributively):
   • Seeing friends is my self-care.
   • Taking a bath is a great self-care activity when you’re feeling stressed.
3. Medical Definition: The care of oneself without medical, professional, or other assistance or oversight.

Self-care is essentially just the practice of attending to your own needs, whatever they may be. 

Sometimes that means taking time to get your hair done, sometimes that will mean saying “no” to loved ones when you need a break, and sometimes that will mean saying “yes” when you know you will benefit from social interaction.

It’s about paying attention to your needs and addressing them regularly, not sporadically, and not just when it’s convenient for everyone else.

Why is Self-Care Important?

Self-care is important because you have a body that requires certain things to function — just like a car — we need fuel to run, regular maintenance to run properly, and a gentle finesse behind the wheel to run safely and efficiently.

We all need to spend a certain amount of time tending to our physical and emotional needs — we need to be conditioned, nourished, and rested in order to contribute to anything or anyone in a meaningful way. 

When we neglect our own needs, we cannot function optimally. Our performance, well-being, and health suffers. 

Is Self-Care Selfish?

I think most of us agree that self-care is important. Or at least if someone asked you if self-care is important, you would probably say “yes.” 

So, why don’t we do it more? Why do we resist? Why do we struggle to make time for it?

For some women, maybe self-care feels selfish or they’re afraid that it looks selfish. Or maybe they feel like they shouldn’t need that time for themselves — like it somehow demonstrates failure to admit you need some personal time. Or maybe they feel like their needs are just not as important as someone else’s.

Perhaps for some people, self-care seems like a luxury item that they just can’t afford.

Self-care is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Constructive vs. Destructive Self-Care

In order to practice self-care, you need to be able to not only recognize when you need attention, but what it is that you actually need and how to best provide it.

Sometimes, we’re good at this — and sometimes not. 

The way we cope with difficult times can either help our situation or make it worse. For example, do you ever notice yourself reaching for coffee when you are feeling stressed or anxious? Caffeine actually INCREASES those feelings of pressure and worry instead of alleviating them.

Can you think of any other times in your life, when this happens? Maybe eating when you’re not hungry, drinking too much, staying up too late, smoking, etc.

So, why do we do this? Why do we choose destructive ways to cope instead of giving our minds, bodies, and spirits what they actually need? 

Convenience? Instant over delayed gratification? Habit? 

The bottom line is that you deserve the same thoughtful attention that you give to others. Slapping a band-aid on your need doesn’t do anybody any good in the long run. 

You are the only person responsible for your mind, body, and spirit.  

So what’s the best way to get what you actually need? How can you ensure that you are incorporating enough self-care into your life?

1. Learn to Recognize When You Need Care

Learning to recognize when you are in need of self-care is a very important first step. You need to be able to accurately respond, rather than just reacting when things come to a head.

What signs do you notice when you’ve been neglecting your needs? Maybe you have trouble sleeping or you find yourself drinking more. How do you act or react when you need care? Do you become really judgy or start comparing yourself to others more?

Spend some time in self-reflection and see what comes up for you.

Learning to recognize these signs will also help you anticipate when self-care will be needed in the future so you can plan ahead.

2. Determine What It Is You Actually Need

It’s easy to get your signals crossed when you are out of touch with your real needs. 

For example, mindless snacking can be a not-so-helpful habit when we’re tired, bored, or stressed. So before grabbing a bag of chips, consider what you actually need. More sleep? A relaxation practice? Some alone time?

Exploring your needs may bring up all sorts of things for you. Some may be really eye-opening and some may be quite uncomfortable. It’s ok to take time to think things through. Be honest, but gentle with yourself.

3. Find A Way To Fulfill Your Needs

Once you’ve determined what it is you actually need, find a way to fulfill that need. 

Sometimes this will be easy and sometimes it will be really difficult. You can’t always just snap your fingers and get what you want, right? Time, money, availability, scheduling, support, etc. It may take some work and/or creative problem solving to get what you need.

That doesn’t mean it’s not important or worth the effort. Your needs are worth it.

4. Make Your Needs A Priority

Your needs are valid and important. I urge you to make them a priority.

Yes, there are times when other people’s needs are more urgent — but that does not diminish the value of your own.

Way too often, women, especially moms, sideline their own needs for the sake of someone else’s. We tell ourselves “oh I can do this another time” or “that can wait until tomorrow”. We devalue our needs pretty easily.

How often do you bump your own plans to accommodate someone else’s or rearrange your schedule to fit the needs of someone else. We do it ALL. THE. TIME.

You Are Important. Your Needs Are Important.

5. Seek Support When Necessary

You don’t need to figure it out alone. Find someone who will support you and your needs. Maybe this is your partner or maybe it’s a family member or friend. Find someone that you can trust and lean on when you start doubting yourself. 

Depending on your family and lifestyle situation, you may also need assistance in other ways. Maybe hiring a babysitter or cleaner will give you the time you need. You could also hook up with a friend and watch each other’s children while the other takes time for self-care. 

Get creative. Think outside the box. See what you can switch around or change. As long as you have the desire to make something happen, there are ways to achieve it.

Need help? I love problem solving! Just give me a call for a free coaching session.

6. Maintain A Regular Self-Care Routine

Create a self-care routine that is sustainable. When I think of self-care, I think of recurring, scheduled time blocks to address your personal needs, not a random day getting your nails done.

Give yourself pockets of time in the morning, the evening, over the weekend, etc. so you can be consistent. Waiting until you are running on empty to schedule time for yourself is not the goal. Having a set routine in place keeps you feeling balanced. 

This goes beyond setting aside time for grooming. Even scheduling regular times for meal planning, meeting up with friends or family, a date night with your partner, or time to exercise all contribute to self-care.

7. Address Your Mind, Body, And Spirit

Consider the seven dimensions of wellness when creating your self-care routine. Give yourself the necessary time to address all of your needs – across your mind, body, and spirit.

Emotional Self-Care

Allow yourself to feel and process your emotions, instead of ignoring or suppressing them. Allow yourself the time and space you need to deal. Pay attention to your self-talk – shut down negative self-talk and catastrophizing. Respect your feelings and set boundaries for how others can make you feel. Recognize when you need time away and when you need quality time together.

Physical Self-Care

You have a body that requires regular maintenance and upkeep to function properly, say nothing about efficiently.

Physical self-care is about taking care of the one and only body you will ever have. It requires conditioning, nourishment, and rest. 

Provide your body with regular physical activity, muscle toning and strengthening activities, and flexibility training. Get regular check-ups and take care of illness or injuries directly. Keep your body clean and well-groomed.

Nourish your body with healthy, nutrient-dense, whole foods and clean water. Limit or eliminate unhealthy foods, drinks, and habits whenever possible.

Allow yourself to get plenty of rest. Do what you can to achieve quality sleep and practice regular stress management. 

Spiritual Self-Care

Connect with your surroundings often and allow yourself to see the bigger picture. Spend time cultivating your spirituality and find ways to weave your beliefs into your daily life.

Self-Care Is A Necessity

Self-care is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Remind yourself of this fact often.

We are each responsible for our own experience in life. We choose how we respond to people and situations. 

We always have choices. They may be difficult at times, but you always have a choice. Keep your well-life vision in the forefront of your mind. Be your best advocate and make choices that align with the life that you want to live. 

We are all deserving of respect and love, not only from others, but from ourselves. Treat your mind, body, and spirit with kindness, gratitude, and lots of love.

If you need one more reason, show your family what self-love and self-respect look like.

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Sarah Morgan is a Wellness Coach for Women, specializing in helping busy women, especially moms, find manageable ways to prioritize their own health and wellness needs.

Schedule A Free 45-Minute Wellness Coaching Call

If you can’t see how to make self-care work for you, get some help. Schedule a free 45-minute coaching session with me. Let’s dive in and see what we can figure out together.

Educational Purposes Only.

This website is created for educational purposes only and does not provide any professional advice of any kind. Professional advice can only be given with a full understanding of a client’s unique personal situation, and typically can only be given with a license. Accordingly, any recommendations, advice, or information provided on this website should be viewed within the context of general information and education. If you require additional advice or guidance, we recommend you seek out the assistance of a professional in your local area.