Self-Care for Women

Is self-care a regular part of your routine? Or has it been so long that you find yourself wondering, "Ummm, what-care?"

Self-care is the process of nurturing yourself. Our society has become so fast paced and chaotic that for many women, doing kind things for themselves gets put on the back burner.

Instead, you run around all day long doing for others, and at the end of the day fall into bed exhausted. You may have accomplished a lot of tasks, but unless you implement and follow a nurturing plan, you are bound to feel compassion fatigue.

If you're a "super mom" you may not even realize that you're near depletion until it becomes a crisis. I have a great audio recording that focuses on refreshing your perspective so that you can refocus some of your energy on the necessity of your own self care.

Treating yourself kindly has positive ripple effects that will impact every other area of your life. When you've had time for yourself, to unwind, to reflect, and to feel a sense of control, you’re bound to feel better about yourself and life in general. You’ll feel more patient with your children, more loving towards your spouse, and more generous with your friends. You’ll feel more capable of handling the next set of challenges that come your way. You’ll be building self-confidence and will feel more optimistic and hopeful. The benefits of taking time for yourself are powerful.

Now I don’t want to give a false impression that taking care of yourself will solve every issue, because it can’t. But it sure is a great step towards feeling more empowered, more valued, and more satisfied. When you experience those important boosts, you’ll notice that you’re building your self-esteem too. And that certainly puts you into a better position to more effectively manage challenges as they arise.

I published a great book called 48 Self Esteem Activities for Women that I think you'd really like and benefit from.

There are an infinite number of ways to be kind to yourself. One thing you can do right now is to enjoy some motivational quotes for a quick boost of energy and optimism.

The most important thing to remember is that there is no “right” way to take care of yourself. Everyone has different ways to rejuvenate and feel good. So think about what you like to do for fun or how you replenish your own inner well.

If you’ve been out of the habit of taking care of yourself, you might be stumped trying to figure out what self-care strategies do work for you. Don’t feel bad. When you’re out of practice, it can be hard to take that first step! Once you do get the ball rolling though, you’ll realize that coming up with the list isn't the hard part. It's finding the time and then actually doing it that’s the challenge.

I had the opportunity to interview an amazing women's masseuse and a fantastic women's chiropractor and really pick their brains on what self-care means to them and how they typically see it (or the lack of it) reflected in our bodies. You can check out the recording here.

It's a good idea to start off with a plan.

I’ve developed an amazing coaching group for women that uses a practical step-by-step model to implement self-care into your daily routine. Many women have enjoyed higher self-confidence, stronger will-power, and an amazing sense of achievement from being in this support-focused group. You can have that too so let me hear from you if you’re interested in learning more!

A very simplistic formula for better self-care is to first identify what things you would like to do for yourself. Some of them can be special treats that you might do just once a month, and others should be things you can do most days.

Second, make the time. Taking care of yourself should not add to your stress! So you have to find time during the day when you can actually enjoy doing something nice for yourself. And it doesn't have to be big.

Maybe reading the paper alone for just 15 minutes in the morning really sets you up for a better day. Or you may find that the benefit of physical fitness through structured classes or informal activities gives you needed energy. Or maybe grocery shopping can wait until tomorrow so you can take a short nap today.

Adjust your schedule so you are able to fit in some "you" time in a non stressful way. If you improve your personal boundaries setting it will be easier to take time away from other obligations so that you can focus on taking care of yourself.

We all have to deal with stress. And no matter how well you plan for it, there are times when it can just feel overwhelming. Learning how to recognize, how to plan for, and how to deal with stress are essential to a good self-care strategy. My book The How to Deal With Stress Handbook gives you the tools to build a low-stress life.

So what is self-care? It is the best thing you can do for yourself. And admitting that doesn't make you selfish or self-centered. It means that you know you must be in the best condition to do your many jobs as well as you can. And taking care of yourself is job number one!

If you’re in need of a total break from your reality for a while, check out www.great-womens-vacations.com. This site has done all the research for you and delivers some great options for the ultimate getaway for women, from spas to “glamping!”

Would you like some help setting up a good nurturing plan for yourself? Together we can figure out how you can best take care of yourself and fit it into your life!

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Self Improvement Resources for Women


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