Every woman I know is juggling many responsibilities and many roles. She’s busy caring for family and friends while taking care of things at work and in the community. But there’s typically one person that’s far down on her list, if it’s there at all: herself. That’s where self-care comes in.
Why Women Need Self-Care
Self-care is often difficult for women, but why? Well, it can feel selfish to spend time and resources on ourselves. We don’t want to let anyone down. We want to achieve as much as we can in the limited hours of the day. It feels indulgent and unnecessary.
But self-care is not indulgent, it’s essential. From a medical point of view, self-care reduces the stress that can suppress the immune system and increase disease. In short, self-care helps you live longer! From an energetic point of view, women need self-care because we can’t give the best of ourselves to others when we’re depleted and resentful.
Understanding that self-care is important and that you deserve it is the first step to integrating it into your life.
Women’s Self-Care Basics
Too many women say “I’m exhausted” and “I don’t have time” as a badge of honor. They like being needed by many people and they get currency out of being a martyr. But I want to push back against this. We should be proud that we’re taking care of our health, not proud that we’re catering to everyone else’s needs first. (And no one likes a martyr.)
We all need to put in place the healthy habits that support us in our day-to-day and long-term health. That includes:
- Sleeping 7-8 hours every night (Feels impossible? Check out this article.)
- Eating nutritious foods
- Drinking plenty of water
- Showering daily
- Brushing and flossing daily
- Going to medical and dental check-ups and appointments
Are you doing all these things? If not, make it a priority to build these habits into your life.