self-care for busy working women: how to make time for you

As women, we are natural nurturers. It can be automatic for us to extend ourselves to others and use our time and energy to be of service and support.  Women are also socialized to be self-sacrificing.  We may have learned that putting the needs of others before our own is one of the hallmarks of being a good woman. 

We can start to prioritize self-care by recognizing just how truly important it is.  Self-neglect is not healthy. It can lead to burnout and can damage our relationships and even our health.  And we cannot be helpful to others from a place of inner emptiness.  Self-care is essential to a woman’s self-esteem and to feeling happy and whole.

Another obstacle to self-care that busy women experience is that it can feel impossible to make time for it.  After all, there are only 24 hours in a day and you may already feel stretched too thin.

Here are a few ways to fit self-care into an already full schedule and make it an enjoyable and natural part of your daily routine.

Take an honest look at how you use your time

If we are really honest with ourselves, we may find that we waste a lot of time every day.  Social media, watching TV, and checking and rechecking email are ways that many of us are spending time that may be better spent elsewhere.  The time we spend mindlessly scrolling through social media or watching meaningless programs on Netflix could be replaced with activities that give you real pleasure and that build beauty and relaxation into your day. 

Start small and simple

Your new self-care routine doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant.  Not everyone can afford the time or money it takes to get regular massages or take yoga retreats in exotic places.  You could start with a walk in the park on your lunch break, journaling in the morning, saying prayers and affirmations, or listening to your favorite music before bed. Small consistent daily actions are the key to creating a nurturing relationship with yourself.

Make self-care a part of your daily routine. 

Self-care doesn’t have to mean doing different things.  It can just mean doing things differently.  Our regular daily actions can become rituals of self-care.  When you take a shower, you can rub beautiful scented lotions into your skin and send thoughts of appreciation to your body.  When you eat, you can take a moment of gratitude for the food and savor the smells and flavors.

The time that you spend on your self-care is an investment in yourself and it is a wise investment that pays you back abundantly. Self-care creates more energy so you can get more done and be more effective while also feeling happier, more confident and more vibrantly alive. 

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