Raise your hand if you’re a busy woman. We see you. We understand how challenging it can be to take care of yourself. Fitting in time for self-care when you already take care of everyone else is HARD. That’s why we put on our thinking caps and came up with what we believe to be, 10 Easy Self-Care Strategies for Busy Women, just like you.
These tips and tricks are for EVERY woman…
For the women who are intent on putting their careers first.
And the working moms who don’t get a moment to themselves.
For the caretaking women who volunteer their time to those who need the support.
For ALL the women, who just need someone looking out for them and reminding them that they need to take care of themselves too.
We’ve got you.
And since we know you’re super busy and likely don’t have the time to read everything on this list. Here it is upfront for you.
- Drink Water First Thing Every Morning
- Give Yourself Five Minutes to Decompress
- Make a To-Do List
- Add Some Quality Time with You
- Take a Self-Care Course
- Have FUN Moving Your Body
- Make a Weekly Meal Plan
- Surround Yourself with Inspiration… Dump the Discouragement
- Procrastinate… with Something You LOVE
- Give Yourself a Space
Cultivate a nurturing love for yourself with our FREE 28-day self-care course
Delivered to your inbox, this course lets you work at your own pace while also helping keep you on track with your self-care. And we’re here each step of the way via email ❤️
1. Make Water Hydration Your First Step Every Morning
We know it’s hard not to go straight for your caffeine fix, but what your body and brain need most first thing when you wake up is water.
While you’re catching up on REM sleep, your body’s working hard doing some nightly maintenance. It’s no wonder that when you wake up, you’re feeling parched.
You likely also have that brain fog going on where it’s hard to think.
Take away that morning groggy feeling and set your day up for success by drinking water first and foremost.
2. Find Five Minutes to Decompress with Your Thoughts
We’ve all done it. Gone to bed exhausted, and yet our brains won’t shut off. We lie awake desperately wanting to fall asleep but can’t.
Why does this happen?
Well, we are constantly bombarded by the noise that surrounds us.
Our phones ding constantly. The to-do list piles up. Our kids need attention. We are always being distracted.
In the words of Alanis Morrisette’s popular song All I really want:
“Why are you so petrified of silence?
Here can you handle this?”
Music stops.
“Did you think about your bills, your ex, your deadlines…
Or when you think you’re gonna die?
Or did you long for the next distraction?”
Take the time to find five (or even ten if you can) minutes to just be with your thoughts. Let yourself decompress. That way, when sleep calls you won’t be distracted by the thoughts you didn’t get a chance to think about until that moment.
Maybe you want to decompress with a boudoir shoot. Step into our studio and let the frustration melt away with a professional massage and hours of laughter and empowerment!
3. Make a List Today, for Tomorrow
On a similar note, women tend to lie awake at night thinking about everything they need to do the next day. Perhaps this is one of the biggest reasons busy women need self care!
But, by making a list before we go to bed, we can sleep well knowing we have a plan since our brains love having ordered tasks.
And this also helps to lower our anxiety over what we have to do. Ultimately, this is an easy self-care strategy that will help us feel calmer and more accomplished.
4. Schedule Some YOU time.
If you’re struggling to add some self-care to your routine, schedule some YOU time into your to-do list.
Treat this as a priority.
And dress for the occasion.
If it’s exercise you’re craving, make sure to put on your fav workout clothes.
If it’s hanging with your friends, dress up, (or if you’re always dressed up, dress down) for the occasion.
Treat YOU time with the respect that it deserves.
And show up for yourself the same way you would show up for everyone else. And, yes, of course we think a boudoir shoot is a great way to do this 😅 but there are PLENTY of ways to practice you time. One of those ways could literally be making a list of other ways to show up for yourself. Carve out some time just for you and spend it writing a list of other things you enjoy and find relaxing or exhilarating.
5. Get Help with Some Guidance
We all need a little help when we get lost. And in the case of lost self-care, chances are you just need a little guidance.
Learning how to tend to your needs requires dedication and adjustment on your part.
But it is manageable, particularly when you have everything you need in a FREE self-care course.
Learn to take back control of your life and how self-care fits into it.
You’ll regain the part of you that has been lost.
6. Move Your Body the Way YOU Want To
Exercise is important. But it won’t do you any good if you dread doing it.
One study shows that adding change to your exercise routine and keeping it fresh helps ensure it becomes a habit.
But don’t forget to add moving in a FUN way.
Remember what it was like to be a kid?
Running around playing tag with your friends on the playground. Playing soccer on a team. Or practicing cartwheels over and over on your front lawn until your head started to spin.
Somehow, as obligations take over, we stop moving in the way we love to and introduce exercise as some sort of chore we need to do.
Do yourself a favour.
The next time you want to add some movement to your body, do something that is FUN for you.
Sign up for that aerial yoga class you’ve always wanted to try.
Take those line dancing lessons with your girlfriends.
And have a BIG smile on your face the entire time you’re doing it.
7. Make a Meal Plan for the Week
Too much of our regular stress is the dreaded question we all have to answer daily, “What’s for dinner?”
If you plan out your meals for the week you take a load off your back by always knowing what you’re going to eat. You’ll also eat healthier and be less likely to grab something unhealthy on the fly.
Eating healthier will give your body the boost it needs to keep going and take away the stress we often feel from not taking care of ourselves.
Need help with this?
There are lots of cookbooks that have a meal plan all plotted out for you to make it SUPER easy.
Or get a FREE weekly meal planner template here.
8. Surround Yourself with Those That Inspire…
…and take a break from those that bring you down.
This list can include friends, family, and even those whom you follow on social media.
Surrounding yourself with those who have something positive to say versus constantly being negative will only make you feel negative about life.
Be prepared, though. You may have to get ruthless and cut out those in your life who aren’t there to lift you up and support you.
This includes any social media personas that make you feel less about yourself.
When it comes to your self-care, mental, physical, and spiritual, make sure you are getting the right inspiration.
And stop wasting your precious time on the damaging behaviour of others.
9. Procrastinate by spending time on things you love
95% of people admit to having procrastinated at some point.
And how many times has it been on something you weren’t even that into?
Endlessly scrolling on Instagram…
Online shopping for a new spatula…
And even… doing the dishes.
But if you’re going to put off doing something productive, why not spend the time doing something you LOVE and get some enjoyment out of it?
Take yourself out for an afternoon of shopping. Call up a friend to catch up over brunch. Know that it’s okay to procrastinate, sometimes. Sometimes it’s a sign that we just need a BREAK.
10. Find or Create a Space That’s ALL Yours
Whether you’re a busy mom or an office worker who has to share her workspace, the world can get pretty crowded.
Carve out a small space in your home that doesn’t suffer from kids’ toys or piles of work and laundry. Or leave the house and go to your favourite cozy nook at a nearby bookstore.
However you manage to do it. Find a space that feels unique to you and feel whole in it.
We promise. You’ll thank yourself for this space.
Final Thoughts on self care for busy women
Taking care of ourselves isn’t easy.
But small adjustments can add up to big changes.
Still wanting more tips? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered here.
Ultimately, pick one off the list at a time and stick with it for a week. See how you feel.
Then, add another change.
And don’t worry if you falter a little. Perfection is a hindrance we could all use less of these days.
Because you’ve got this. And we’ve got your back.
