Start with the Basics of Self-Care for Women

As a woman, you manage everyone and everything around you. If you are a wife and mother, you tend to the family, home, appointments, chores, work/career, and possibly homeschool. If you are single, you work to be independent, maybe more than one job, and people depend on you probably more than most.

Yet, in the busyness of life, it is easy to put our own needs off. We overcommit, overschedule, and accept more responsibilities. We need to take a step back and revisit the basics of self-care for women for our own health.

Caring for Your Body

Your physical health should be a priority in self-care for women. When you let your health go, especially by prioritizing other people’s health, you shortchange yourself. Although your spirit might be strong, physical illness can keep you away from opportunities to serve and care for others.

• Hydration – Proper hydration flushes toxins out of the body, eases anxiety, and prepares the body’s processes to work optimally.
• Exercise – Exercise boosts mood and strengthens the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
• Healthy foods – Choose nutritious whole foods over ultra-processed foods. Packaged foods have been shown to worsen mental and physical conditions.
• Doctor appointments and screenings – Many illnesses and cancers can be treated if caught early. Schedule appointments and screenings during your birthday month if you have trouble remembering them.

Set a weekly goal to include one of the tasks above and focus on your physical health.

Caring for Your Mind

Your mental and emotional health is just as important when it comes to self-care for women. Emotional resilience, cognitive function, problem-solving, and stress management should all play a role in your health.

• Get to the bottom of your stress – Most stress can feel as if it comes from everything at once, but in reality, stress can be triggered by one thing, person, event, worry, or circumstance. Once you narrow it down, think about how you will manage it.
• Check schedules and commitments – We can’t be everywhere at once or be the best version of ourselves if we are spread too thin. Check your schedule and commitments and remove anything that doesn’t bring you peace.
• Set boundaries – Boundaries are created not to keep loved ones out, but to protect your peace and time. Learn how to set boundaries and uphold them.
• Find support with other women – Isolation is not good. There will be times when you need to withdraw to recharge, and that is normal. But isolating completely can worsen mental health. Lean on your women friends for support.
• Manage time – Keep an eye on your time and activities that leave you unproductive. For example, if you feel like you don’t have enough time to pursue hobbies or a side hustle, examine your day. Are you scrolling mindlessly on social media for an hour or more per day? Remove or limit time suckers.
• End toxic relationships – Give yourself permission to love and forgive people without putting your hand back in the fire. End toxic relationships. If you cannot make a clean break, then limit the interaction.
• Rest – Rest is more than sleep. It’s relaxing and providing time for your mind to recover. This might look like sitting outdoors daydreaming, reading a book, or listening to music.

Make a list of tasks you can start today to care for your mental health.

Caring for Your Soul

Spiritual health incorporates your walk with God and the eternal. Life makes us forget that we are spiritual beings in a temporary, fleshly vessel. We should care for the body because it is the temple for the Holy Spirit, but we should care for our souls and draw near to God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

• Talk to God – Talk to Him throughout the day.
• Read your Bible – Try a focused devotional or Bible reading plan.
• Research more about the biblical worldview – Dive deeper. Read books about the biblical worldview, apologetics, or Bible history.
• Join a church – Don’t neglect fellowshipping with other believers.
• Join a small group – If your church offers small groups, find one that shares your interests and connect with others.
• Use a journal for answered prayers and gratitude – If your worries feel like they overtake you, give them to God in the form of a journal entry.
• Engage in praise and worship throughout the day – Praise and worship invite God. His Spirit is always with us as Christians, but praise and worship unlock our soul to commune with Him.

Start the day with God and walk with Him daily.

Christian Counseling as a Form of Self-Care for Women

Knowing that you need help and reaching out is commendable self-care for women. You can view Christian counseling as a form of self-care. Christian counseling combines evidence-based psychology and faith-based principles. Contact our office today, and a representative will match you with a counselor.