Women are often taught how to care for children and men, but when do you learn how to take care of yourself as a woman? NOW! Taking care of yourself as a woman comes in many forms. From pampering to standing up for yourself and more. There are endless ways to care for yourself as a woman and become the best you that you can be.
Everyone needs to know how to care for themselves. We should know how to feed ourselves, clean, bathe; the basics. But as a woman, there is so much that goes into it. Yes, that can mean makeup, skincare, and hair styling, but there is more to it than that.
Taking care of yourself isn’t just surviving or looking good while doing it. When it comes to understanding how to take care of yourself as a woman, it is all about how you feel.
# SleepYes, this is part of human survival, but seriously, it is an important part of self care. We need a certain amount of sleep to function at our best ability. And staying on Instagram until two am and then waking up at six am to catch the train does not create a sustainable sleeping pattern.
I know how hard it is to get to bed the same time every single night; I rarely do it. But I try to make it at least within an hour or two every night so that I wake up refreshed rather than exhausted. I use lavender oil in a diffuser to help me relax and make sure my bedroom is as dark as possible so nothing wakes me.
# Drink waterThis is another life necessity, but it does more than keep your hydrated. Not only does drinking a decent amount of water every day keep your skin clear and glowing, but it helps you function better. Whenever you feel thirsty, you are already slightly dehydrated. So mostly you are not drinking enough.
Ever since I started drinking more water daily I feel lighter, I have more energy, and just feel healthier overall.
# Make time for hobbiesI know you are busy. We all are. There is always something to do: go grocery shopping, do laundry, pay bills, etc. But make sure you are carving out some time for the things you love to do.
Reading, painting, cooking, whatever it may be, don’t put it on the back burner. This is something you enjoy doing, therefore it makes you happy. Self-care is about more than health, it is about your overall wellbeing. So do everything you can do to enjoy every minute.
# Make time for nothingThis may sound odd. Who wants to do nothing? Well, that is the whole point. Do you ever find yourself just sitting on your bed after a shower and before you know it, an hour went by and you have done nothing but sit and stare into space?
Well, your body needed that break from life. If you don’t just do nothing sometimes, you will stretch yourself too thin and be exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally. Schedule time where you have nothing to do, and just do that.
# Go outsideYou probably go outside every day, right? You walk to your car, you run errands, you take out the trash, but that does not count. We put up with so much crap each and every day. From misogyny to sexism and more, we deserve to breathe in some fresh air.
So head outside. Take a walk, eat lunch in the park, or have your morning coffee outside instead of sitting at the kitchen table scrolling through your phone. Being outside helps us slow down and enjoy nature. We need a step back from everything sometimes.
# Speak upSelf-care is not always about vacationing from the stresses of everyday life. That is only part of it. The other part is putting your foot down. If you truly want to know how to take care of yourself as a woman, when something looks or feels wrong, say something.
For too long, women have stayed quiet due to men’s power of us. Well, not anymore. If your boss treats or pays you differently than your male coworkers, say something. You are caring for yourself by believing you deserve better.
# Help outThe reason self-care gets a bad rep for being selfish is because people think it is all about you when in reality we care for ourselves so we are at our best or everyone else in our lives.
I noticed that when I go out of my way to help someone cross the street, hold the door open, or even just making sure I say please and thank you, it can improve how others perceive you and how you see yourself. Being polite and courteous to others makes you feel better.