What is Self-care for Women today?
Self-care is defined as the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health.
Today, I will be speaking about women practicing self-care to improve their mental health.
Mother’s Day is right around the corner and women should be celebrated learn how they can
become positive pioneers when tackling hinderances to a healthy mindset. Self-care for women
is an action that replenishes the mind. It also promotes and nourishes our growth. Self-care for
women can have different meanings for individuals as we age, endure life transitions and obtain
self-awareness for a need for change within our lives. Our mental health can affect how we
think, feel, act and relate to others. It is important to incorporate self-care in our lives to
promote resilience and nurturing. Self-care can provide nourishment to our overall well-being,
help us to stay balanced and promote positive change in our thoughts and lives.
How do we incorporate Self-Care in our busy lives?
The first step is through awareness to identify a need to incorporate self-care in your life. Once
you are aware, then identify what self-care activities are best for you at that time. Here are a
few examples of self-care activities that you can use in your life: exercising, take a break from
technology (turn off the technology to recharge), enjoy nature/outdoors, try a new hobby,
improve your sleep habits, spend time with animals, go on vacation/travel, take time for self (be
alone/away from others to reflect and rest) and/or talk with a mental health counselor. Selfcare is a lifestyle change for the better and a way to focus on a healthier tomorrow.
How can you help her care for herself when she is caring for others?
We live in a culture of stress; a lot to do and a little time to do it all in. Raising children takes a
lot of energy and time. If that is coupled with caring for aging parents or relatives, feelings of
isolation and exhaustion are predominant. Being a caregiver is hard work. Caregiving can also
include our fur-family. Reflect on the women in your life. Do they seem to be stressed out? Are
they complaining that they feel overwhelmed with the nature of work and life balance? Maybe
someone confided in you about their mental health, and you see the warning signs that selfcare may be lacking in their lives. It is important to educate your family members or even your
friends about the importance of having self-care be part of their lives. Please take a moment to
reflect on your self-care and ask yourself if there is anything you can add or subtract that will be
about taking care of you?
At Owens & Associates Counseling and Therapy Center, we strive to promote self-care with our
clients and each other. If you or someone else needs someone to speak with, please feel free to
contact our office at 847-854-4333. My name is Donna Swanson (MSW, APSW, LSW), and I
provide counseling services to promote self-care. Email: dswanson@owenscounseling.co