How to Practice Self-Care When You’re Busy: Tips for Professional Women
Women are notoriously bad at taking care of themselves. We tend to put the needs of everyone else before our own, and as a result, we often end up feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. This is especially true for professional women who are juggling a career with family responsibilities. There are the needs of supervisors, coworkers, clients, spouses/partners, children, other family members, and friends. It can be hard to find time for self-care when you're always on the go, but it's important to make sure that you take some time for yourself every day. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips for practicing self-care when you're busy.
The Importance of Self Care for Professional Women
Self-care is important for everyone, but it's especially important for professional women. When you're always taking care of others, it's easy to forget about your own needs. Additionally, if you're not taking
It's hard to be the best version of yourself if you're not taking the time to prioritize your own needs. When you're busy and stressed, it can be easy to fall into a pattern of supporting everyone but yourself. However, this isn't sustainable in the long run. Unfortunately, if you don't take the time to relax and recharge, you'll quickly start to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. In order to be your best self, it's important to practice self-care.
Practical Tips for Busy Women to Practice Self Care and Mindfulness
There are a number of different ways to practice self-care. Some are more involved than others, but we’ve tried to include some here that are possible to simply incorporate into your daily life. It's important to find what works for you and make it a priority in your life.
How do you fit self care into a busy schedule?
In short, you fit self care in between personal & professional obligations by making it a priority and looking for quick but fulfilling ways to fill up your own bucket. Quick self care strategies may include sending a text to a friend to connect, doing a quick meditation, exercising in the morning or even between work appointments, or just making sure you fit in every meal.
Here are some practical tips for busy women to practice self-care:
Get enough sleep
This is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. When you're well-rested, you'll have more energy and be better able to handle stress. Make sure to get at least seven hours of sleep every night.
Meditation
Meditation has a million mental health benefits. And as a busy professional myself, I understand how quickly stress can creep in but also the value of a quick 5-10 minute meditation to relieve that stress. Meditation doesn’t always have to mean a 45 minute ordeal before bed. It can be a 5 minute meditation on an app between work appointments to re-center yourself.
Eat healthy….and eat meals
Eating nutritious food will help you feel your best. fueling your body with healthy foods will give you more energy and help you cope with stress in a better way.
Also, it’s important to note here the importance of sticking to a meal schedule. I’ve talked to more professional women than I can count about the importance of prioritizing meals. It’s understandable to miss of course. You get busy. Or snacks feel quicker. But your body needs fuel for you to be your best. So, prioritizing mealtime even on your busiest days, perhaps especially on your busiest days, is a very important part of self care.
Exercise
Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and improve your overall health. Even if you don't have a lot of time, there are some simple exercises you can do to get started. Think about just doing a quick ab workout in the morning, going for a walk in the evening, etc. While 20-30 minutes of exercise is ideal and typically what we hear in the context of physical health, I believe even 5 minutes can be refreshing and have a very positive impact on mental health.
Take breaks
When you're feeling overwhelmed, take a break from whatever you're doing. Step away from your work, take a walk, or just take some time to relax. It's important to give yourself a break every now and then.
Now, I know better than anyone how difficult this can be. So often trying to balance two businesses, caring for clients, supporting my staff and of course caring for my family I’ve been known to try to just “push through.” But I’ve been constantly reminded over the years that when I take breaks I’m actually much more productive. And, it has the added benefit of feeling more centered and less stressed.
Prioritize Connection with Others
We all crave human connection. It’s important to feel part of something. To feel seen & heard. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s often vital for good mental health. So, find ways to connect with friends and family on a regular basis no matter how busy your schedule may be. Spend time with the people who make you feel good. Perhaps even just send a quick text to a friend on a bad day can help you feel less alone. Talking to loved ones can help reduce stress and make you feel more supported.
In Summary: Self Care is Important….even When You are Busy
Making self-care a priority can be hard, but it's worth it. When you take care of yourself, you'll be better able to handle the stressors in your life. You'll be more successful, both personally and professionally. These tips will help you get started, but it's up to you to find what works best for you and make it a part of your everyday routine. What are some of your favorite self-care activities? Let us know in the comments below!
Mental Health Support in Missouri for Professional Women
Self-care is important, but sometimes you need a little more help. As a busy professional woman balancing "all the hats" myself, I understand the unique challenges that professional women face. And I want Aspire Counseling to be a welcoming place for you to come and do the important work of prioritizing your mental health.
We offer a variety of counseling services to help you manage stress, face anxiety, get free from past traumas, overcome depression, and improve your overall mental health. If you're looking for mental health support in Missouri, our counselors can help. Contact us today to learn more about our counseling services for professional women.
Other Blog Posts We’ve Written About Self Care
Honestly, when I was looking for blog posts to include here, I found at least 7 blog posts we’ve written in the past on this site. But, if you’re reading this you’re probably just as busy as I am. So, I’ve included here just a few that I think may be helpful, quick reads:
Support for Prioritizing Your Wellbeing & Practicing Self Care
Maintaining a good self-care regimen can be hard when you’re managing all the things. However, myself and the other therapists at Aspire Counseling are here to help you prioritize this, even through busy times.
If you live in Missouri and are finding it difficult to navigate busy seasons and self-care, we are here to help. At Aspire Counseling, we believe counseling and therapy are invaluable, so we use evidence-based methods such as EMDR. We have several clinicians fully trained to help you manage your self-care, and recognize how crucial it is with the necessary tools to be successful.
Please contact us to discover how mindfulness and self-care therapy can be right for you. In our Columbia, MO office, our counselors offer in-person counseling, as well as walk & talk Park therapy in a couple of different parts of the state (KC area, Columbia & the Union area), or anywhere in Missouri through online therapy. Whether you need advice, counseling, or just someone to help you navigate those busy times, we are here for you.
About the Author
Jessica Tappana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Missouri. She has traditionally specialized in treating severe anxiety as well as PTSD/trauma. However, over the past year, she's begun seeing more and more professional women as well as stressed moms of teenagers. Jessica is the owner of Aspire Counseling, LLC, a counseling practice based out of Columbia, MO that offers counseling to individuals throughout the state of Missouri. She has worked in the field of mental health since 2008, earned her Master's degree in Social Work from the University of New England in 2012, and obtained full licensure as an LCSW in Missouri in 2013. She has helped hundreds of clients improve their mental health by using evidence-based counseling methods.
