top of page

The Self-Care Routine for Women Who Have Absolutely No Free Time 😩😭

Aug 20
3 min read

If you’re a busy woman, you’ve probably seen those self-care videos where someone wakes up at 5 a.m., drinks lemon water, journals for 30 minutes, meditates, works out, & somehow still has time to make a color-coded breakfast.


Meanwhile, you’re reheating coffee for the third time & wondering if sitting alone in your car for 5 minutes counts as a vacation.


Friend, it does..


For years, I believed self-care required extra time, extra money, or an empty calendar. Then life handed me work deadlines, family responsibilities, laundry mountains, & approximately 47 tabs open in my brain at all times. I realized something important: a self-care routine doesn’t have to be elaborate to be effective. Research & wellness experts increasingly support the idea that small “micro-recovery” moments throughout the day can improve well-being & reduce stress. (Marie Claire UK)


The Biggest Self-Care Myth 👀


Many women think self-care means spa days, weekend retreats, or spending money they don’t have.


I mean it is, but real self-care often looks like:

  • Saying “no” without writing a 5 page explanation.

  • Taking a 10 minute walk between meetings.

  • Drinking water before your third cup of coffee.

  • Ordering takeout when you’re exhausted.

  • Going to bed instead of folding laundry.


Not glamorous. Very effective. Not to mention, the last 2 are right up my alley.


Boundary Setting Is Self-Care 🙅🏽‍♀️


One of the most powerful things I ever added to my self-care routine wasn’t a habit—it was a boundary.


Busy women often spend their days managing everyone else’s needs. Then we wonder why we’re depleted.


Start small:

  • Don’t answer non-urgent texts immediately. Embrace the mighty power of the DND feature. 💪🏽

  • Protect your lunch break. Let me enjoy my meal in peace without thinking or talking about work because the hangries are REAL over here.

  • Stop volunteering for tasks you secretly resent.

  • Give yourself permission to decline invitations. 🚫


A boundary isn’t being difficult. It’s protecting your energy from unnecessary leaks.


Create a Seasonal Self-Care Menu


Instead of trying to follow the same routine year-round, create a simple self-care menu for each season of life (or for each season of the year…The Gentle Reset has that covered 😉).


When Life Feels Overwhelming

  • Sit outside for 10 minutes.

  • Listen to your favorite song.

  • Stretch while dinner cooks.

  • Take 3 deep breaths before responding to emails.


When You Have a Little More Energy

  • Read a chapter of a book.

  • Take a neighborhood walk.

  • Journal for 5 minutes.

  • Call a friend who makes you laugh.


When You Actually Have Free Timeout

  • Schedule a massage.

  • Visit a bookstore.

  • Take a solo coffee date.

  • Spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing productive.


The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is having options that match your energy level.


Release the Daily Guilt ✌🏽


Can we talk about guilt for a moment?


Women carry guilt like it’s a designer handbag. We feel guilty for resting. We feel guilty for spending money on ourselves. We feel guilty for not doing enough.


Yesterday I felt guilty for ordering pizza after a long day of working & football games in 92 degree weather. Then I remembered that feeding my family without creating another pile of dishes was actually a pretty solid life decision.


Sometimes self-care means releasing the expectation that you must earn rest. You don’t. Rest is not a reward for exhaustion.


A realistic image of a woman standing outdoors during a short break, holding a coffee cup and taking a deep breath. The scene conveys calm, balance, and simple self-care. Soft sunlight, casual attire, peaceful neighborhood background, authentic lifestyle photography.

Your New Self Care Routine


If you’re busy, start here:

  1. Pick up a copy of The Gentle Reset, our self-care planner for busy women. It’ll help guide you through this.

  2. Choose one boundary.

  3. Create a short self-care menu.

  4. Schedule one 5 minute reset each day.

  5. Release one piece of guilt before bed.


That’s it.


Because the truth is, self-care isn’t about finding more hours in the day. It’s about giving yourself permission to use a few of the hours you already have.


And if all else fails, hide in the bathroom for 3 minutes & eat a snack in peace (or in my closet…in the dark).


I won’t tell anyone. 🤐


Final Thought


A sustainable self-care routine isn’t built during perfect seasons of life. It’s built in the middle of real life—between work meetings, school pickups, overflowing laundry baskets, & reheated coffee.


Start small. Stay consistent. Give yourself grace.


You deserve care, even on your busiest days, Queen! 👑

Comments

bottom of page