Women work hard in every area of their lives. We are all exhausted and overwhelmed with managing busy schedules while often caring for everyone else. We rarely take time to pamper ourselves by indulging in much-needed self-care because we put other priorities first while our needs fall to the bottom of the list.
During these midlife years, we experience significant life transitions, develop medical conditions, and deal with growing financial concerns. Many women work stressful jobs while raising kids and caring for aging parents. Others endure the trauma of divorce, losing a loved one or spouse, an empty nest, and loneliness. Whatever the challenges, we all feel the strain of the heavy weight we are carrying, and we deserve some serious self-pampering.
If you’re stuck in a rut and need new ideas to help you feel relaxed and rejuvenated, here are some unique, effective and fun ways other women take care of themselves.
"I always have clean, crisp sheets — 100 percent cotton with ridiculous thread counts. I rotate mine every three days because there is NOTHING like climbing into a freshly made bed at night."
"Cheese. I love cheese, so I go to Wegmans and treat myself to fancy cheese to snack on. It’s my favorite indulgence."
"Cleaning out my house is so cathartic for me. I love eliminating the excess by donating, recycling or throwing it in the trash."
"I take a weekly yoga class, then eat at one of my favorite restaurants. It’s my reward after a long week at work."
"I make my favorite coffee drink and bake homemade cookies while watching a Hallmark movie."
"I love working on 1,000-piece puzzles. Since the pandemic, I’ve done 82 at my kitchen table. It relaxes me, and I always feel so good when I finish one!"
"I go thrifting all by myself. I love finding great deals on clothes and little treasures for my home. It’s fun and relaxing and takes my mind off my worries."
"I buy myself fresh flowers to enjoy all week long. It’s an indulgence I genuinely enjoy just for me."
"I grab my favorite junk food, crawl in bed and read ANY Robert Fulghum book from my collection. His simple, funny, and inspiring writing always makes me feel good."
"I vacuum up crumbs and dog hairs in my house. I also like to rake leaves or shovel snow. There’s something so therapeutic and gratifying about physically cleaning the ground I walk on."
"I drive to my favorite local park and find a spot to set up my chair and sit and read for hours. Being outside somewhere beautiful while doing one of my favorite things is relaxing!"
"I eat my favorite comfort food and watch nostalgic shows from my childhood. ‘Bewitched, ‘The Love Boat,’ ‘The Addams Family’ and ‘The Price Is Right’ reruns from the 1970s are some of my favorites."