10 Best Christian Self Care Tips for Women Who Feel Worn Out
Did last year wear you out? Does day to day life leave you feeling exhausted? If so… I feel you. I don’t know what season of life you are in, but I’m in the season of single mom, perimenopause, handling all the financial responsibilities by myself, working full time to come home and work some more and feeling oh so alone. (Most of the time.)
Don’t leave just yet… I promise this isn’t a woe is me post. I just want you to know and I want others to know that you are not alone. Life is hard and it is okay to admit it. So if you hang in here with me til the end, I promise I will offer some hope. For some - It might even be life changing. (It was for me.)
If you follow this blog, it is no secret, I’ve been floundering since my divorce. This past year, I made a commitment to get myself right with God and run back to the calling He has on my life. (Encouraging others through His word.) I started 2025 off with prayer and fasting and things were going great. Life was looking up for the first time in a long time. My middle son was graduating college and we had a fabulous trip planned. I was engaged and enjoying being in a committed relationship. I received a bonus from work that blessed my soul and I was getting back into acting (I filmed a commercial with CarMax that was airing nationally.). And then… just like life - the rug got yanked out from under me and everything started to fall apart.
Amidst working full time, even over time, being a single mom, being engaged, trying to maintain a home, all the bills, aging parents and so much more…(check out previous posts) perimenopause hit me without warning. Or maybe there were warning signs… I just figured it was all normal until the rage hit and I really started disliking people, gaining 20lbs in 4 weeks and sweating through my bed sheets every night. When I added together all of these things with the other uninvited drama that came into my life… I had a serious heart to heart with God. Like - Lord, you need to intervene, or Imma hurt somebody. And this wasn’t a joke. As a result, I pressed into God more than ever. And through my pressing and praying He introduced me to self-care.
I say all this to say… I know you are tired. I know you don’t want to try anything new. I know you want to snap your fingers and feel better… Unfortunately, we both know, that isn’t how this works. So here are the 10 best self-care tips that I’ve discovered, applied to my life and have since experienced amazing results. These are in no particular order. Move through them at a pace that is comfortable for you. I sincerely promise you, they have helped me.
Put God first every day.
He is your number one fan. He loves you so much. He can literally handle any problem you have if you give it to Him. Why wouldn’t you take time out at the start of your day to commune with Him? He’ll tell you how pretty you are, how much he loves you, how he can make a way where there seems to be no way. This may look like prayer, a heart to heart conversation, bible study, a devotional, singing worship… just put Him first.
Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Be patient with yourself.
Read that again. You are not perfect. No one is perfect. Life is full of ups and downs and our job is to pray, give it to God, and try to be the best version of ourselves everyday. We need to acknowledge that we will not get it right everyday but as long as we are trying and growing then we can be patient with our mistakes and flaws. Take a deep breath. You are doing a great job. This devotional really helped me learn to slow down and be patient with myself. It was so good I read the second one and I have pre-ordered the one that comes out in May! Present in Prayer
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Schedule a date night with your friends.
This one can be tricky. If you are feeling down you probably don’t feel like going out. However, I can promise you… you will feel so much better after a night of laughing with your besties. Just one night a month can do so much for how you are feeling. Schedule it, put it on your calendar, hold yourself (or have someone else do it) accountable and go! I promise you… afterwards you will look forward to planning these monthly dates and you will miss them if you don’t.
Buy the shoes.
It is so important to treat yourself to something every now and then. Maybe you’ve been eyeballing some new shoes, a new outfit, a bottle of fancy perfume. Buy it. I’m not condoning being careless with your money, but every now and then, we need a little materialistic pick me up. I’ve recently developed an interest in plants. So when I need a little feel good something, I buy a new plant. They add personality to my home, help the air quality and I love looking at them. They make me happy. Maybe wearing a new outfit, a new shade of lipstick or some new shoes will do that for you. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but “no” you do not need another chicken…LOL Keep it simple… just a little treat for yourself, not another overwhelming commitment. This is self-care… not self sabotage.
Drink lots of water.
I immediately heard 3 responses. I love water! I need to drink more. I hate water. I fall into the I love water category. I always have. And as much as I love water, I find that I fall short of my intake most days. One of my resolutions last year was to drink my bodies requirement every day. My daughter and bonus daughter convinced me to buy this Stanley. It holds 40 oz and my goal is to drink 2 of these a day. 40 oz Stanley Cup I am proud to say, I do… most days. For those of you that hate water. Suck it up buttercup. Find some flavor packets and drink up. I don’t have to tell you how important water is for your health, your skin and overall how you feel. I notice a HUGE difference in my skin and the way I feel everyday when I get the right amount of water in my body. I’m proud to say I’ve even convinced my water hating boss how important it is and now she brings her water bottle to work every day and we challenge each other, who can finish first.
Keep a journal.
I know not everyone is a writer but everyone has thoughts. Writing them down and then coming back to visit them later can be very therapeutic. I love writing down my prayers and then coming back later and seeing how God has answered them. Write it all down… the good and the bad. Sometimes even just writing a letter to someone, even if you never send it, can help you sort out your feelings.
Get in some form of exercise.
Oh my! I could hear you moan all the way to my house. Hear me out. I hate exercising, probably as much as some of you hate water. But - I have learned the benefits of it and therefore I incorporate it into my weekly routine. Why? Because it makes me feel better. I like to walk, not run or jog… walk. However, I don’t always feel like I have time so I have to make time. If I miss my morning walk then I find other ways to move my body. Sometimes I park as far away from the entrance to a place so I have to take extra steps. Maybe you could combine friend dates with working out, hiking, going to a park. Maybe host a yoga night at your house, and all the laughing you will do at one another is bound to work those stomach muscles…haha! It doesn’t matter what it is, just move your body. It will thank you for it.
Protect your schedule.
In today’s world, we seem “busier” than ever. There is this need to fill every waking second with something we consider productive. I challenge you to rewire your brain to understand that resting and taking a time out is productive. God created us to rest for a purpose. Resting is important so we can continue to have the energy to do what is right. Also, it is okay to say “no”. No is a perfectly reasonable answer to a request to do something that you don’t want to do or you don’t have the respectful time to do it. You are in charge of your schedule. Protect it. You are worth it.
Choose your thoughts wisely.
Believe it or not you have the power to choose what you think about. This takes some effort and discipline but it is well worth it. I recently got very upset with my fiance. I immediately started down a rabbit hole of everything he has ever done to make me mad. I know you know what I’m talking about. But because I have spent so much time in God’s word, I heard the Lord speak this scripture to me. 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Then, I started to focus on all of the good in our relationship and my anxiety quickly subsided and my mood changed. This is one of the most important parts of self-care. Our thoughts turn into words and our words turn into actions and once something is said or done, it cannot be taken back. Learning to focus on positive thoughts and not allowing negative ones to take over is crucial to our mental health.
Accept help.
Learning to accept help when we need it is crucial to taking care of ourselves. It reminds us that we are not alone, that others care about us and that teamwork really does make the dreamwork. Not accepting help stems from pride, needing to be in control and fear of being let down. None of these feelings are from God. God created community for a reason. It is okay to not be okay but it is not okay to allow yourself to get overwhelmed from doing everything by yourself. There are people that love you and want to help you and see you become the absolute best version of yourself. Accepting help nourishes your soul and leaves you feeling refreshed.
I pray that these 10 self-care practices will help you to become the best most rested version of yourself. It is no secret that life can be overwhelming, throw us crippling curve balls and leave us feeling depleted. However, God is the King of making a way when there seems to be no way. You deserve to take care of yourself too.
I would love to hear what you already do for self-care or which one of these resonated with you the most. As always, be blessed.
Bonus: The Self-Care Devotional
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