Ep 26 Self-Care: Looking After Yourself Inside and Out

In a season of life where everything seems to be shifting, especially after children leave home, it's easy to forget that you, too, deserve care. You’ve spent years nurturing others. Now it’s time to begin nurturing yourself.

Self-care is not selfish, indulgent or optional. It’s an act of self-respect. A quiet reclaiming of your needs, energy and emotional space.

What Is Self-Care (Really)?

Self-care is the intentional practice of tending to your own wellbeing, physically, emotionally and mentally. It means slowing down long enough to ask, What do I need today? and then honouring the answer.

Far from being fluffy or frivolous, self-care is what keeps us grounded and resilient in the face of stress, grief and transition. When you take time to recharge and restore, you don’t just feel better, you show up better for life.

The Five Dimensions of Self-Care

True self-care goes beyond candles and bubble baths. It touches every part of who you are:

1. Physical – Exercise, nourishing food, sleep, hydration, rest

2. Emotional – Allowing yourself to feel, express and process emotions

3. Social – Setting boundaries, nurturing relationships, asking for support

4. Intellectual – Engaging your mind through learning, creativity, reflection

5. Spiritual – Connecting with something greater, through stillness, nature, prayer or purpose

These dimensions work together to support your overall sense of balance and wellbeing especially important during life transitions like the empty nest phase, which can quietly deplete your emotional reserves.

Why Boundaries Are Part of Self-Care

Boundaries are not walls. They are bridges back to yourself.

They’re how you protect your time, energy and emotional bandwidth, not to shut others out, but to stay connected to your own needs. Without boundaries, self-care becomes impossible. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Inside The Silent Grief of Motherhood, we explore how setting boundaries can help women gently reconnect with themselves in a season where their identity may feel blurred or lost.

Self-Care for the Inside

Tending to your inner world is often where the deepest transformation begins. Here are some ways to support your emotional and mental wellbeing:

• Practice mindfulness – A few quiet minutes of breathwork or reflection each day can help calm the mental chatter.

• Journal or express – Writing down your thoughts, fears and hopes creates space to process what you’re feeling.

• Speak kindly to yourself – Replace harsh inner dialogue with compassion and understanding.

• Seek connection – Speak with someone who sees you clearly, whether a friend, mentor or therapist.

• Pause without guilt – Rest is not a reward; it’s a necessity. Let yourself breathe.

This kind of self-care isn't always glamorous, but it's essential for building emotional resilience, the kind needed to navigate midlife transitions with grace.

Self-Care for the Outside

Looking after your physical body is a way of showing respect for the vessel that carries you through life. Simple, consistent habits go a long way:

• Get quality sleep – Your body and mind repair when you rest

• Move gently and regularly – Walks, stretching or light exercise improve mood and energy

• Eat nourishing food – Fuel your body with what supports you, not what depletes you

• Care for your skin and hygiene – These rituals remind you that you matter

• Book that check-up – Your future self will thank you

This is not about appearance. It’s about vitality. Self-care for the outside reinforces your worth because how you treat your body impacts how you feel inside.

You Are Worth the Effort

Self-care isn’t about perfection. It’s about prioritising yourself, even when life is noisy and emotions feel heavy. Especially then.

You deserve to feel replenished, seen and supported, not just by others, but by you.

Whether you're navigating a quiet house, a shifting role or a longing to rediscover who you are, self-care can be your foundation. A small, consistent act of love to remind yourself: I matter too.

If you’re looking for gentle guidance, our free download Mindset Shifts to Prepare for the Empty Nest offers reflections and prompts to help you create space for yourself again. And if you’re ready for deeper support, The Silent Grief of Motherhood is here to help you reconnect, rebuild and feel like you again.