Nurturing Yourself: Effective Self-Care Strategies
Self-Care Isn’t a Spa Day. It’s a Lifeline.
I am participating in #BLOGCHATTERA2Z YEAR 2025 & Blogging from A to Z Challenge! Let’s be honest—self-care sounds fancy. It conjures up images of bubble baths, candles, and face masks. Lovely, yes. But when life is heavy, when grief lingers, when anxiety taps on your shoulder the moment you wake up—self-care becomes something else entirely. It becomes survival. It’s not about pampering. It’s about pausing. It’s about noticing when I’m burning out and gently putting the flame out before it consumes me. Here are my Nurturing Yourself: Effective Self-Care Strategies.
Why I Needed to Start Nurturing Myself
For years, I poured from a cup that was cracked and empty. I showed up for others- writing, parenting, supporting, and smiling on the outside. But inside, I was often running on low.
I wrote about this in my older post on Project 2020 – Self Love, where I finally admitted: I had neglected the one person I was guaranteed to live with forever-myself.
That was the beginning of something quieter and kinder.
My Not-So-Perfect, Very Real Self-Care Rituals
These aren’t the instagram-worthy kind. These are the messy, makes-me-feel-human kind. The kind that holds me together when I feel like falling apart.
☕ Slow mornings with chai in silence
Not scrolling. Not planning. Just me, my thoughts, and my cup of Jeera tea.
🌿 A walk to nowhere in particular
My daily walk isn’t about fitness. It’s where I breathe. It’s where I return to myself.
🧘♀️ Moving my body with love
Most days, it’s yoga. Sometimes, it’s stretching in my pyjamas. No rules. Just presence.
📵 Saying “no” without guilt
This one took time. But protecting my energy is one of the kindest things I’ve learned to do.
✍🏽 Writing what I can’t say
Journaling isn’t always pretty. Some days it’s a rant. Some days it’s a whisper. But it clears space inside me. Blogging is therapeutic.
🍲 Cooking slowly, without rush
This is meditation in motion. Chopping, stirring, tasting. It brings me back home- to my kitchen, to my senses, to myself.
😌 Letting things wait
Everything doesn’t need to be done today. I am learning to rest without apology. I nod off whenever I wish to!
What Nurturing Really Means to Me
It means treating myself like someone worth caring for.
It means not waiting to collapse before I take a break.
It means giving myself grace when I mess up.
It means knowing I am not lazy or weak—I am healing even when no one sees it.
A Quiet Encouragement for You
You don’t need to earn your rest. You don’t have to justify your stillness.
Start with one kind thing, a day. One moment of presence. One deep breath where you tell yourself, “I’m doing my best. And that’s enough.” Because it is.
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Mister Tikku.
The A2Z List
Bloom Bravely-Choose Courage & Self-love
Clear Mental Clutter for Growth
8 Steps to Embracing Your True Essence
Gratitude: Fuelling Growth with Thankfulness
Healing: Turning My Power into Pain
Inner strength: Awakening the warrior within
Joyful Living: Creating a Life of Joy & Purpose
@wordsmithkaur
@wordsmithkaur
Love how beautifully you presented the self-care tips. Slowly sipping in tea and immersing in the morning vibe is so much me! These are some simple, yet so valuable self-care strategies!
Thank you Pallabi. Its been a long and tiresome journey to this point.
These are things we don;t think matter but can add so much value to our life and make us feel significant , they can force us into taking a pause and not rush, to create peace and calm around us. Wonderful indeed !
These are wonderful tips Harjeet.
Sometimes forcing yourself to not rush can do wonders for your day.These are not expensive or time consuming either but can have a huge impact on our well being.
You’ve managed to reframe self-care—not as indulgence, but as essential maintenance for our emotional well-being. Such a heartfelt reminder to prioritize genuine self-nurturing amidst life’s chaos.
This felt like a hug in words. I’ve been there too—running on empty, showing up for everyone except myself. loved the slow chai mornings and the walks to nowhere—so grounding. I too believe that nurturing doesn’t have to be loud or fancy – just honest.
I love slow mornings too, chai, walks, nature, stretches and me! I wish we had known the joy of self love long, long time back. I like the way you have shared the tips.
We treat self-care as an optional reward but it should be a lifestyle which is so perfectly captured in your blog. This blog feels like a soft sweet music in the background while you are reading a book and sipping your chai. I love how you make sure to break stigma around what nurturing actually mean. I love how this blog isn’t just informative but an eye-opener, a wake up call to understand you do self-care not because you are tired of your body but love your body. It is all about discipline, acceptance and consistency!
This is the ultimate truth that we need to remind ourselves each day. I have learned to take a pause whenever I need it. Not everything has to be done right at the moment. Thank you for this powerful reminder!
Slowing down is an art. And forced break is an obligation so it’s better to take breaks when you feel like. It acts as a reminder for me though I am in my own zone these days not forcing anything to meet end goals.
I really need that! 🙂 It is quite difficult for me to let things be, but maybe it is much-needed to help me grow.
Finally I am in a path where I am taking care of my feelings, thoughts and care in a disciplined way. When I look back I really feel like patting my back to say ” Hey Samata… Finally you are thinking for self” I feel good and and even think why I didnt do that for so many years… Gratitude to Universe, Bholenath and my well wishers who made me choose the path of self care in right way.
You had mentioned hooked with tea! A lovely exhaustive list..second your thoughts
This post is such a gentle, honest reminder that self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s essential. Loved the rawness and relatability of your rituals; they speak straight to the heart. Thank you for sharing your healing journey so openly.
This felt real and comforting. Loved the reminder that self-care isn’t always pretty, but it’s still powerful. The chai, the journaling, the resting without guilt: it all hit home. Thanks for writing this with such honesty.
This is a necessary gentle reminder in the constantly rushing world. Particularly, “You don’t need to earn your rest.” Feeling guilty for resting is the worst. I am a big believer in journaling, got me out of the darkest phases of my life.
Smaller things which don’t take much time in daily lives is what when done mindfully yields a different experience we deem as self-care. Nice one
You are absolutely right. Self care is very important. Everyone is in a rush these days. We need this reminder to slow down. If we don’t, our body will send us the message.
These are the most important yet zero-cent tips one can spend to change their lifestyle. Slow cooking, mindful eating, free time, all we need to follow such basic rules, yet we forget to maintain them.. How simple our lives are, but we always make them more complex.
This post is a warm hug in words. Loved how you redefined self-care as survival, not luxury. Your rituals are grounding, real, and deeply relatable. Thank you for this gentle reminder.
The biggest self care step I have learned to take up for myself very recently is learning to say No. I know it’s too late, but had to start somewhere.
These might not be the Instagram-type self-care tips but they’re practical and work for me too. Slow, deliberate and focussed time spent doing things we love is the best.
Self care is such a personal experince which improves your connection with yourself. Even though you listed what works for you, it might be helpful for someone out there…
My guilty pleasure is my morning chai! Yes, I love that time. I wake up quite early to an empty house. Just me in the kitchen and hall. Its just me and my chai and some silence.
I love the first point of drinking chai – often we don’t take stock of the simple things.