83 Self Care Quotes (Inspirational Reminders To Take Care Of Yourself)

Looking for some self-care quotes to inspire you to take better care of that most important person — you?

It's true, self-care gets a bad rap in some quarters, especially with its emphasis on the self and its needs.

It’s too easy to write off self-care as a luxury enjoyed by the top 10%.

“Sure, you go enjoy that massage. I’ll just keep working like a regular person.”

What’s not often considered is if self-care is attributed to affluence because wealthier people supposedly have more time for it.

Or it could be that financial well-being is associated with self-care because those who make time for self-care are better able to tend to their finances and do what they need to do to earn more.

Too often, we hear comments like the following:

“Self-care is for fluffy types.”

“Self-care is a fancy word for self-indulgence — massages, mani-pedis, facials… I don’t have the time or the money for that.”

“I don’t do self-care. I put others first!”

But self-care is not selfish. It’s not about self-indulgence for its own sake.

And while sometimes, it’s actually necessary to look out for yourself first, self-care is not about neglecting others.

If you’ve flown on a plane, you probably remember when the flight attendants told you before take-off, “Please put on your own breathing mask before attempting to help anyone else.”

There’s a reason for this. If you try to help others first, and you lose consciousness, you can’t help anyone.

But if you put your own mask on first, you’re better able to help others (including your own children) put theirs on.

Comments like “I don’t do self-care; I put others first” overlooks the fact that sometimes you have to take care of yourself before others if you want to be able to provide the help they need.

Sometimes, in response to an emergency, we bypass our own needs to tend to someone else’s.

And sometimes, at least in the short-term, the results validate our decision to do so. But doing this long-term — as a normal day-to-day thing — will lead to exhaustion and burnout.

When your own tank is empty, you can’t fill anyone else’s.

Those who contributed self-care quotes like the ones in this article recognized this and made space in their lives for daily self-care. I hope they inspire you to do the same.

Read on for some inspiring quotes about self-care . . .

83 Inspirational Self-Care Quotes

The sad truth is that if others get used to you putting their needs ahead of your own, they’re likely to object if they see you tending to your own needs before you tend to theirs.

But if you don’t learn to take care of yourself first, you won’t be able to tend to anyone else’s needs for long.

Neglecting your own legitimate needs leads to illness and burnout.

Making time to restore yourself doesn't mean you'll be doing someone else harm by taking the time to practice reasonable self-help and do something that makes you feel like yourself again.

You’re not a machine. Take care of yourself the way you’d want someone else to take care of you if you weren’t able to.

Allow yourself to be a human being with a right to kindness and to tender, loving care.

Only then will you have the energy to do the same for others.

Take Care of Yourself First Quotes

“Self-care is how you take your power back.” — Lalah Delia

“When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.” — Jean Shinoda Bolen

“Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort.” — Deborah Day

“Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.” — Christopher Germer

“People who love themselves come across as loving, generous, and kind; they express their self-confidence through humility, forgiveness, and inclusiveness.” — Sanaya Roman

“Love yourself first, and everything else falls in line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” — Lucille Ball

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” — Brené Brown

“The love and attention you always wanted from someone else, is the love and attention you first need to give to yourself.” — Bryant McGill

“Self-care is so much more than a beauty regimen or an external thing you do. It has to start within your heart to know what you need to navigate your life. A pedicure doesn’t last, but meditating every day does.” — Carrie-Anne Moss

“It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make happiness a priority. It’s necessary.” — Mandy Hale

“Put yourself at the top of your to-do list every single day, and the rest will fall into place.” — Unknown

“Caring for your body, mind, and spirit is your greatest and grandest responsibility. It’s about listening to the needs of your soul and then honoring them.” — Kristi Ling

“I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.” — Andre Lorde

“To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful. It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life.” — Jill Bolte Taylor

“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self.” ― Aldous Huxley

“The only person you shouldn’t be able to live without is you.” ― Chris Mc Geown

“If you celebrate your differentness, the world will, too. It believes exactly what you tell it—through the words you use to describe yourself, the actions you take to care for yourself, and the choices you make to express yourself. Tell the world you are one-of-a-kind creation who came here to experience wonder and spread joy. Expect to be accommodated.” ― Victoria Moran

Take Time for Yourself Quotes

As mentioned earlier, it doesn’t take a lot of time to give yourself what you need.

Even a few minutes here and there of self-nurturing can make an otherwise exhausting day satisfying and more productive.

So, take the time to do things for yourself that remind you of who you are.

Take the time to show yourself the care and attention you’d like to receive from others.

And don’t let anyone tell you that if you take that time for yourself, “you’re being selfish.”

You’re doing them a favor by not pushing yourself to the point of becoming desperate for relief and having nothing left to lose.

Consider writing down 1 of the 11 take time for yourself quotes below and read it throughout the day.

“Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” — Anna Taylor

“Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.” — Stephen Covey

“With every act of self-care your authentic self gets stronger, and the critical, fearful mind gets weaker. Every act of self-care is a powerful declaration: I am on my side, I am on my side, each day I am more and more on my own side.” — Susan Weiss Berry

“There is enough time for self-care. There is not enough time to make up for the life you’ll miss by not filling yourself up.” — Jennifer Williamson

“Above everything else, genuinely love yourself first. Self-love is powerful and it’s the best love that you will ever have. When you love who YOU are, your relationships will be healthier and your life will be happier. Self-love sets the standard in how we allow others to treat us and how we treat ourselves. Your happiness and well-being is important. Protect it by always valuing who you are!” ― Stephanie Lahart

“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours — it is an amazing journey — and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.” —Bob Moawad

“Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” – Anna Taylor

“I also learned what I and many other wives were doing wrong. We were neglecting ourselves. We were born women yet were taking care of our roles as mom, employee or wife before we took care of ourselves. But in order to adequately fulfill those roles, we have to put ourselves first.” ― Elona Washington

“Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.” — Bell Hooks

“There are days I drop words of comfort on myself like falling leaves and remember that it is enough to be taken care of by myself.” – Brian Andreas

“Carve out and claim the time to care for yourself and kindle your own fire.” — Amy Ippoliti

“Self-care is not a waste of time; self-care makes your use of time more sustainable.” — Jackie Viramontez

“Be committed to the relationship you have with yourself. We get so committed to other relationships, but often sort of toss ourselves away. We get around to ourselves only now and then. So, really care for who you are. Be committed to loving yourself. Take care of your heart and soul.” ― Louise Hay

“It’s very important to take care of yourself. Everyone’s lives are so busy. Take at least an hour a day to recharge and do whatever makes you better. For grown-ups, whether it’s a spa, sitting in a park with a book, or coffee, take time for yourself.” — Ana Ivanovic

“Women in particular need to keep an eye on their physical and mental health, because if we’re scurrying to and from appointments and errands, we don’t have a lot of time to take care of ourselves. We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list.” — Michelle Obama

“When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings you joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.” — Jean Shinoda Bolen

“Dedicating some time to meditation is a meaningful expression of caring for yourself that can help you move through the mire of feeling unworthy of recovery. As your mind grows quieter and more spacious, you can begin to see self-defeating thought patterns for what they are, and open up to other, more positive options.” — Sharon Salzberg


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“It’s okay to take time for yourself. We give so much of ourselves to others, and we need to be fueled both physically and mentally. If we are in balance, it helps us in all our interactions.” — Faith Hill

“I do not want to suppress the parts of me that most want to soar for fear of what someone else may think or because it may be too much or not worthy enough or not complete or brilliant or normal enough. Self-care also means honoring the truth within us. Set yours free.” ― Ashley Asti

“When you are compassionate with yourself, you trust in your soul, which you let guide your life. Your soul knows the geography of your destiny better than you do.” ― John O’Donohue

“Jail was a result of me not taking time for myself. So, I was forced to take some time for myself.” — Christian Slater

“Loving yourself…does not mean being self-absorbed or narcissistic, or disregarding others. Rather it means welcoming yourself as the most honored guest in your own heart, a guest worthy of respect, a lovable companion.” ― Margo Anand

“There are certain ways in which I cultivate awareness, both through mindful yoga and taking care of my body and taking time to actually drop as deeply as possible into stillness, into whatever is unfolding in the present moment.” — Jon Kabat-Zinn

“When you get into your car, shut the door and be there for just half a minute. Breathe, feel the energy inside your body, look around at the sky, the trees. The mind might tell you, ‘I don’t have time.’ But that’s the mind talking to you. Even the busiest person has time for 30 seconds of space.” — Eckhart Tolle

“Do something nice for yourself today. Find some quiet, sit in stillness, breathe. Put your problems on pause. You deserve a break.” ― Akiroq Brost

“I always give myself Sundays as a spiritual base of renewal—a day when I do absolutely nothing. I sit in my jammies or take a walk, and I allow myself time to BE–capital B-E–with myself.” ― Oprah Winfrey

“My happiness matters. My joy is important. My love is valuable. My worthiness is relevant. It’s not anyone else’s job to see that but mine.” ― Alex Elle

“When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn't healthy. This meant people, jobs, my own beliefs and habits – anything that kept me small. My judgement called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving.” ― Kim McMillen

“As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know, this is ‘Authenticity’”. ― Charlie Chaplin

“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” ― Jack Kornfield

Take Care of Your Body Quotes

Self-care of your body doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t have to involve weekly facials or mani-pedis.

What you do to take care of your own body is up to you, and it makes sense to take your budget into account.

It costs little to carve out some moments in your busy day for a shower and to apply moisturizer to protect and nourish your clean skin.

An extra half hour or hour of sleep can be the difference between a half-assed morning ritual and one that sets you up for the day.

If you don’t take care of your body, you won’t have the energy to take care of anything else — including your mind and spirit. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs makes this clear.

Neglect your body, and everything else suffers.

Give your body what it needs, and you can work up from there to create a life that brings joy to you and to those you love.

“When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.” — Benjamin Franklin

“When you say ‘yes’ to others make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself.” — Paulo Coelho

“Our bodies are our garden to which our wills are gardeners.” ― William Shakespeare

“A healthy self-love means we have no compulsion to justify to ourselves or others why we take vacations, why we sleep late, why we buy new shoes, why we spoil ourselves from time to time We feel comfortable doing things which add quality and beauty to life.” ― Andrew Matthews

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” — Anne Lamott

“Those who have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” — Edward Stanley

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” — Jim Rohn

“Instead of indulging in ‘comfort food,’ indulge in comfort meditation, comfort journaling, comfort walking, comfort talking, comfort manicures, comfort reading, comfort yoga, comfort hugging.” — Karen Salmansohn

“When we self-regulate well, we are better able to control the trajectory of our emotional lives and resulting actions based on our values and sense of purpose” ― Amy Leigh Mercree

“How we care for ourselves gives our brain messages that shape our self-worth so we must care for ourselves in every way, every day.” ―Sam Owen

“I believe that fitness needs to come from within you. You need to respect your body. Only then will you have the zeal to maintain it.” — Arjun Rampal

“Each positive thought, every vibrant attitude, all purposeful activities water the seeds for success along your path. You will encounter many seeds for success today. Pay attention to these and feed them appropriately. Then maintain their beautiful growth through conscious self-care.” ― Rebecca Gordon

“Be kind to your body, gentle with your mind and patient with your heart. Stay true to your spirit, cherish your soul and never doubt yourself. You are still becoming, my love, and there is no one more deserving of the nurturing grace of your love.” ― Becca Lee

“To me, self-care isn’t really shallow. Showing up for yourself, putting on a little moisturizer, can inspire so many different parts of your life.” — Jonathan Van Ness

“Rest when you are weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” — Ralph Marston

“Tell me, when do you become a respectable person in society? When you start respecting yourself. That is when you take care of yourself, that is when you comb your hair, groom yourself, and cleanse your body. You do all this because you respect yourself.” — Kamal Haasan

“You can’t afford to get sick, and you can’t depend on the present health care system to keep you well. It’s up to you to protect and maintain your body’s innate capacity for health and healing by making the right choices in how you live.” — Andrew Weil

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When you feed yourself what your body needs when it needs it, that’s love. So, give your body some TLC and sit down and enjoy a good, substantial breakfast.” — Kathy Freston

“Learning to love yourself is like learning to walk–essential, life-changing, and the only way to stand tall.” ― Vironika Tugaleva

Quotes about Caring for Others

As a caregiver (a parent, teacher, coach, nurse, etc.), it’s too easy to cheat yourself into thinking that if the people you serve aren’t completely satisfied with everything you do for them, how dare you look out for yourself.

You catch yourself thinking, “While I’m here doing this for myself, what could I be doing for someone else, instead?” or “What must they think of me — taking this time for myself while they need (or want) me to do things for them?”

But if you don’t nurture yourself, you won’t have the energy or the will to be and to do what you want to be and do for others.

You deserve that tender loving care just as much as the people you serve. So, remind yourself of that regularly.

“My Dear Friend, Don’t ever allow yourself to forget how incredibly special you are, even for a single second. Without you, the world would not be as magnificent. Let yourself remember to love again, starting with you loving you.” ― Miya Yamanouchi

“By taking care of myself I have so much more to offer the world than I do when I am running on empty.” – Ali Washington

“Don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ― Howard Thurman

“Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” – Parker Palmer

“Choose, every day, to forgive yourself. You are human, flawed, and most of all worthy of love.” — Alison Malee

“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” — Eleanor Brown

“In dealing with those who are undergoing great suffering, if you feel ‘burnout’ setting in, if you feel demoralized and exhausted, it is best, for the sake of everyone, to withdraw and restore yourself. The point is to have a long-term perspective.” — Dalai Lama

“It is only when we feel deprived that we resent giving to others. Self-care does not mean you stop caring about others; it just means you start caring more about you. Start thinking about yourself more and others less. Since you have a choice between taking care of someone else, or giving to yourself, try choosing yourself sometimes.” ― Beverly Engel

“When you adopt the viewpoint that there is nothing that exists that is not part of you, that there is no one who exists who is not part of you, that any judgment you make is self-judgment, that any criticism you level is self-criticism, you will wisely extend to yourself an unconditional love that will be the light of the world.” ― Harry Palmer

“When you take care of yourself, you’re a better person for others. When you feel good about yourself, you treat others better.” — Solange Knowles

“Harmony begins within. If we are to influence the world around us, even in minor ways, the real work begins inside and emanates outwards.” ― Gudjon Bergmann

“In my own deepening understanding of myself I find my capacity to serve others is deepened as well. The better I am at self-care the more genuinely nurturing of others I am able to be.” ― Mary Anne Radmacher

“Any time we listen to true self and give the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves but for the many others whose lives we touch.” — Parker L. Palmer

“It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing.” — Mother Teresa

“Self-care is the number one solution to helping somebody else. If you are being good to yourself and your body and your psyche, that serves other people better, because you will grow strong enough to lift someone else up.” — Mary Lambert

“After enlightenment, the laundry.” — Buddha

“It is not the load that breaks you down. It’s the way you carry it.” — Lena Horne

“Self-care is a deliberate choice to gift yourself with people, places, things, events, and opportunities that recharge our personal battery and promote whole health — body, mind, and spirit.” — Laurie Buchanan, PhD

Reading these self-care quotes are part of your self-care.

Just taking the time read through these self-care quotes is an exercise in self- care. So good for you!

If you’ve discovered any quotes that you’ll want to keep handy as motivation to take care of yourself, please pass it on to help others find theirs, too.

The better care you take of yourself, the better able you are to care for others and to give them what they need.

By investing that time and energy in yourself, you’re doing it for them, too.

I hope these quotes about self-care gave you the push you needed to take better care of yourself today.

And I hope they drove home the fact that making time for yourself is essential to becoming the person you want to be.

May your wisdom and thoughtfulness influence everything else you do today.