30 Inspirational Quotes That Remind Us How Important Self Care Really Is
Stop feeling guilty and get excited to take your own mini mental vacation.
From day-to-day, stopping to take a minute for yourself is probably on the tippy end of your to-do list. You'll find yourself putting off moments of self care for later in the week, later in the month, and then finally realizing you have yet to enjoy a new book or listen to your favorite podcast in quite some time. But even the most successful people — thought leaders like, authors, and even our favorite stars — all take time to practice self care, and they've shared their thoughts on just how important it is to work on yourself.
Nearly any of the psychology experts represented in this gallery will tell you that, ironically, taking care of yourself is crucial in order to be fully present in other relationships. But talking yourself into carving time out in your schedule just for you can be hard when you feel like you have a million other things to do. People like Michelle Obama, Diane Von Furstenberg, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Oprah Winfrey (especially!) have shared at length how self care has helped them become better role models. Whether you're struggling to manage doing everything you love, or you're simply feeling like you're stretched too thin, listening to the wisdom of these iconic trailblazers will help you get back on track.
Many of these now-famous self care quotes and sayings will help remind you why it's so important. They'll allow you to realize your potential and the value that you bring to everything you do. Whether you're feeling exhausted, sad, or just plain guilty for wanting some time to yourself, these inspirational quotes are sure to help you find inner peace in an overwhelming world.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
Lucille Ball
Love yourself first, and everything else falls in line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.
Oprah Winfrey
Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.
William Shakespeare
Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners.
Dr. Seuss
Be who you are and say how you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
Shel Silverstein
How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live ’em.
Diane Von Furstenberg
It is so important to take time for yourself and find clarity. The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself.
Karl Lagerfeld
Don't sacrifice yourself too much, because if you sacrifice too much there's nothing else you can give, and nobody will care for you.
Sophia Loren
Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.
Oscar Wilde
To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.
Jane Fonda
The challenge is not to be perfect — it is to be whole.
Dalai Lama
... 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.
Mahatma Gandhi
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
Maya Angelou
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
Jean Shinoda Bolen
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.
Anna Quindlen
The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.
Anne Lamot
Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.
Dolly Parton
We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.
Jack Kornfield
If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.
Bell Hooks
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.
Zee Krstic is a content strategy manager for Hearst Magazines, leading audience acquisition and affiliate revenue growth for Country Living, House Beautiful, ELLE Decor and VERANDA. He previously served as Health Editor for Good Housekeeping between 2019 and 2023, covering news, wellness trends and executing product reviews in conjunction with the Good Housekeeping Institute. Prior to joining Hearst, Zee fostered a background in women's lifestyle media with seven-plus years of digital editorial experience, including as a site-wide editor at Martha Stewart Living. Zee currently produces design and lifestyle service content as a contributor; he has written about food and dining for Time, among other publications.
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