Why Bother with Personal Wellness (Self-Care)?

There was a time when I rolled my eyes when I heard “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Empty cup? I wasn’t sure if I even had a cup to fill. I was beyond empty.

If you’re like me, you believe you can’t afford the luxury of self-care – the cost, time, and energy are all things you don’t have anymore.

The truth? Self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s survival.

When we neglect ourselves, we don’t just suffer—we become less patient, less present, and less effective in the roles that matter most to us. We spiral toward burnout.

Scripture reminds us to:

Spend time with God (Psalm 23:2-3)
Live in community (Gen. 2:18, Matthew 18:20)
Find rest in Jesus (Matthew 11:28)
Be slow to anger (James 1:19)
Avoid bitterness (Hebrews 12:15)
Practice patience (Colossians 3:12)
Embody the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
Live in peace and joy (Philippians 4:6-7).

Science backs this up—self-care improves emotional regulation, reducing anger, anxiety, and overwhelm while increasing joy and purpose. Despite this, it’s easy to put self-care on the back burner, promising ourselves we’ll get to it “when it’s convenient.” But let’s be honest—it never feels convenient. Do any of these sound familiar?

“I don’t have time.” If your life looks anything like mine, you’re juggling homeschooling, caregiving, a packed schedule, work, and possibly more doctor appointments than one family should have to manage. But self-care doesn’t have to take hours—even a few intentional minutes can make a huge difference. The time it takes to build sustainable self-care habits is far less than the time needed to recover from full burnout.
“I feel guilty or selfish putting myself first.” When you’re running on empty, there’s nothing left to give. Maybe you find yourself yelling more, doomscrolling social media, picking fights over small things, or avoiding people altogether. The truth? Taking care of yourself doesn’t take away from your family—it gives you the capacity to be patient, energized, and present with them.
“I don’t know what actually helps.” What works for one person may not work for another. That’s why a self-care plan should be tailored to you—not someone else’s version of what self-care should look like. The key is finding small, practical strategies that refresh your mind, body, and spirit in ways that fit your life – such as taking a walk in nature.
“It’s just another thing on my never-ending to-do list.” When self-care feels like a chore, it’s time to rethink it. It should be woven into daily life—listening to a podcast while cooking, taking a walk with your kids, pausing to breathe before reacting to a hard situation, or finding other simple ways to recharge throughout the day.

Self-care isn’t about perfection—it’s about real life and progress. The goal is to build sustainable habits that help you feel closer to God, more patient, present, and more energized - even on the hardest days. When your approach is sustainable, you can care for yourself while caring for others—without guilt, overwhelm, or unrealistic expectations.

If you’re tired of running on empty, What’s one small way you can care for yourself today? Share them in the comments – I’d love to hear it! And if you’re looking for a simple, practical way to create a self-care plan that actually works for you, watch for My Recharge Guide, a step-by-step online workshop designed to help busy parents and caregivers create a personalized wellness plan that fits into their lives – Coming Soon!