"You will grow into the strength that is needed to live your life well."

I wrote this on a Post-it note over 10 years ago and still lean into these words today. And during this growth season of my life, I have uncovered many truths. In honour of International Women’s Month, I want to share this truth: Our relationship with self-care is fractured, and many of us are heading in the wrong direction.

“How do I let go of the guilt I feel when I take care of myself?” This is one of the most common questions I am asked. Women know that self-care is needed to navigate their lives, yet the need alone does not change our behaviour. Women are stealing from tomorrow’s energy just to make it through today. Women are deeply depleted, even to the state of burnout, yet still question: Have I done enough? Am I enough? First takeaway: If you are asking if you are doing enough, chances are you are already doing too much.

As women, we hold deep gratitude and reverence for our fore-grandmothers who fought for our rights, as we should. And during this revolution for womanhood, there was no renegotiating the distribution of the existing roles and responsibilities women held at the time. We boldly claimed new roles in society while we already had full-time responsibilities. Practices of self-care are very far down the priority list while trying to raise good humans, earn a living, serve the community, and strive for self-actualization—while also supposedly needing to fit into skinny jeans.

How can women........

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