It’s Time to Stop Asking for Permission to Take Care of Ourselves as Entrepreneurs
As entrepreneurs, we’re driven by ambition. We’re out there building businesses, managing teams, and making things happen. But there’s something that’s deeply flawed in the way we approach self-care, especially as women. Why is it that we feel we need “permission” to take care of ourselves? Why is it that even when we’ve built our own paths, created our own workspaces, and crafted careers on our own terms, we still feel guilty about taking an hour, just one hour, for ourselves?
Somewhere along the way, self-care was reduced to a checkbox. A “reward” we can “allow” ourselves after we’ve completed everything else. As though pouring into ourselves is some luxury we have to earn, rather than an essential part of thriving in life and business. And frankly, that’s messed up.
The Myth of “Earning” Self-Care
The culture around entrepreneurship glorifies the grind. We’re encouraged to sacrifice sleep, social lives, and personal time in the name of success. And it’s especially true for women entrepreneurs who, in addition to the demands of business, often face societal pressures to “do it all.” So self-care becomes something we “fit in” when there’s time left over, which there almost never is. We’re told that success requires us to put our needs last, to be self-sacrificing, and to treat self-care like a reward we might get around to… if we’re lucky.
But let’s challenge that thinking for a second. If we’re building businesses, creating our own hours, and working hard to craft careers on our own terms, why are we treating our well-being like an afterthought? Why is it that the very freedom we’ve worked so hard to achieve doesn’t extend to taking care of ourselves?
What Happens When Self-Care Becomes Non-Negotiable
Imagine if we approached self-care with the same commitment we bring to our biggest business goals. What if, instead of squeezing in self-care when there’s “extra” time, we made it non-negotiable, fundamental part of our daily lives?
When we view self-care as an essential component of our lives, we stop needing permission to prioritize ourselves. Suddenly, that one hour isn’t a luxury; it’s a foundation. By consistently carving out time to recharge, we actually become more resilient, creative, and focused. Taking care of ourselves means we show up with more energy for our businesses, our teams, our clients, and our families. It isn’t just a win for us, it’s a win for everyone and everything we touch.
Reframing Self-Care From “Extra” to Essential
Here’s the shift: We need to stop viewing self-care as an indulgence and start treating it as essential maintenance. Self-care isn’t a retreat from your work; it’s a part of the work itself. It’s an act of respect toward the person doing the work (that’s you).
This means setting boundaries, blocking time for yourself like you would any critical meeting, and recognizing that self-care fuels your productivity and drive.
For women entrepreneurs, reframing self-care is a revolutionary act. It’s a way of reclaiming our time, our energy, and our worth in a culture that often demands we give more than we can sustain. When we make self-care essential, we reject the narrative that we must earn our own well-being and instead affirm that we are deserving of it, inherently.
Practical Steps to Make Self-Care a Priority Without Apology
Schedule Self-Care First: Put self-care activities in your calendar before you plan your work. This could be anything from morning exercise to a midday meditation, a lunch hour, or a tech-free evening. Treat it like any other essential commitment.
Set Clear Boundaries: Create boundaries that protect your time and energy. This could mean limiting the hours you’re available to clients, not checking emails after a certain time, or dedicating specific days for focused work without interruptions.
Redefine Success: Remind yourself that success isn’t just about business growth, it’s about your overall well-being. Success includes how balanced, joyful, and fulfilled you feel in your work and life.
Say No Without Guilt: Allow yourself to say no to tasks, meetings, or opportunities that don’t align with your well-being. Saying no isn’t selfish; it’s a way to protect your energy so you can fully invest in what truly matters.
Normalize Rest as Productive Time: Start seeing rest as part of the productivity cycle, not something separate from it. Rest isn’t “wasted” time. It’s recovery that empowers you to sustain your efforts.
If we’re honest with ourselves, we know that real success isn’t achieved by running ourselves into the ground. It’s achieved when we take care of our most important asset: ourselves. So let’s normalize making ourselves a priority. Let’s stop “allowing” ourselves an hour of care only when we feel we’ve earned it. Let’s reclaim that time unapologetically and recognize that the best businesses, ideas, and movements are built by people who are energized, fulfilled, and whole.
No more “fitting in” self-care. No more asking for permission. Just you, prioritizing your well-being, because you know it’s what makes everything else possible.
