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Recognizing Common Hurdles to Self-Care

Lyanne Westie

Updated: Jan 7


Self-care is essential for well-being, yet even when we know its importance, it’s not always easy to implement. You might want to build a self-care routine, but encounter various hurdles that make it difficult to get started or stay consistent. These hurdles can be both external and internal, and sometimes they're not immediately obvious.


Some of the external limiting factors you might experience include:

  • Time constraints from balancing work, family, and other commitments.

  • Financial limitations, like wanting to invest in a gym membership or counseling but being unable to afford it.


There are also more internal barriers, such as:

  • Belief systems around selfishness or indulgent (the idea that choosing yourself means you’re not choosing others).

  • Feelings of unworthiness or guilt when prioritizing your needs.

  • A lack of knowledge or confusion about what self-care looks like or how to start.


While these hurdles may seem daunting, they can be met with curiosity, creativity, and a deeper understanding of self-care. When we approach self-care with a sense of creativity, curiosity, and flexibility, we open up the possibilities for personalized practices that fit our unique lives.


Let’s explore these hurdles one by one and discover how we can use creativity and curiosity to meet them.


1. Knowledge About Self-Care: Broadening Our Understanding


Before we explore the various hurdles to self-care, it’s important to first expand our understanding of what self-care actually means. Self-care isn’t limited to pampering yourself with luxurious activities (though that can be part of it!). It’s about taking intentional actions that support your overall well-being across different areas of life—whether physical, emotional, social, or spiritual.


Definition of Self-Care At its core, self-care is any action, practice, or behavior that helps maintain or improve your health and well-being. It can be as simple as taking a few deep breaths to calm your nervous system, or as involved as attending therapy or joining a fitness class. It’s about what you need in the moment, not a one-size-fits-all solution.


The Dimensions of Wellness Self-care touches on many areas of life, which is why it’s helpful to think of it in terms of the 8 Dimensions of Wellness. Click Here to read my previous blog on the 8 Dimensions of Wellness. These dimensions include physical, emotional, social, occupational, intellectual, environmental, financial, and spiritual wellness. When we broaden our understanding of self-care, we realize it’s about supporting ourselves holistically—not just in one area.


Getting Curious About Your Needs Once you begin to understand the full range of self-care possibilities, the next step is getting curious about what you need. This might be different from day to day or even moment to moment. Self-care can be as unique and creative as you are, and it starts with recognizing that there is no "right" way to practice self-care.


2. Internal Limiting Beliefs: The Hurdle of Identifying Needs


Once we start exploring our needs, we may find ourselves facing some internal barriers. These often take the form of limiting beliefs—subconscious thoughts or ideas that make it harder to prioritize self-care. Some common internal hurdles include feelings of unworthiness, guilt, or the belief that taking time for ourselves is selfish.


Identifying Your Needs Can Feel Challenging For many, simply asking, “What do I need?” can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not used to considering your own well-being. You might struggle with internal dialogue that says self-care is indulgent, or that caring for yourself means taking away from others. These beliefs can block our ability to connect with and meet our needs. Click Here to read my previous blog on Internal Conflict around opposing needs as this may also be creating a hurdle for self-care.


Getting Curious and Creative with Support The good news is that you don’t have to figure this out alone. Professional support, such as counseling or coaching, can help you navigate these limiting beliefs and uncover deeper insights about your needs. These professionals offer a safe space to explore the hurdles you may not even be fully aware of.


But there are also ways you can start this exploration on your own:


  • Journaling: Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help bring hidden beliefs to the surface and create clarity around your needs.

  • Talking with Friends or Family: Sometimes, discussing your feelings with a trusted person can help you identify needs you didn’t realize you had.

  • Self-Compassion: When you’re faced with thoughts of guilt or unworthiness, try asking yourself, “How can I be kind to myself in this moment?”



3. Exploring Self-Care Practices: Matching Your Needs with the Right Support


Once we’ve identified our needs, the next step is finding the self-care practices that best align with those needs. This can present a new set of challenges. Some hurdles might stem from a lack of knowledge or experience with different self-care practices, while others might involve holding onto outdated expectations of what self-care looks like.


The Hurdle of Knowledge and Stuck Expectations

We may find that the self-care practices that worked for us in the past no longer meet our current needs. For example, spending two hours at the gym might have been a perfect fit for your schedule and energy level at one stage in life, but now, it may feel like an unrealistic or even stressful expectation.

Similarly, we might get stuck on the belief that self-care has to look a certain way. This could lead to frustration or guilt when traditional forms of self-care don’t resonate with our current circumstances. It’s also possible that we’re already practicing forms of self-care without realizing it—perhaps we’re incorporating movement or mindfulness in subtle ways throughout the day, but because it doesn’t fit our old definition of self-care, we don’t recognize it as such.


Getting Curious and Creative with Self-Care


The key to overcoming these hurdles is embracing curiosity and flexibility. Self-care is not a fixed set of rules, but rather a fluid, ever-changing process that evolves as we do. What worked for us at one point may no longer be effective, and that’s okay—it’s an invitation to explore new methods and possibilities.

Consider this an opportunity to get creative with self-care:


  • Try new methods: Explore different self-care practices that may align with your current needs. You can Click Here for a list of 100 Self-Care Activities from my previous blog to spark new ideas.

  • Amend outdated practices: Reflect on your current self-care routine. Are there old strategies you’re holding onto that no longer fit? How can you adjust or replace them with something that feels more supportive?

  • Reinforce what’s already working: Sometimes, we’re already incorporating self-care into our daily lives in small but significant ways. Recognizing and reinforcing these practices can help create consistency and flow in your routine.


This exploratory process can be fun and empowering, and it sets the stage for the next step: navigating the practical hurdles of time, expense, and implementation, which we’ll explore in the next section.


4. External Limitations: Time, Expense, and the Hurdle of Implementing Self-Care


After identifying your needs, external factors like time and money can become significant hurdles when trying to implement self-care. You may have clear ideas about what would support your well-being, but feel limited by your busy schedule or financial situation.


The Challenge of Limited Time and Resources


You might think:


  • "I don’t have time to add anything new to my day."

  • "Self-care is expensive—I can’t afford a gym membership or therapy right now."


These practical concerns can make self-care feel out of reach. However, meeting these external limitations with flexibility and creativity can help you find realistic ways to prioritize your needs, even within these constraints.


Meeting External Barriers with Curiosity and Creativity


Here’s where creativity comes into play. Self-care doesn’t have to be a luxury that takes hours or costs a lot of money. By thinking outside the box, you can find ways to weave self-care into your daily routine without overwhelming your schedule or budget.


  • Time-Saving Self-Care: Self-care can be done in small, manageable moments. For example, practicing mindful breathing for 1-2 minutes between tasks or doing a quick stretch at your desk can be powerful forms of self-care that take very little time but still offer benefits.

  • Budget-Friendly Options: Similarly, self-care doesn’t have to cost a lot. Walking around your neighborhood, journaling, or meditating are low-cost ways to nurture yourself. You can also seek out free or sliding-scale community resources like support groups, libraries, or nature trails.

  • Integrating Self-Care into Everyday Activities: Find ways to turn what you’re already doing into self-care. Washing dishes can become a grounding practice if done mindfully, or a regular commute can turn into quiet reflective time or an opportunity to listen to a podcast that nurtures your emotional or intellectual wellness.


When you get curious about how to make self-care fit into your life creatively, you’ll realize that it doesn’t need to be a major disruption. Even with time and financial constraints, small, consistent acts of self-care can have a big impact.


5. Accountability and Perseverance: Sustaining Your Self-Care Journey


Once you’ve identified your needs, matched them with appropriate self-care practices, and worked through external constraints, the next hurdle is often maintaining consistency. Change takes time, and incorporating new self-care practices into your life may not happen overnight. It’s normal to feel frustration or impatience when things don’t click right away—but this is where perseverance comes in.

Self-care is not a one-time act; it’s a continual process of growth and adaptation. You may bump up against familiar hurdles again and again, but the key is to keep moving forward with self-compassion and patience. Even small steps count.


Support for Accountability One of the most powerful ways to stay on track with your self-care is through accountability. Whether it’s working with a coach or counselor, joining wellness groups, or partnering with a friend or family member as an accountability buddy, having someone in your corner can make all the difference. Scheduled check-ins and setting aside dedicated time for self-care can help you stay consistent, even when life gets busy.


Celebrate the Wins It’s also important to take time to savor the moments when you do prioritize your self-care. No matter how small the step, every effort to support your well-being is worth celebrating. Recognizing these wins can create momentum and reinforce your commitment to caring for yourself.



You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone


As we’ve explored, building a self-care practice involves curiosity, creativity, and patience. Whether it’s identifying your needs, overcoming internal hurdles, or finding the self-care practices that best fit your life, this process can sometimes feel overwhelming.


But you don’t have to walk through it alone. Counseling and coaching offer unique, supportive spaces where you can explore your needs, break through limiting beliefs, and develop a self-care routine that feels right for you. These professional relationships provide tools, guidance, and accountability, helping you grow your self-care in ways that truly support your well-being.


If you’re ready to deepen your self-care or want help overcoming the hurdles we’ve discussed, consider reaching out for support. Together, we can create the path that’s best for you.


If you’d like to discuss creating a personalized self-care plan or exploring these practices further, please fill out our Contact Form or book a 15-Minute Discovery Call. We're here to support you in finding and implementing the practices that best fit your needs.




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