Triple Your Self-Care Return on Investment

Have you ever done all the “self-care” things and still felt exhausted?

You took the bath. You lit the candle. You bought the planner. You treated yourself.

And yet… you still feel depleted. If that’s you, you’re not doing self-care wrong. You may just be investing in the wrong kind.

Low-Yield vs. High-Yield Self-Care

I like to think about self-care on a return-on-investment scale.

Low-yield self-care feels nice in the moment but doesn’t restore your capacity. Think mindless scrolling, retail therapy, or aesthetic routines that look good online but don’t actually shift how you feel.

They’re not bad. They’re just surface-level.

High-yield self-care, on the other hand, replenishes you. It restores your energy, clarity, and sense of connection. It helps you show up grounded and steady, not just temporarily distracted.

The problem is, high-yield self-care is deeply personal. It’s not something you copy from social media. It’s something you discover.

You Can’t Meet Needs You Can’t Name

Many of us struggle with self-care because we’re disconnected from our needs.

Military culture teaches us to prioritize mission first.
Motherhood teaches us to prioritize everyone else.
Early life experiences may have taught us our needs were inconvenient.

Over time, we stop asking, What do I need? And when someone does ask, our answer is often, “I don’t know.”

That’s not a flaw. That’s conditioning. But here’s the truth: you cannot meet needs that you can’t name.

What High-Yield Self-Care Might Look Like

High-yield self-care gives you your capacity back.

For some, that’s daily movement.
For others, it’s journaling, prayer, or quiet reflection.
It might be better sleep, time outdoors, honest conversations, or setting boundaries around your schedule.

The key is this: it meets a real need.

If what you actually need is rest, another productivity hack won’t help.
If what you actually need is connection, another solo spa day might not either.

High-yield self-care aligns the activity with the unmet need underneath.

Start with Curiosity

Instead of forcing yourself into what “should” work, approach this with curiosity.

Try something.
Notice how you feel afterward.
Adjust.

Curiosity removes judgment. It creates space to experiment without shame.

And friend, focusing on your needs is not selfish. It restores your energy, your hope, your capacity to lead and love well.

You only get one life.

You deserve to live it with a full cup.

RESOURCES:

High-Yield Self Care Guide:

https://fabulous-pioneer-9504.kit.com/e83556732b

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