Contrary to popular belief, self-care for women is about a lot more than nightly bubble baths and the occasional piece of chocolate. Even here in the 21^st century, women of all ages are under a lot of pressure to always put other people’s needs first, even if that means setting aside their own wants and needs altogether, and that’s just not healthy.

That’s precisely why a proper understanding of what self-care really is (and how to implement it) is important for every empowered sugar baby to have. Here’s a closer look at some tips to keep in mind as you explore what self-care means to you and look for ways to incorporate it into your routine.

1.      Redefine how you think of self-care

Many people trivialize the concept of self-care by using it to justify little indulgences like designer coffee in the mornings or sleeping in on the weekends. But while treating yourself to small things that you like can be part of the equation, it’s far from the whole picture.

Self-care refers to the practice of taking care of one’s body, mind, and soul on every level. It’s about making happiness, overall well-being, and good health the top priorities they should be in every empowered sugar baby’s life.

A glass of wine after work or a new pair of shoes you really want can help in that regard. But true self-care is more about getting enough sleep and making room in your schedule for regular workouts or quality time with your loved ones. It’s also about saying no to the things you don’t want in life and yes to the things you do.

2.      Practice healthy self-love

Another thing far too many empowered women hear all the time is that they’re selfish, conceited, or vain for loving themselves and treating themselves well when nothing could be further from the truth. Healthy self-love is essential and necessary for so many reasons. For example, women who love, honor, and respect themselves generally have a much easier time loving others as they deserve to be loved.

Look for ways to love yourself a little more and do so without shame or apology. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself what you love most about who you are. Compliment yourself daily, and allow others to compliment you, as well. You can even start a self-love journal and use it to make daily loving affirmations a regular part of your routine.

3.      Set healthy boundaries with others

Although everyone is conditioned from the time, they’re young to be agreeable, accommodating, and selfless to at least some degree, women are told that they must be this way with everyone, all the time and without limit. Truth be told, most empowered sugar babies can probably tell you multiple stories about times they were shamed or insulted just for attempting to set boundaries with others.

Properly embracing self-care to the extent every woman should means unlearning that conditioning. Stop agreeing to commitments that make you uncomfortable or require you to sacrifice time, energy, or resources you can’t afford to give. Set boundaries with others, and reinforce them with confidence as often as is needed. The world is full of people who will bleed you absolutely dry if allowed. Don’t let them.

4.      Get comfortable speaking your truth

Speaking your mind and sticking up for what you believe in isn’t always easy, as other people love to be disagreeable. But it’s an essential part of practicing healthy self-care, so it’s important to get comfortable doing it, especially regarding your personal relationships with friends, family, and any sugar daddies you may be dating right now.

Failing to speak up and speak out can quickly lead to resentment, anger, and other negative emotions. Plus, you have as much right to be heard, acknowledged, and respected as anyone else. Anyone who deserves to be part of your life will agree, so don’t settle for anything less.

5.      Surround yourself with the right people

“You are who you hang with.” That’s a saying you may have heard a lot in your life, but it also happened to be very accurate. Surrounding yourself with negative, toxic, or insecure people makes it infinitely harder to be the strong, empowered woman you know you can be deep down.

Take a moment to think about your social circle. Are your friends good examples of the type of woman you yourself want to be and associate with? What about the men you date? Are they high-value sugar daddy types who support and care for you, or are they man-children who treat you like a second mom?

If these people aren’t measuring up, you likely already know it. It’s officially time to clean house, level up, and fill in the gaps with people you’re genuinely proud to know. You’ll be glad you did.