Practicing self-care is an ongoing challenge for most and can mean different things to different people.

Whether it’s our physical, mental, or spiritual needs they can all be considered a form of self-love and Self-love is the best kind of love!

Sadly, many of us have a negative relationship with ourselves and don’t think we are worthy of love and respect from others, or even ourselves, but that is why it is super important to learn how to prioritize ourselves.

It’s not selfish at all, quite the opposite…

When looking after our own needs first we become better people as we have more to offer others.

So take a few deep breaths,  pour yourself a cup of Self-Love, and spend a few minutes fuelling your mind and soul with these inspirational quotes.

Here are some of my favorite self-care quotes:

#1. “When you get into your car, shut the door and be there for just half a minute. Breathe, feel the energy inside your body, look around at the sky, the trees. The mind might tell you, ‘I don’t have time.’ But that’s the mind talking to you. Even the busiest person has time for 30 seconds of space.” – Eckhart Tolle

#2. “Know what matters most to you and be unwilling to compromise those priorities at almost any price.” – Frank Sonnenberg

#3. “It’s very important to take care of yourself. Everyone’s lives are so busy. Take at least an hour a day to recharge and do whatever makes you better. For grown-ups, whether it’s a spa, sitting in a park with a book, or coffee, take time for yourself.” – Ana Ivanovic

#4. “If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” – Jack Kornfield

#5. “Unless you fill yourself up first, you have nothing to give anybody. Therefore, it is imperative that you tend to your joy first. People are responsible for their own joy. When you tend to your joy and do what makes you feel good, you are a joy to be around and you are a shining example to every child and every person in your life. When you are feeling joy, you don’t even have to think about giving. It is a natural overflow.” – Rhonda Byrne

#22. An empty lantern provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly.” – Unknown

#23. “Do something every day that is loving towards your body and gives you the opportunity to enjoy the sensations of your body.” – Golda Poretsky

#24. “Caring for your body, mind, and spirit is your greatest and grandest responsibility. It’s about listening to the needs of your soul and then honoring them.” – Kristi Ling

#25. “Write it on your heart you are the most beautiful soul of the Universe. Realize it, honor it and celebrate life.” – Amit Ray

#26. “Self-care has become a new priority – the revelation that it’s perfectly permissible to listen to your body and do what it needs.” – Frances Ryan

#27. “Lighten up on yourself. No one is perfect. Gently accept your humanness.” – Deborah Day

#28. “With every act of self-care your authentic self gets stronger, and the fearful, critical mind gets weaker. Every act of self-care is a powerful declaration: I am on my side. I am on my side, each day I am more and more on my own side.” – Susan Weiss Berry

#29. “When you are compassionate with yourself, you trust in your soul, which you let guide your life. Your soul knows the geography of your destiny better than you do.” – John O’Donohue

#30. “Everyone of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves.” – Princess Diana

#31. The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. –William James

#32. “By taking care of myself I have so much more to offer the world than I do when I am running on empty.” –Ali Washington

#33. “Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” – Anna Taylor

#34. “With every act of self-care your authentic self gets stronger, and the fearful, critical mind gets weaker. Every act of self-care is a powerful declaration: I am on my side. I am on my side, each day I am more and more on my own side.” – Susan Weiss Berry

#35. “You should endeavor to give your body what it needs to be healthy, your mind what it needs to be peaceful and focused, and your soul what it needs to feel content.” – Dedeker Winston

Making Yourself a Priority Quotes 

#36. “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw

#37. “If you feel lost, disappointed, hesitant, or weak, return to yourself, to who you are, here and now and when you get there, you will discover yourself, like a lotus flower in full bloom, even in a muddy pond, beautiful and strong.” – Masaru Emoto

#38. “Don’t dare to be different, dare to be yourself – if that doesn’t make you different then something is wrong.” – Laura Baker

#39. “When you start loving yourself and respecting your time and energy, things will change. Get to know your worth, and your value will go up.” – Germany Kent

#40. “Know what matters most to you and be unwilling to compromise those priorities at almost any price.” – Frank Sonnenberg

#41. “The key is to not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen R. Covey

#42. “Your personal growth is the only thing that matters. You own and write your story; no one else does. Believe in your unique steps up the mountain.” – Brittany Burgunder

#43. The biggest lie we fall for is that it doesn’t matter. Your opinion doesn’t matter. Your choices don’t matter. Your influence doesn’t matter. Your existence doesn’t matter. You don’t matter. It is the worst, most destructive lie we ever believe, and in consequence, it wreaks extensive damage to more lives than your own. Don’t fall for that evil lie. Don’t forget that everything about you absolutely does matter.” – Richelle E. Goodrich

#44. “Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it.” – Marcus Aurelius

#45. “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” – Audre Lorde

#46. “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.” – Mahatma Gandhi

#47. “In dealing with those who are undergoing great suffering, if you feel “burnout” setting in, if you feel demoralized and exhausted, it is best, for the sake of everyone, to withdraw and restore yourself. The point is to have a long-term perspective.” – Dalai Lama

Quotes About Putting Yourself First

#48. “To gain self-respect, you need to put yourself first.” – Lorii Myers

#49. “To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness.” – Robert Morley

#50. “Looking after yourself is the greatest act of kindness you can give the world. Loving yourself first is the best way to spread love.” – Holly Bourne

#51. “Find the love you seek, by first finding the love within yourself. Learn to rest in that place within you that is your true home.” – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

#52. “Why should we worry about what others think of us, do we have more confidence in their opinions than we do our own?” – Brigham Young

#53. “You have to be self-interested in order to be selfless. You have to put yourself first if you want to be of use to other people.” – Rachel Bartholomew

#54. “There is a reason flight attendants tell you to put your mask on first in an emergency…you cannot be important to anyone else if you are not first and foremost important to yourself. Appreciate and love yourself then use that to do the same for others.” – Shelley K Wall

#55. “Always choose yourself first. Women are very socialized to choose other people. If you put yourself first, it’s this incredible path you can forge for yourself.” – Rebecca Traister

#56. “If you don’t make the choices in your own life, then someone else is going to end up making them for you and they are not gonna be good.” – James Altucher

#57. “If you don’t workout, sleep, meditate, relax, or do whatever special things you need to do for you, you won’t be the best version of yourself. When you’re not your best version of yourself, you can’t do things for others. In a way, it’s actually selfless to take great care of yourself because it allows you to be more present for your family and friends.” – Heather Monahan

#58. “If you want to have enough to give to others, you will need to take care of yourself first. A tree that refuses water and sunlight for itself can’t bear fruit for others.” – Emily Maroutian

#59. “Whenever you feel compelled to put others first at the expense of yourself, you are denying your own reality, your own identity.” – David Stafford

#60. “When you can’t find your purpose in a day, make it to look after yourself.” – Dodie Clark

#61. “How we care for ourselves gives our brain messages that shape our self-worth so we must care for ourselves in every way, every day.” – Sam Owen

#62. “My happiness matters. My joy is important. My love is valuable. My worthiness is relevant. It’s not anyone else’s job to see that but mine.” – Alex Elle

#63. “There are days I drop words of comfort on myself like falling leaves and remember that it is enough to be taken care of by myself.” – Brian Andreas

#64. “It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make happiness a priority. It’s necessary.” – Mandy Hale

#65. “When you say ‘yes’ to others, make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself.” – Paulo Coelho

#66. “Taking care of yourself is part of taking care of others.” – Jennifer Williamson

#67. “Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” – Anna Taylor

#68. “Put yourself at the top of your to-do list every single day and the rest will fall into place.” – Unknown

#69. “I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.” – Audre Lordeactice

More Prioritize Yourself First Quotes

#70. “It’s okay to take time for yourself. We give so much of ourselves to others, and we need to be fueled both physically and mentally. If we are in balance, it helps us in all our interactions.” – Faith Hill

#71. “When you can’t find your purpose in a day, make it to look after yourself.” – Dodie Clark

#72. “How we care for ourselves gives our brain messages that shape our self-worth so we must care for ourselves in every way, every day.” – Sam Owen

#73. “My happiness matters. My joy is important. My love is valuable. My worthiness is relevant. It’s not anyone else’s job to see that but mine.” – Alex Elle

#74. “There are days I drop words of comfort on myself like falling leaves and remember that it is enough to be taken care of by myself.” – Brian Andreas

 #75. “It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make happiness a priority. It’s necessary.” – Mandy Hale

#76. “When you are compassionate with yourself, you trust in your soul, which you let guide your life. Your soul knows the geography of your destiny better than you do.” – John O’Donohue

#77. “Solitude is where I place my chaos to rest and awaken my inner peace.” – Nikki Rowe

#78. “Don’t sacrifice yourself too much, because if you sacrifice too much there’s nothing else you can give, and nobody will care for you.” – Karl Lagerfeld

#79. “Affirmations are our mental vitamins, providing the supplementary positive thoughts we need to balance the barrage of negative events and thoughts we experience daily.” – Tia Walker

#80. “An empty lantern provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly.”  –Unknown

#81. “Don’t wait for a crisis to realize what matters most. Put yourself first right now. Because right now is all we have.” – Brittany Burgunder