When Self-Care Feels Selfish

About this episode

Jill and Linda discuss the challenges of prioritizing self-care while caring for others, addressing feelings of guilt and the mental load of parenting.

Sometimes self-care feels impossible when life demands everything from us, and that's when we need it most. In this raw and honest episode of Mucked Up My Self Care, Jill and Linda dive into one of the hardest questions moms face: How do we take care of ourselves when others need us more? From navigating terminal illness and anticipatory grief to solo parenting four kids through sickness and cold weather, this conversation gets real about guilt, shortcuts, and the mental load of trying to do it all. If you've ever felt selfish for taking a moment for yourself while others are struggling, this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll hear: Why self-care feels selfish when you're caring for sick or struggling loved ones and how to reframe that guilt How to take meaningful shortcuts without sacrificing your sanity (hello, skipping pajamas and porridge for dinner!) The difference between being selfish and setting realistic expectations when you're overwhelmed Why "taking care of yourself too" can feel impossible when someone else's need feels greater than yours How to identify who your priority "family" is during crisis seasons and why that matters Ways to combine self-care with…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jill Olish, Linda Bonney

Topics covered

• self-care
• parenting
• guilt
• mental load
• anticipatory grief
• family dynamics

Keywords

• self-care
• parenting
• guilt
• mental load
• anticipatory grief
• family
• shortcuts
• overwhelm

More episodes of Mucked Up My Self-Care Podcast

• The Mental Load is in a Self-Care Crisis · June 1, 2026 · 28 min
• How Moms Around the World Do Self-Care · May 3, 2026 · 30 min
• Why Moms Feel Guilty When Doing Good Things for Themselves · April 5, 2026 · 28 min
• What Happens When You Outgrow Yourself and Self-Care? · March 1, 2026 · 29 min
• A Pause for Self Care · November 10, 2025 · 12 min
• Self-Care Through Different Motherhood Stages · October 26, 2025 · 25 min