We’ve all heard about self-care. And I think, deep down, most of us know it’s good for us. But knowing and doing are two very different things, especially for women.

I’m not talking about bubble baths and spa days (though those can be lovely). I’m talking about true, consistent care for yourself — whatever that means for you. Care that feels right for your life, your body, your spirit. No judgment. Just the simple, powerful act of showing up for yourself with love. Not as an afterthought, but as a way of being.

Here’s what I want to suggest: Prioritizing your midlife health is a revolutionary act.

The History We Carry

Throughout history, women’s health has been overlooked, under-researched, and misunderstood. It wasn’t until the 1990s that women were even required to be included in clinical research studies. For far too long, the assumption was that what works for men must work for women — after all, women were considered “the rib of a man.”

Spoiler alert: WRONG.

This dismissal isn’t just medical history — it’s personal. Many of us grew up absorbing the belief that a “good” woman puts her own needs last. That we are at our best when we are selfless, accommodating, and endlessly available to everyone but ourselves.

So when we talk about making ourselves a priority, we’re not talking about adding another task to our to-do list or striving for some impossible ideal.

We’re talking about how, through simple, loving actions — choosing to move your body, getting more sleep, setting a boundary, and asking for what you need — you’re quietly, powerfully challenging generations of messaging that told women their worth lies only in how well they care for everyone else.

Yes, it is self-indulgent (and you deserve indulgence).

Yes, it is self-cherishing (because you matter).

And it is absolutely revolutionary.

What Makes This Revolutionary

By definition, “revolutionary” means bringing about major or fundamental change. And that is exactly what we’re doing when we choose to put our own oxygen mask on first.

It might feel uncomfortable — maybe even rebellious — to prioritize your health, your rest, your joy. After all, we haven’t had many models of women who do this openly, without shame or backlash. Women who are not labeled “bad moms” or “bad daughters” because they dare to care for themselves with the same devotion they give to everyone else.

But that’s the heart of it:

• We’re writing a new story.
• We’re unlearning the idea that self-sacrifice is the price of love.

This isn’t about abandoning the people who depend on us. It’s about including ourselves on that list of people we care for — treating ourselves with the same kindness, attention, and respect that we so easily give to others.

Midlife: The Perfect Time to Begin

If you’re in midlife, chances are you’ve spent decades showing up for everyone else. Meeting needs. Holding it all together. Maybe somewhere along the way, you lost sight of what makes you feel whole.

But here’s the truth:

You don’t have to “earn” your right to prioritize yourself through years of sacrifice. You don’t need permission. You’re not required to “pay your dues” first.

You are worthy of care because you exist.

And there’s something powerful about making this shift now, at this stage of life. Not only for yourself, but for the women who are watching. Your friends. Your daughters. Your nieces. The next generation.

When we choose to value our well-being, we give other women a map to follow. We show them it can be done. We clear the path so that, hopefully, those who come after us don’t wait as long to take up their rightful space in their own lives.

The Work Ahead — and the Beauty Beyond It

Of course, this work is not easy. It often feels like hacking your way through an overgrown forest, clearing thorny brush that’s been tangled there for generations. But on the other side of that hard work? There’s an oasis. A place of self-trust, self-love, and freedom.

Can you see it?

This is about more than health. It’s about liberation.

It’s about fundamentally changing the way we see women — and the way we value ourselves.

And that is revolutionary.