Self-care is important for everyone, including Muslim women. And while looking after yourself shouldn’t become the only focus of your life, it is important to take care of yourself so that you can show up as the best version of yourself for the people around you.
I’ve put together some self-care ideas specifically for Muslim women, with activities that fit comfortably within an Islamic lifestyle. Of course, if you’re not Muslim, you’re more than welcome to try any of these ideas too!
Self-care doesn’t have to mean expensive spa days, luxury products or taking a whole weekend away. Sometimes it can be as simple as sitting quietly with a cup of coffee, going for a walk, reading a book or spending time with someone you love.
Here are 20 self-care activities to try.
1. Remember Allah and Make Time for Salah
One of the most important forms of self-care for a Muslim woman is taking time to remember Allah.
Make sure you are keeping up with your daily prayers to the best of your ability. Salah isn’t simply an obligation; it is also an opportunity to step away from the busyness of everyday life and reconnect with Allah.
When you’re standing on your prayer mat, you have a chance to make dua, ask Allah for what you need, share your worries and seek comfort.
Making dhikr and remembering Allah throughout the day can also help bring a sense of peace and perspective.
Before we fill our days with other forms of self-care, we should make sure that our relationship with Allah is being given the attention it deserves.
2. Take Time to Reflect and Meditate
When was the last time you actually stopped and thought about how you’re doing?
Take some time to reflect on your life, your spirituality, your relationships and your personal growth.
Ask yourself:
- How am I feeling?
- Am I happy with where my life is heading?
- What areas of my life need attention?
- What would I like to improve?
- What am I grateful for?
If you’re a busy mum, early morning before the children wake up or late at night after they’ve gone to bed can be a good opportunity for some quiet reflection.
Even a few minutes of uninterrupted time can make a difference.
3. Get Some Physical Exercise
Exercise might not always feel like self-care. Sometimes it feels more like hard work!
But looking after your physical health is an important part of looking after yourself.
You don’t have to become a fitness fanatic. Find something you actually enjoy and that works for your circumstances.
You could try:
- Walking
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Archery
- Weightlifting
- Cycling
- Home workouts
- Gardening
- Dancing or other forms of movement
Don’t limit yourself because you’re a Muslim woman. There are plenty of activities you can enjoy while staying within your values and boundaries.
The most important thing is to find something that gets you moving and makes you feel good.
4. Nourish Your Body With Healthy Food
Healthy eating is another form of self-care that we can sometimes overlook.
Food isn’t simply about satisfying hunger. The things we eat can affect how we feel and how much energy we have.
Try to nourish your body with nutritious foods and meals that make you feel good.
As Muslim women, we can also learn about foods that were enjoyed or recommended in the Sunnah, such as dates and honey.
And yes, occasionally enjoying a chocolate biscuit with your coffee can be part of a balanced life too!
5. Read a Good Book
Reading is one of my favourite forms of self-care.
There’s something lovely about picking up a physical book and allowing yourself to get completely lost in a story. For a while, you can forget about your to-do list, responsibilities and everyday stresses.
You could read:
- Fiction
- Islamic books
- The Quran
- Biographies
- Self-development books
- Magazines
- Books about history or culture
And if you don’t enjoy reading physical books, audiobooks are a great alternative.
Reading doesn’t have to be something productive. Sometimes it’s perfectly fine to read purely because you enjoy it.
6. Start Journaling
Journaling can be a wonderful way to get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper.
You don’t need to be a professional writer or have beautiful handwriting. Just write.
You could use your journal to record your thoughts, feelings, goals, worries, ideas or things you’re grateful for.
Some Muslim women also enjoy Quran journaling, recording reflections and lessons they’ve taken from different surahs.
Writing things down can sometimes help you see a situation more clearly and gain a perspective that you couldn’t find when everything was simply swirling around in your head.
7. Try Something Creative
Creativity can be incredibly therapeutic.
Paint, draw, write, crochet, sew, bake, craft or try something completely new.
It doesn’t have to become a business. It doesn’t have to be impressive. It doesn’t even have to be good!
Do it simply because you enjoy it.
Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to make everything productive that we forget that doing something simply for fun has value too.
8. Get Into Gardening
Gardening is one of my favourite forms of self-care.
You don’t even need a garden. If you live in a flat, you could grow something on a balcony or windowsill.
Start with a small plant or grow something from seed. There’s something very satisfying about watching a tiny seed develop into a living plant.
And if you’re worried about keeping plants alive, start with something easy to care for, such as a snake plant or succulent.
Gardening also gives you an opportunity to spend time outdoors, connect with nature and slow down.
There’s something very peaceful about getting your hands into the soil, listening to birds and caring for something that’s growing.
9. Spend Time With People You Love
Self-care doesn’t always have to involve being alone.
Spending quality time with family and loved ones can be incredibly good for your wellbeing.
Call a relative. Visit your grandparents. Have a chat with your parents. Spend time with your siblings. Message a friend.
If you have older relatives, ask them about their lives and their childhoods. You might discover fascinating stories about your family’s history.
Of course, this only applies when the relationship is healthy. If someone is toxic or consistently makes you feel worse, spending more time with them isn’t necessarily self-care. Healthy boundaries matter too.
When you have people in your life who make you laugh, listen to you and support you, don’t take those relationships for granted.
Life is short, and our relationships with the people we love are incredibly important.
10. Listen to Islamic Lectures or Podcasts
Sometimes self-care can also mean feeding your mind and your soul.
Listen to an Islamic lecture, podcast or talk when you’re in the mood to learn.
You could listen while you’re cooking, cleaning, walking or travelling.
There are so many subjects you can explore, from the stories of the Prophets to Islamic history, spirituality and current issues.
You don’t always have to sit down with a book to learn something. Sometimes listening to an interesting talk is the easiest way to fit learning into a busy day.
11. Have a Relaxing Bath
Sometimes self-care really is as simple as having a bath.
Run some warm water, add some nice bath products, put your phone away and allow yourself some uninterrupted time to relax.
If you’re a busy mum or have a demanding job, having a few moments where nobody needs anything from you can feel like absolute luxury.
And yes, you’re allowed to enjoy it!
12. Attend Islamic Events and Workshops
Islamic workshops, classes and community events can be a great form of self-care.
You’re learning something new while also having the opportunity to meet other Muslim women and connect with people who share your values.
Self-care doesn’t always mean retreating from the world. Sometimes it’s about finding the right community and surrounding yourself with people who encourage you and help you grow.
13. Volunteer and Give Back
Volunteering might not sound like self-care at first, but helping others can have a very positive effect on our own wellbeing.
Giving your time, skills or energy to help somebody else can provide a real sense of purpose and fulfilment.
For Muslim women, helping others and giving back to the community also carries spiritual significance.
Whether you volunteer at a local organisation, help at your mosque or simply support someone in your community, your time and effort can make a difference.
And knowing that you’ve helped someone else can make you feel good too.
14. Practise Gratitude
Gratitude is a simple but powerful practice.
Try to notice the blessings in your everyday life rather than focusing only on what’s going wrong.
You could keep a gratitude journal and write down a few things you’re grateful for each day.
Or simply say Alhamdulillah when you notice something good.
Beautiful weather? Alhamdulillah.
A lovely meal? Alhamdulillah.
A good day with your family? Alhamdulillah.
And even when something goes wrong, remembering that things could have been worse can help you maintain perspective.
Gratitude doesn’t mean pretending that difficult things don’t happen. It means recognising the blessings that exist alongside the difficulties.
15. Practise Mindful Breathing
Take a few minutes out of your day to slow down and concentrate on your breathing.
Sit somewhere comfortable, breathe slowly and deeply, and allow yourself to pause.
You could do this outdoors, perhaps sitting in your garden or somewhere surrounded by nature.
You don’t need a complicated routine. A few quiet minutes of conscious breathing can give you a chance to step away from whatever has been stressing you out.
16. Have a Digital Detox
We spend so much of our lives looking at screens.
Social media, messages, emails, videos and endless scrolling can leave our minds feeling overstimulated.
So every now and again, give yourself permission to switch off.
Put your phone down. Take a break from social media. Go outside. Read a book. Talk to someone. Do something that doesn’t involve a screen.
You don’t necessarily need to disappear from the internet for weeks. Even taking an evening off can make a difference.
17. Set Healthy Boundaries
Setting boundaries is one of the most important forms of self-care.
You may need boundaries with family members, friends, colleagues, neighbours or other people in your life.
If someone repeatedly takes advantage of your time, energy or kindness, it’s okay to establish limits.
You don’t have to say yes to everything.
Healthy boundaries aren’t about being selfish or uncaring. They’re about recognising your own limits and protecting your emotional wellbeing.
18. Show Yourself Some Compassion
How do you speak to yourself?
Would you speak to your best friend the way you sometimes speak to yourself?
Probably not.
So try to be kinder to yourself.
Give yourself grace when you make mistakes. Recognise that you’re doing your best. Don’t constantly criticise yourself for everything you haven’t achieved.
Self-compassion doesn’t mean avoiding responsibility or refusing to improve. It simply means treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer to somebody else.
You deserve that kindness too.
19. Keep Learning
Learning something new is another wonderful form of self-care.
You could learn more about Islam, take a course, develop a new skill or simply watch an interesting educational video.
It doesn’t have to be formal education.
Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn how to bake a lemon drizzle cake. That’s learning too!
Keeping your mind active, developing new skills and satisfying your curiosity can be incredibly rewarding.
20. Reflect on Your Life and Set Goals
Finally, take some time to think about where your life is heading.
Are you happy with the direction you’re going in?
Are there things you’d like to change?
What would you like to achieve over the next year?
Setting goals gives you something to work towards and encourages you to think about your future self as well as the person you are today.
Your goals don’t have to be huge. They can be personal, spiritual, professional, financial, family-related or simply something you’ve always wanted to try.
It’s never too late to set a new goal.
Self-Care Isn’t Selfish
Self-care doesn’t have to mean expensive treatments, luxurious holidays or spending hours alone.
Sometimes self-care is praying Salah, reading a book, going for a walk, calling your mum, planting some seeds, learning something new or simply giving yourself permission to rest.
As Muslim women, we have responsibilities to our families, communities and faith, but that doesn’t mean we should completely neglect ourselves.
You matter too.
So choose one small thing from this list and make some time for yourself this week.
And remember: if there’s one thing you should feel at the end of this article, it’s cared for.