9 Self-Care Tips Inspired by Disney Princesses

Happy New Year, my dear readers! 2025 is here, and it has me reflecting on the topic of self-care. I know this isn’t the most original thing to say at a time when everyone’s sharing their resolutions, vision boards, etc., but please hear me out, k?

A couple of weeks before Christmas, I wrote some extra blogs that I could schedule ahead of time so that I wouldn’t need to be on my computer while traveling during winter break. I wanted to be fully present with my family and friends during the last week of the year and when I returned from my trip on the 30th, I took a couple of days to catch up on things like laundry, unpacking, food prep, snuggling my kitties, etc. However, even though I’m self-employed and make my own work schedule, I still feel the same guilt from not working that I would have if I were still in the corporate world.

This of course is mostly due to the fact that we live in a hustle culture, where profit is often valued more than our emotional or physical well-being. Even as someone who has created this arbitrary schedule for herself, I still had to remind myself that my blog will always be here, and I’ll have many opportunities to work hard and make it succeed.

With that in mind, I wanted to share 9 self-care tips inspired by Disney princesses and remind you, my readers, and myself to prioritize our well-being. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if we work extra hard to make the kind of money that would allow us to retire early if our health is so poor from stress that we can’t live long enough to enjoy that retirement. And if you’re like me, and struggle with anxiety, this is your friendly reminder that it’s not only “okay” but necessary to rest and take care of yourself first, bestie! <3

Rapunzel

1. Don’t let anxiety run your life. Of all the Disney princesses, Rapunzel is the one I relate to the most because she learns not to be afraid of the unknown and that it’s perfectly OK to enjoy little things like going outside, having fun, and simply being happy. Of course, this is easier said than done since there could be circumstances in your life that factor into your stress (such as a manipulative mother like in Miss Rapunzel’s case) or clinical levels of anxiety, and if that’s the case, it’s worth looking into things like finding a good therapist.

There are many more affordable options these days, whether it’s meeting with someone who works on a sliding scale or using an app where you can chat back and forth as if you were texting a friend. Whatever you end up choosing, please know that things like anxiety and depression do not have to rule your life.

Cinderella

2. Sometimes it feels good to cry. I once heard the phrase, “Everyone gets sad sometimes, but that doesn’t mean everyone has depression.” Much like anxiety disorders, legit depression is not something you have to suffer through forever, either, so please get the professional help you need if you feel that the sadness you experience is beyond the norm.

Now with that disclaimer out of the way, I’d like to remind people that it’s OK and good to cry sometimes. Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother reminds her sometimes you need to cry about the hard times in life. Letting it out is healthy and can lead you to figure out how to improve the situation, so let yourself be human.

Snow White

3. Clean your home and feed yourself nutritious food. Some folks love clutter and thrive in chaos, and if you’re one of those people, then more power to ya, but I am not. I love organization and coming home to a clean, cozy space. Snow White may have an annoying singing voice, but I like to channel her energy while tidying up, and while I’ve never had gooseberry pie and am not even sure if that’s a real thing, there’s something about a home-cooked meal that always makes things better.

I understand, though, that this can be hard to keep up with when you have a full-time career or a family to care for, so I make it a daily goal to tidy up for 15-30 minutes, and I try to leave Sundays open for grocery shopping and meal-prepping so that I always have healthy options available to me throughout the week. If you’re extremely busy, this could mean having a few Trader Joe’s salads in your fridge for easy access, which is totally fine. Do whatever works to keep your body nourished and your space functional!

Tiana

4. Don’t expect overnight results. In the era of instant gratification, we see endless ads about immediate results, whether it be regarding fitness, growing social media followers for your business, or even hair regrowth! Princess Tiana is not only a great role model overall, but she’s a reminder to us all that significant results can’t be expected overnight. She worked hard for years before her dreams really came to fruition and never took the easy way out.

When I began attending barre classes three years ago, I never thought to myself “I’m doing this so that I’ll have a 6-pack within 3 months”, instead I told myself “I’m doing this so that I can have a healthy lifestyle in the long run and have strong bones that hopefully won’t fail me in 30 years.” I’ve kept up the consistency and can’t believe how much stronger I feel in general and how encouraging it is to keep up with people while on hikes and doing other outdoor activities!

Pocahontas

5. Spend more time in nature. Look, I get that this movie isn’t exactly historically accurate, but as a millennial who grew up in the ’90s, I will always love it, and no one can deny how great the soundtrack is! Pocahontas taught us to care about nature, and I also think we need to spend more time immersed in it.

Last summer, I went on a week-long rafting trip in Idaho, and one of my biggest concerns leading up to the trip was that I’d become “phone sick.” Not sick of my phone, but sick as in homesick, like sick FOR my phone because I wouldn’t have service for several days. Surprisingly enough, by the time we got back to civilization, I realized the only reason I wanted wifi access was so that I could pay a bill through my bank app. There was also something weirdly freeing about not being unable to look in a mirror for a week.

Something about camping makes you realize you don’t need all of the things you would otherwise consider a “necessity.” Even if camping isn’t your thing, a daily walk outside can help reduce cortisol levels and minimize stress.

Belle

6. Have hobbies like Belle! Her favorite hobby is obviously reading, but there are many activities you can explore, such as knitting, crocheting, watercolor painting, sports, etc. I once heard that you should have three kinds of hobbies: one to make you money, one to keep you in shape, and one to stay creative. Since this is supposed to be a self-care blog, we’ll just focus on the second two.

My “in shape” hobby is barre/lagree, and my “creative” hobby is drawing. Freehand drawing occupied all of my time while growing up, but it seems like as I’ve gotten older, I can only make time to draw when I’m on a long flight, so I recently got a Disney Princess drawing book to motivate myself to practice more. I’ve also started using my evening TV time to do puzzles so that I’m not just mindlessly scrolling and increasing my screen time.

Ariel

7. Give yourself an at-home spa treatment like Ariel. She loves to pamper herself with her dinglehopper and take long, luxurious bubble baths, but spa-like self-care doesn’t have to involve extravagant things that take a lot of effort and planning. It can mean taking 10 minutes in the evening to do a soothing skincare routine while burning a candle and listening to an audiobook. As cheesy as the saying is, I’m a big fan of “romanticizing our lives” and making the daily mundane things feel special.

Jasmine

8. Take a trip away from home like Jasmine and learn about yourself. Jasmine leaves her palace hoping to find more meaning in life and then unexpectedly meets the love of her life while out and about. I’m not saying you need to go on vacay to find a guy, but I’m sure it was a nice bonus for her, right?

Maybe it’s because of social media, but sometimes traveling can be seen as a materialistic/out-of-touch activity. And while that can definitely be true at times, there is something to be said about just going on a weekend trip to a nearby town to get your mind off of things, or maybe spending a week at a friend’s house so that you can unwind a little. These things don’t have to require a lot of money.

It’s easy to get caught up in your daily routine and feel like you have no time for fun, but some of my best “thinking” has happened during my time away from home. Sometimes, you need a break not just to feel refreshed for work but also to consider whether you want to do that work long-term and if you want something more for your life.

Aurora

9. Get your beauty sleep. OK, maybe we don’t all need to sleep as long as Aurora does (or for the same reason!), but regular quality sleep is really, really important. Not only does it help with productivity and energy levels, but it can also lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes, boost your mood, and improve your immunity, among many other benefits.

So get your beauty sleep, and if you have to be bougie about it, do it! I use a sound machine, ear plugs, a humidifier, and my favorite satin pillowcase. If wearing an eyemask and using light-blocking curtains helps you get the rest you need, they’re worth the investment.

How are you practicing self-care in the new year? Do you enjoy making resolutions and vision boards? Share in the comments below!

xoxo,

Lily

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