If you’re a caregiver, teacher, lawyer, parent, or community builder who feels constantly tired and overwhelmed, this blog post is for you.

You’ve been taught to earn your rest. To power through your to-do list. To prove your worth by producing more. And when you finally stop—when your body gives out, your mind shuts down, and your emotions bubble up—that’s when you finally let yourself rest.

That’s reactive self-care.

But what if you didn’t have to hit a wall first?

In this post, I’m breaking down the difference between reactive and proactive self-care—and why choosing to care for yourself before the breakdown is key to building sustainable wellness and long-term wealth.

Reactive Self-Care: Rest Only When You’re Desperate

Reactive self-care is what most of us grew up witnessing. It’s the glass of sangria after a long day. The binge-watch session when you’re too tired to think. The occasional pedicure after surviving a brutal work week.

It’s often rare, narrow, and done in desperation.

I used to live this way when I was a public school teacher. I would overwork myself, stay late prepping lessons, and then come home and collapse. My version of “self-care” was zoning out in front of Scandal with a drink in hand. It wasn’t restorative—it was a coping mechanism. One that delayed my burnout, but didn’t prevent it.

This pattern of reactive care is rooted in harmful systems—capitalism, colonization, and generational survival. It tells us that rest must be earned. That wellness is a luxury. That we are only as valuable as what we produce.

But that belief is a lie.

Proactive Self-Care: Planning for Your Wellness Daily

Proactive self-care shifts the narrative. It says: I don’t have to earn this. I need this. It’s a mindset and a practice of building your day around what you need to feel well, grounded, and whole.

For me, that means:

• Drinking 24 oz. of water first thing
• Making a protein shake and taking my vitamins
• Going on a 3-mile walk and calling a friend
• Having lunch with my husband
• Being present with my kids at dinner
• Going to sleep early (because I wake up early!)

Proactive self-care requires planning. It requires knowing your calendar, your responsibilities, and your needs and then being intentional about how you use your time, money, and energy.

And most importantly, it means embracing D.I.V.E.R.S.E. self-care—the 7 types of care that nurture every part of you.

What is D.I.V.E.R.S.E. Self-Care?

The D.I.V.E.R.S.E. Self-Care framework I teach includes:

Dinero Self-Care:

Tending to your finances with calm and confidence. This can include reviewing your budget, prepping meals to avoid takeout, planning no-spend days, or journaling about your money mindset.

Interpersonal Self-Care:

Nurturing relationships that support you—setting boundaries, making time for connection, and showing up as your best self in relationships that matter.

Vocational Self-Care:

Making sure your work is sustainable and aligned with your values. That might mean setting limits, challenging harmful workplace norms, or shifting your career goals.

Emotional Self-Care:

Building your emotional intelligence. Allowing yourself to cry, laugh, vent, feel, and process emotions without judgment. Therapy, journaling, or using a feelings wheel can all help.

Restorative Body Self-Care:

Taking care of your body through movement, rest, nourishment, and healing. For me, that meant healing from undiagnosed autoimmune issues and learning what truly supports my physical wellness.

Spiritual Self-Care:

Connecting to your purpose, your ancestors, your intuition, or a higher power. Lighting a candle, reading spiritual texts, expressing gratitude—these acts help you feel grounded and held.

Environmental Self-Care:

Creating peaceful, functional spaces. This might be folding laundry, decluttering your desk, or making your home feel cozy and calm.

It Doesn’t Have to Take Hours—Start Small

Proactive self-care doesn’t mean spending your whole day at the spa (though I’m not against that either). It means taking intentional actions, many of which take less than five minutes.

• Text a friend to say you’re thinking of them.
• Check your checking account buffer.
• Stretch in bed before getting up.
• Light a candle and take three deep breaths.

Small actions, done regularly, are what build a life that doesn’t need escaping from.

Comforting vs. Growth-Oriented Self-Care

There’s one more thing I want you to know: Proactive self-care isn’t always comfortable.

Yes, it can be a nap, a walk, a massage.

But sometimes, it’s uncomfortable growth:

• Training for a 5K despite to disrupt a sedentary lifestyle
• Going to therapy and processing trauma
• Logging into your bank account even when you’re scared
• Starting couples therapy
• Saying no when you’re used to saying yes

These are all forms of care, too.

When I trained for a 5K at 37, I had to face so many doubts and frustrations. But I kept going—not because it was easy, but because it helped me build trust with myself. Now, I walk three miles every day because it feels good. But it took growth to get there.

Final Takeaways

Here’s what I want you to remember:

• Reactive self-care is rare, narrow, and done when you’re already overwhelmed.
• Proactive self-care is planned, consistent, D.I.V.E.R.S.E., and includes both comfort and growth.
• You are worthy of care every single day—not just when you’ve earned it.

If you’re tired of treating self-care like a luxury and you’re ready to start honoring your wellness as a daily priority, I invite you to work with me 1:1.

Together, we’ll co-create a proactive self-care plan and a financial plan that builds your wealth without burning you out.

You’ll get 12 coaching calls, access to me via WhatsApp, and 12 months inside Wealth Para Todos Academy—all for $4,111 (payment plans available).

We’ll work toward a version of you that feels financially secure, emotionally grounded, and deeply supported.

Schedule a call here to see if working with me is the right fit.