25 Self-Care Quotes for the Hardest Days: How to Keep Going When It Feels Impossible

Feeling overwhelmed? These 25 self-care quotes offer comfort and strength to help you navigate even the hardest days.

You know those days when it feels like everything’s gone wrong, and you’re not even sure how to keep going? Maybe it’s one big thing that’s knocked you down, or maybe it’s just life piling up in a million tiny ways. Either way, I get it.

When I feel like I’m running on empty, there’s one thing that always helps me pause and reset: words. Specifically, quotes that feel like they’re speaking directly to me. They don’t fix everything, but they do help nudge me in the right direction, like a friend whispering, “You’ve got this.”

Today, I’m sharing 25 self-care quotes for the hardest days. I hope they will remind you that it’s okay to not be okay - and that you can keep going, even when it feels impossible.

Here we go.

1. "Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow'."– Mary Anne Radmacher

Let’s start with this gem. It’s not about big, bold bravery - it’s about the small wins. Like brushing your teeth when you really don’t want to. Or texting a friend back after days of silence.

Whenever I read this, I think about how courage doesn’t have to be loud. It can just be showing up.

2. “Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” – Eleanor Brown

Ever tried running on fumes? Same. I remember one week I was so burnt out I cried over losing a sock. Not exactly my finest moment. This quote always reminds me that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish - it’s necessary.

3. “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”

We’ve all heard this one before, but have you really felt it? Imagine trying to make tea for someone with a dry kettle. Exactly. The same goes for your energy.

4. “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamott

This is one of my all-time favourites. It’s a reminder that stepping away doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re resetting.

5. “It’s okay to not be okay, as long as you’re not giving up.”

This one feels like a warm hug, doesn’t it? It’s giving permission to be a mess, as long as you keep moving forward - even if “moving forward” just means eating a biscuit and calling it progress.

6. “The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost

I won’t lie - this one’s hard. Who ever wants to face the hard stuff head-on? But avoiding it only makes it grow. The quickest way through the storm is, well, through it.

7. “Self-care is how you take your power back.” – Lalah Delia

Whenever I read this, I picture myself putting on a face mask, lighting a candle, and sipping tea like I’m a queen. Self-care is your way of saying, “I matter too.”

8. “Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is rest.”

I used to think resting was lazy. Now I know better. If you’re exhausted, taking a nap or zoning out with the latest Netflix series can be the most productive thing you do all day.

9. “No storm lasts forever.”

When you’re in the middle of it, it’s hard to believe this. But think about every tough time you’ve ever had - it eventually passed, didn’t it? This one will too.

10. “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Feeling overwhelmed? This quote is like a deep breath. You don’t have to do it all. Just start from where you are, with what you’ve got.

A Quick Story: Why These Quotes Matter

Can I tell you something quite random? Last month, I had a meltdown over spilling a cup of coffee. It was classic “bad day” stuff. I felt so stuck. But then I saw this quote:

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

And it clicked. I didn’t need to fix my whole life in that moment - I just needed to take one step forward. So, I cleaned up the coffee, made another cup, and let myself breathe.

That’s the magic of quotes. They don’t solve everything, but they remind you to keep going. I now have this quote in my kitchen as a reminder to take one step at a time.

11. “Feelings are much like waves; we can’t stop them from coming, but we can choose which ones to surf.” – Jonatan Mårtensson

This one’s poetic, isn’t it? It reminds me of being at the beach, letting the small waves carry me instead of getting wiped out by the big ones.

12. “You owe yourself the love you so freely give to others.” – Unknown

How often do you put everyone else first? This quote is a reminder to show ourselves the same love we would give to our best friends.

13. “Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day.”

It’s a bit cheesy, but it’s true. Even on the worst days, there’s always something - a funny meme, a good cup of coffee, or just making it through the day.

14. “Healing is not linear.”

This one’s a game-changer. Progress is messy, and that’s okay.

15. “Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Ever find yourself scrolling through Instagram and feeling terrible? This quote reminds me to stay in my own lane. Best not to compare ourselves to others.

16. “Nothing changes if nothing changes.”

This one stings, but it’s true. Sometimes, we just have to be brave enough to make a change - even a tiny one.

17. “Slow progress is still progress.”

I wrote this one on a sticky note and stuck it on my fridge. It’s my daily reminder that every step counts, no matter how small.

18. “You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously.” – Sophia Bush

This one feels like a weight lifting off your shoulders, doesn’t it? You don’t have to have it all together to be amazing.

19. “When you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine.”

I know this sounds corny, but it works. Sometimes, being kind to someone else is the best way to feel better yourself.

20. “You’re not a burden. You’re human.”

If you’ve ever hesitated to ask for help because you didn’t want to “bother” anyone, this one’s for you.

21. “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – A.A. Milne

Winnie the Pooh wisdom never fails.

22. “One day at a time.”

It’s simple but powerful. When life feels overwhelming, just focus on getting through today.

23. “This too shall pass.”

It always does, even when it feels like it won’t.

24. “Be gentle with yourself. You’re doing the best you can.”

Because you really are.

25. “You are enough, just as you are.”

Full stop.

Your Turn

So, what do you think? Do any of these quotes hit home for you? If you’ve got a favourite quote that keeps you going, drop it in the comments below - I’d love to hear it.

And remember: even on your hardest days, you’re never truly alone. You’ve got this.