Whether you’re single, in a couple, or a parent of six, there’s no doubt you have a lot going on. With the pace everyone moves at in today’s society, it’s pretty hard not to. Life can be tough sometimes. and all the trials and tribulations you face daily can certainly take their toll on your body and mind.
However, it’s important to stay focused even through the hard times and look after yourself and your well-being among all the chaos.
Why it’s Important to Make Yourself a Priority
Clarity and Focus
By making yourself a priority, you allow your body to recharge. When resting and meditating, reading, or just relaxing, your brain has time to unwind and refocus, giving you the mental clarity to accomplish your goals.
Life has its ups and downs. While sometimes things are going well and you’re ticking off lots of things you want to achieve, other times bad things happen, that are beyond your control. You may not be able to stop them from happening. But if you’re prioritizing yourself, you will have more energy and a better focus to fight and eventually win these battles.
Better Relationships
When you’re in touch with yourself, you understand your own mind and know what you want from life. You have more clarity, which helps you nurture better relationships with others. If you’re calm and have peace of mind, you’ll find it easier to connect with others on a more personal level.
Stop worrying that by making yourself a priority you’re becoming selfish, as this couldn’t be further from the truth. If you love yourself and are in tune with your own essence, the others around you will also enjoy your presence. Gradually, you will see that your personal and professional relationships will improve.
Happiness
Sure it’s nice to please others, but it’s crucial to look after yourself first. At the end of the day, you only live once, so you have to make the most of it and live life to the fullest. This means focusing on the things that make you happy, be it shopping, relaxing, reading, walking the dog.
Whatever it is that gets a smile on your face and makes you feel joy is what you should aim to do. Of course, you can’t always do what you love, but remember to set aside some “you” time daily and prioritize your well-being regularly. You’ll start to change for the better and just be happier.
Ways to Make Yourself a Priority
Now that you know why you should make yourself a priority, here are a few ways in which you can easily do that:
Look After Your Health
First and foremost, you need to make the best you can to stay healthy. Eating healthy is one of the best ways to do this. As the saying goes, “you are what you eat”. Put some thought into your weekly menu. Be sure to include a good amount of fresh fruit, veggies, nuts, and fish in your diet and limit processed foods, while cutting down on fats and sugar.
Keep an active lifestyle, and exercise a bit daily. You could start by walking to the office or walking your dog more, hiking with friends, playing tennis or swimming on weekends. You’ll be surprised what a difference a good diet and a fit lifestyle can make to the way you look and feel.
Set Yourself Some Personal Goals
Goals are a great motivator as they give you something to aim for. And when you achieve your goals, they give you an amazing sense of accomplishment and they also boost your trust. Just remember to set yourself some reasonable and achievable goals.
For example, if you’re currently completely sedentary and set an ambitious goal to start going to the gym 5 days a week, you’re probably not going to achieve this goal. Instead, set yourself an easier target to hit the gym twice a week in the first 3 months, then three times a week, and increase from there. Even a small change is a good change if it gets you closer to your dreams.
It’s OK to Say No
You can’t always please everyone, no matter how hard you try. And you really shouldn’t! This doesn’t mean you have to give up on everyone around you and stop caring about others. It just means you have to learn to put yourself first sometimes and say NO to others when you feel like it. You can’t always neglect yourself for the sake of others and really shouldn’t.
Eliminate Time Wasters
It’s amazing how much time we spend doing things that are irrelevant and have no purpose. These activities waste valuable hours that could be spent doing something much more enjoyable or productive. Therefore, it’s highly important to identify and eliminate (or at least reduce) those annoying time wasters in your life.
For many people, their smartphones eat up large chunks of their time, on a daily basis. Be it social media, shopping, games, apps, or emails, it’s easy to get lost in this virtual world and lose track of time. Set some healthy time limits, there are apps that can help you stop your smartphone addiction.
Big Yourself Up
You are the best advocate of yourself. Just remember that if you think and speak negatively of yourself, you become those things as those beliefs influence your behavior. Moreover, those around you will get the wrong impression of you. No matter how modest or insecure you are, stop focusing on the bad, and instead concentrate on all the good things you have to offer and promote those qualities regularly.
Appreciate How Far You’ve Come
It’s so easy to concentrate on the things we get wrong in life or those that we’re not particularly good at. This only builds frustration and you’ll eventually become demotivated. But, where’s the sense in that? Everyone has their own set of unique traits, qualities, and talents, and we all have strengths and weaknesses within these.
Acknowledge the things that you are good at and be proud of what you’ve achieved so far. Know that you are enough because you work hard, love hard, and want the best from life. If you’re ever in doubt about this, check out the Marisa Peer Program for some real inspiration.
Set Aside Time for You
As mentioned previously, you get one shot at life! Make it count and do what you dream to do, be who you want to be, work for your goals while keeping alive your kindness, empathy, creativity, and curiosity. However, make sure to keep a work-life-play balance, and set aside some time for relaxing and replenishing your energy levels.
Whether it involves cooking, watching TV, traveling, or simply taking a walk in a park, take a moment or two every now and then to slow down and calm your mind – as a clear mind invokes a healthy spirit.
Reach Out to Others
Even the strongest people need a helping hand from time to time, and there’s nothing wrong with that. If life gets too hard and you feel like you’re getting deeper underwater, then ask for help.
There is always someone willing to listen if you just reach out to them, be it friends, family, a psychologist, or a local support group. Sharing your problem can help you better understand your struggles, relieve your burden, and get comfort and much-needed support.
Delegate
Besides asking for help, another way to prioritize yourself is by learning to delegate. No one can do everything by themselves, not even you. And at the end of the day, why should you? If you have too much going on and you feel like you just can’t handle it anymore by yourself, just delegate.
You’ll be surprised that people cand and do like to help! Not only does it give them a sense of achievement when they complete a task you’ve assigned them, but it also eases your burdens, not to mention it brings you all closer. It’s a win-win.
As you can see, there are many ways in which you can make yourself a priority. Whatever it is that makes you smile, laugh, or unwind, hold on to those things (or people) and practice as much as you can. Remember, you are the most important person in your life and you are in control of your destiny. Learn to prioritize yourself starting now and look forward to a smoother and blossoming future.
