Putting yourself first may seem selfish but it not. It means that your cup is full (or overflowing) and you’re actually in a place to share with others. If you don’t take care of you, no one else will! Here are 10 ways to make yourself a priority.
- Practice self-care. The phrase “self-care” is thrown around a lot. What does it actually mean? It’s making sure your needs are being met and it’s nourishing yourself. Practically, it may look like getting enough sleep, doing something you enjoy like reading a book, and cooking yourself a nice meal. Self-care is the best care.
- Rest. This is one of the most important ways to make yourself a priority. We live in a world where that’s all go-go-go without stopping. We get burnt out but we still don’t slow down. It’s so crucial to rest. It rejuvenates you and keeps you sane. Scheduling it into your calendar is very helpful too. Whatever you need to do to make it happen in your life, do it!
- Ask for help. You’re not a superhero. You can’t do it all alone. Please don’t try! You don’t have to—you can have help. You just have to ask for it. For some people, this is a really hard pill to swallow. Their pride is too big. If this is you, just think about how you feel when someone asks you for help. Are you mad or are you glad that you’re able to help them?
- Schedule your needs into your day. It’s so easy to say yes to a million things and fill your calendar, leaving you with no room to breathe. This isn’t good. Take time to schedule in certain needs. Give yourself enough time to go to bed at a reasonable hour. Take a walk during your lunch break. Leave space to clean your apartment on the weekends. You’ll thank yourself later for carving out pockets of time.
- Say no more. Perhaps my favorite suggestion, saying no is a way to put yourself first. Initially, it may sound selfish, but I promise it can be so good for you. Turning down others sometimes means you’re saying yes to yourself. Maybe you’re exhausted from a long week and a friend asks you to go out. It sounds fun, but really you just want to go home. Don’t be a people-pleaser—say no!
- Listen to your intuition. There’s a voice deep inside you that knows what’s up. It knows what you want and need and it can help you get it. You just have to give it some space to breathe by treating yourself well. From there, you can take directions from that voice to lead you towards a healthier you. Listen to your intuition above just about anything else.
- Get outside of your comfort zone. You don’t have to do this all of the time (unless you want to), but once in a while, it’s good to get outside of your comfort zone! Do something nuts or do something just a little bit out of the norm for you. This will energize you and help give you purpose, leaving you feeling connected to the stream of life.
- Speak kindly to yourself. I’m guessing you aren’t all that kind to yourself. You give yourself a hard time and you’re always expecting more. Try being gentle with yourself. It doesn’t happen overnight, but you can slowly introduce kindness into your daily practice. Remember what your strengths are, practice gratitude for what you do have, and let yourself off the hook when you make a mistake.
- Write down things you’re grateful for. It may sound cheesy but gratitude really works! Studies show it actually improves your physical and psychological health. The act of really putting on paper (or on your phone) what you’re grateful for helps you to remember all the good things you have in your life. It helps you look on the bright side.
- Take a break from dating if appropriate and possible. This suggestion isn’t for everyone. If you’re in a successful relationship, I’m happy for you. However, if you’ve had difficulties dating or even if you haven’t, it can be good to take a break. Focusing on you reminds you what really matters to you. It’s getting all of your time back and you get to decide how to spend it. It’s also giving your heart a break to make sure your needs are being met.
