10 Ways to Give Yourself the Priority You Deserve
We live hectic lives that make it difficult to make self-care a priority. Everything seems designed to give priority to everyone else. Work, family, friendships, and volunteer work, plus the general societal obligations that are imposed and self-imposed on us – all of these things make us forget about ourselves.
Many times, we even feel guilty for wanting to make time for ourselves. We feel like we don’t have a right to do that. But it’s actually the contrary. Dedicating time to yourself will give you energy and clarity, and you’ll find more meaning and happiness in what you do.
Dedicating time to yourself will help you feel better, which is essential if we want to be and give our best for others.
How to give priority to yourself
Don’t feel guilty. Start to look out for yourself. Below, we tell you a few ways to give priority to yourself. Doing so does not mean you’re leaving others aside, it just means that you’re letting yourself become a better version of yourself so you can do more for others.
1. Remember that your needs are important.
If your needs are not a priority for you, they won’t be for anyone else either. You need to understand these needs and actively seek the best way to satisfy them.
2. Evaluate the aspects of your life that are causing you stress and consider what they are worth to you.
Ask yourself if it’s really important, if it’s worth the stress it causes. You should also understand whether it’s you who’s causing yourself stress with your attitude, and in that case, find a way to change things. In any case, look for the best way to control stress so that it doesn’t negatively influence your actions towards other people.
3. Make time for yourself each day, to be calm, alone, or doing whatever you want to do.
It’s easy to forget about your needs when you’re caught up in action and noise all day, when there’s always something demanding your presence. But you need time to breathe without all that pressure.
4. Drop the guilt
And to start, don’t give any explanations. You don’t have to give them, you don’t have to justify yourself. If somebody doesn’t understand, it’s not your problem, unless you play the game.
5. Understand that you have a right to take care of yourself.
Understand this, and also understand that the better you feel, the more useful you will be to others.
6. Take the time to do things that make you feel better about yourself
Do things that make you feel more secure and strong, that remind you how important you are. Exercise, take care of your body, take time to read, eat well, sleep well.
7. Embrace your emotions
Don’t deny yourself the possibility of feeling pain. Don’t suppress your pain as if all your problems were just going to disappear. Suppressing your feelings only serves to undermine your happiness. You have to accept and understand your feelings and emotions.
8. Recognize and appreciate the people who are positive and uplifting in your life
Show commitment to them. These people will help you to find yourself and they’ll support you in the process of personal growth , which you’ll always need.
9. Find balance
Understand the difference between what you can change and what you can’t, and learn to let the things you can’t change pass. Every day you’ll find something new that you like and something that you can change to make life better.
10. Focus on what you can control
Don’t forget that there are only three things in life that you can control: what you think, what you say, and what you do. Face it and act accordingly. Don’t let yourself be handled like a puppet, and be conscious of what you do and why you do it.