It’s common to think of putting yourself first as prioritizing your own needs. You may have heard this phrase before, but it is more than just a cliché. It’s a powerful idea that can change the way you live and lead. Self-care is the act of taking care of your well-being—physical, mental, and emotional—in order for you to be able to provide for your basic needs. This means that instead of solely concentrating on others, you think about what is best for you first and foremost. As such, we will explore some practical ways to put yourself first every single day.
Start with Yourself
You don’t have to start by putting yourself last—you can start by putting yourself first. Begin by identifying what you truly need. This may be something as basic as rest and sleep, or more specific needs like healthy food, friends, and family time. Once you have identified what you need, you can think about what you can do to get it. Next, you will have to be self-aware. This means that you must be able to identify what is really going on with you. You will have to be willing to be honest with yourself about your feelings and needs. This may be difficult, but being self-aware is the first step to putting yourself first.
Be Self-Aware
Self-awareness is essential to putting yourself first. You must be able to identify what you need in order to be able to put yourself first. This will help you identify what you truly need so that you can provide it without fail. Self-awareness is also essential in helping you identify when you are feeling overwhelmed. This may be due to a hectic schedule, a recent disappointment, or a long-term source of stress. If you are able to identify when you are feeling overwhelmed, you can take steps to re-focus.
Exercise and Re-Focus
Exercise is a great way to re-focus and re-center yourself. This is particularly important if you are feeling overwhelmed. You may want to try taking a walk, listening to an instrumental or rhythmic piece, reading, or exercising with a fitness tracker. Whatever it is, find something that helps you to refocus. An exercise that is particularly good for focusing is yoga—it can be done at home or in a yoga class. Yoga is particularly good for opening your mind to different possibilities and re-centering yourself. Yoga is also very relaxing, making it a great choice for those who are feeling overwhelmed or anxious.
Help Others Whilst Still Taking Care of Yourself
Find ways to help others without neglecting your own needs. Whether you volunteer at a local charity, help a friend with a project, or host a book club, find ways to help others without neglecting your own needs. Doing so will help you to feel more fulfilled and less stressed overall, while still putting yourself first.
Conclusion
Self-care is essential to ensuring your happiness, health, and well-being. If you don’t take care of yourself, you will end up feeling stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed, which can negatively affect your relationships with others. When we put ourselves first, we are able to identify what we need and help others, while still ensuring that we are taking care of ourselves. If you are looking for practical ways to put yourself first, then this guide was written for you. It has been broken down into steps that you can follow each day to ensure that you are putting yourself first.