“I don’t know what I’d do without you!” If that’s a sentence that’s regularly said to you, you’re likely the go-to person that everyone relies on and trusts. Your friends, family members, and even your co-workers always want you to do something for them and, of course, you want to be there for them in whatever way you can. You constantly put others first and often forget about taking care of the most important person in your life: you. Caring for others is a beautiful and honorable skill, however, if you keep giving and giving without filling up your own cup, you’re likely to end up feeling drained.
While putting yourself first may feel weird at first, the importance of caring for yourself can’t be emphasized enough. Without self-care, you won’t be able to best show up for yourself or anyone else in your life. So, how exactly can you prioritize your self-care? Here are our top tips for setting yourself up for self-care success.
Establish priorities
Putting yourself first doesn’t mean doing what you want to do all the time or ignoring the needs of others. It’s all a matter of understanding the interplay between taking care of yourself and taking care of others. For example, if you ignore your health, you likely won’t have the energy to show up for your friends and family. As such, making time to cook yourself healthy meals, exercise, and relax should be at the top of your priority list. Take inventory of what you need to feel your best and make those things priorities in your life. Plan your day around your priorities, not your priorities around your day.
Stay consistent
Consistency is how you build healthy habits. It’s also how you create some boundaries. If exercising is something you need to support your physical and mental health, create a consistent exercise schedule and stick to it. Soon, people will learn that you’re not available from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Of course, there may be times when you need to stray from your schedule, but following it the majority of the time is a great signal to yourself and others that you’re claiming that time for yourself.
Get comfortable with saying “no.”
If you’re everyone’s go-to person, you likely have some people-pleasing tendencies. You find it nearly impossible to say “no” to people and feel guilty if you can’t meet someone’s request. Sound familiar? The reality is, you need to get comfortable with telling people “no.” If someone is in danger or desperately needs your help, then by all means, say yes, but for other, non-urgent requests, practice saying “no” to allow time for yourself. The more you say “no” the easier it will get, and soon enough, you’ll find it much easier to decline things that you don’t have the time or desire to attend to or get involved with. The bottom line
For those of you who are used to constantly caring for everyone else, putting yourself first can feel foreign and challenging. If you need help learning how to prioritize your needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to the SoundMind Wellness team for guidance and support. We offer individual therapy, process groups, and wellness workshops. We’d be honored to help you learn how to give yourself the same level of care and love you so readily give to everyone else. Call us at (954)-613-9414 to get started.
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of mental healthcare, wellness and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is not a substitute for a relationship with a licensed mental health practitioner. Always seek the advice of your therapist, physician or other licensed mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding a mental health condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional mental health advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.