We put our families first, our jobs first, and even put other people’s needs before ours. It is not always easy to put ourselves first because we have societal pressures telling us that putting others ahead of ourselves is the right thing to do.
However, it is important for your well-being that you put yourself first sometimes. Here are 12 ways that will help you put yourself first.
What it Means to Put Yourself First
Putting yourself first does not mean that you put your own needs before everyone else’s. It means that you put yourself on the same level as others, and it is just as important for your mental state to put yourself ahead of other people sometimes.
The Benefits of Putting Yourself First
There are countless benefits to putting yourself first. When you put yourself first, you feel happier and more content because you know that your needs are being taken care of. You also have the ability to be there for others in a much more effective way when you put yourself first.
Lastly, when you put yourself first, you show yourself that you are just as important as all the other people in your life.
12 Important Ways to Put Yourself First
There are many ways that you can put yourself first, here are 12 of them!
1. Take time for yourself every single day no matter how busy your schedule is.
Even if it’s five minutes out of your day to sit and relax, it will help you put yourself first. Taking time to yourself will put you in a better mood, and put the other demands on your time into perspective. It also gives you the opportunity to put your needs first.
2. Set boundaries with the people in your life.
If someone is always taking advantage of your time or asking too much of you, set a boundary and let them know that you need some time for yourself. This will also show people that your needs are just as important.
You can put these boundaries in place with friends, family members, and even coworkers if necessary. If you put a boundary in place then someone will respect that line between them and you.
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3. Do something that brings you joy every day.
Whether it’s reading, painting, hiking, or something else, make sure that you do something every day that brings you joy. This can be something that helps you relax and de-stress, or it could be something that challenges you and makes you happy.
4. Say no to things that don’t bring you happiness.
If there are events or tasks that come up in your life that don’t make you happy, say no and put yourself first. This could be something as simple as declining an invitation to go out, or turning down a project at work that you don’t think is right for you.
Saying no will help put your happiness first, and it will also show the people in your life that you care about yourself.
5. Invest time in relationships with people who care about you and put you first.
If there are people in your life that put you down or put their needs before yours, it might be time to invest some of your energy elsewhere. Spend time with people who put you first and make you feel good about yourself. These are the relationships that are worth having in your life.
6. Do things for yourself rather than for others as often as possible.
Whether it’s taking a trip on your own, treating yourself to a massage, or spending the day doing something you love, do things for yourself. This will put you in a good mood and make you feel happy. When you put yourself first, it’s easier to do things for others.
It can be difficult to put yourself first when societal pressures are telling us that putting others ahead of ourselves is the right thing to do. However, it is important for your well-being that you put yourself first.
7. Take care of your physical health by eating healthy and exercising.
When you put yourself first physically, it will have a positive effect on your mental well-being as well.
It’s important to find an exercise routine and diet that works for you and helps put you in a good mood. If you don’t take care of your physical health, it will be difficult to put yourself first mentally and emotionally.
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8. Set goals for yourself and strive to achieve them.
Putting yourself first is about taking control of your life and doing what makes you happy. To put yourself first, you have to set goals for yourself and work towards achieving them.
When you achieve your goals, it feels fantastic and will put you in a good mood. It also shows you that you are capable of anything when you put your mind to it.
9. Take a break from social media every once in a while.
When you put yourself first, it’s important to take some time for yourself and detach from technology and social media. Social media can put a lot of pressure on you to put yourself last, and it can make you feel bad about yourself.
Taking some time away from social media will put your needs first and allow you to enjoy real-life experiences with real people that are right in front of you.
Every once in a while put the phone down for a couple of hours and enjoy your surroundings.
10. Don’t compare yourself to others.
Comparison is the thief of joy, and it’s one of the easiest ways to put yourself last. When you’re constantly comparing yourself to others, you’re not living in the present and you’re not putting yourself first.
There will always be someone more attractive, smarter, funnier, and skinnier than you. As long as you put your own needs first and strive towards being the best version of yourself that you can be, then it doesn’t matter what other people are doing or how they’re living their lives.
11. Spend time with people who make you happy and lift you up.
Surrounding yourself with positive people is one of the best things you can do for yourself. When you’re around people who put you first and make you happy, it will have a positive effect on your mood and wellbeing.
If there are negative people in your life that bring you down, try to distance yourself from them as much as possible. It’s not healthy to be around people who don’t put you first.
12. Be kind to yourself no matter what happens in your life.
Even when times get tough, put yourself first by being patient with the process and taking care of yourself mentally as well as physically during these hard times.
When you put yourself first, it doesn’t mean that other people become less important or don’t matter. No one is more valuable than the person living their life and trying to do what makes them happy.
If things aren’t going your way right now, put yourself first by being kind with how you’re handling the situation mentally as well as physically.
Final Thoughts
As we wrap up this post, I want to challenge you to make a commitment. Stop what you’re doing and think about when was the last time you put yourself first in some way.
If it’s been a while, then take a deep breath and ask yourself how your life would be different if you started putting yourself first every day.
What could change? How might your relationships improve? What goals or dreams may become more attainable? Think about these questions for just one minute before continuing with the rest of your day; they will provide a perspective that is often lost in our busy lives.