Whether we have spent the day working, studying or attending to other life responsibilities, it can be easy to forget to make time for ourselves. We will often place our mental wellbeing on the back burner whilst we navigate through a never-ending pile of tasks regardless of how stressed, anxious and burnt out it may make us.
There is a common misconception that putting ourselves first means we are selfish – however this is simply not the case when it comes to self-care. In fact, listening and acting in accordance with our emotions and needs allows us to give more to the people around us as we are able to function on a healthier front.
Learn to Prioritise Yourself
1. Perceive self-care as a necessity and not a luxury: staying on top of our roles and responsibilities is difficult when we are running on an empty tank. Shifting our mindset so we see self-care as an essential part of looking after our body, mind and soul may help us to invest more time and consistency into cultivating a healthy lifestyle.
2. Schedule time for yourself: life can be extremely busy and there will never be time if you do not create room for yourself. Self-care does not necessarily mean blocking hours out of your day to engage in face masks and yoga sessions, rather it means spending time exploring habits that make you feel happier, healthier and more connected. It can be useful to pencil self-care into your calendar, even if this means dedicating a period of time to look after basic needs such as having a shower or cooking a healthy dinner.
3. Stop comparing yourself to others: it can be hard to invest time in yourself when you are constantly exposed to everyone else’s highlight reels whether it be via social media or personal conversations around you. Not many people will admit to their struggles and it is unfair to compare your inner self with another person’s external presentation.
4. Set boundaries: when you set boundaries, you are ultimately taking control and care of your life. It is important to understand that setting boundaries is healthy in order to manage stress, improve relationships with others and live in alignment with your values. Learning to say ‘no’ and practising other forms of assertive communication can help to improve healthy boundary setting.
5. Speak to a trained professional: sometimes the ability to prioritise yourself is hindered by deep-rooted feelings of guilt and anxiety. It can also be challenging to work out what you actually want to achieve in life, and what putting yourself first really means. At Positive Mind Works, we have a team of professionals who are able to work with you to navigate these thoughts and emotions and help you get to where you want to be.
If you would like to speak with one of our psychologists to help restore balance to your life, please call us on 1800 327 477 (AU) or 0800 327 477 (NZ) or click here to book online.
