8 Ways To Make Yourself Your Own First Priority | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

8 Ways To Make Yourself Your Own First Priority

A starting guide to making yourself happy in today's busy world.

585
8 Ways To Make Yourself Your Own First Priority
Pixabay

With the busyness of today’s modern world, people often forget to take care of themselves. They work long shifts, help others around them, and do everything that is asked and expected from them, even if it is something that they do not want to do. Slowly, their weight may start to climb, the bags under their eyes become more defined, and happiness levels begin to decline. This leaves us with an overworked and unhappy part of society. If people learn to love and take care of themselves, then this effect can be reversed.

1. Get Enough Sleep

Put down your phone, your Netflix, or anything else that is preventing from you getting to sleep at a good hour. If you are not reasonably fueled to participate in your day, you will be significantly less productive. Also, your mood will be lowered with the added exhaustion. Your body will thank you!

2. Eat Healthy and Drink Enough Water

Even though it is often more convenient to grab a quick bite at the drive-thru, these added calories and harmful chemicals may taste good, but ultimately hurt your body. Your body needs sustainable nutrition in order to keep you going. The food you eat is the fuel to your body’s engine, so why give your body bad fuel? Make healthy choices throughout the day and keep hydrated so that your body can be at peak performance level.

3. Limit Your Time Spent On Social Media Accounts

Sometimes we compare ourselves to the people that we follow on social media. We are jealous of the person posting about their awesome vacation on Instagram, or tweeting about their new promotion at work. When you compare yourself to others, this can cause a lowering of self-esteem. Do not worry about what others are doing, and just focus on yourself. Your own path is different than that of others, and so feeling down about what you are not doing is not going to help.

4. Exercise

The gym is for some people, but not everyone. If you can make time to go to the gym a few times a week, your body will thank you! If not, go for a walk or run, join a fitness class like Zumba, or even try yoga. There are an infinite amount of ways that you can get your body moving, and not all of it has to be dreadful. Make exercise fun by joining with a friend, and get the endorphins pumping!

5. Reward Yourself For Hard Work

Did you work an excessive amount of hours this week? Are you proud of reaching a new goal that you have been chasing? Treat yourself to something that you have been chasing after! Buy that new outfit or take that mini-vacation. It will help you stay focused and work harder in the future to accomplish goals knowing that you will reward yourself for it.

6. Pamper Yourself

However you choose to do this, whether it be putting on a face mask, listening to some good music, painting nails, shaving, etc., pampering yourself will make you feel good and can make you more ready to tackle the tasks throughout your day. Look good, feel good, right?

7. Spend Time With Friends

Your friends are there in good and bad times. They will help take your mind off stressful situations, and lift you up and give you that extra laugh that you needed. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them for help, either. The support system that a group of friends gives a person can be incredibly helpful.

8. Say “No” Sometimes

If there is too much being expected of you in a particular setting, whether it be at work or with friends, etc., sometimes you just need to say “no” to that extra shift or those plans. It does not make you a bad person, and they likely will not even be mad at you for it. You do not have to be a people-pleaser. If something is being asked of you that does not work for you, you have the power to say no. That is why they were asking in the first place--they are giving you the choice.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

1125592
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

1027549
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

The Importance Of Being A Good Person

An open letter to the good-hearted people.

1680622
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments