Make yourself your priority for 2016.
Does that sound selfish? Probably.
I remember being concerned with the idea of "putting yourself first" when I took my first flight on an airplane. The flight attendant instructed that in the case of an emergency, parents should put their own air mask on before they put on their child's. I thought this was strange, shouldn't the parent make sure the child is safe first? Isn't that the parents job?
Putting ourselves first is something that we associate with "not caring" about others. If that parent on the airplane cannot get their screaming, fidgeting toddler's mask on while they have no mask on themselves, they begin to run out of air. They panic. And before you know it, neither parent nor child have air. The parent is no use to the toddler if they have no air to function.
However, if the parent puts the mask on themselves first, they have air and the ability to put the mask on their child, saving two lives. 2015 taught me time and time again, that the best way to care for others is to care for myself first. If I'm negative, sick, unhealthy, tired, stressed, angry, lonely, bored, insecure, depressed, or scared, I bring that negative energy to those who surround me. It can be subtle, like minor under cutting comments that you mutter when you're jealous of your friend who lost 35 lbs while you feel overweight and uncomfortable. But surely they are offended and don't understand why you aren't happy for them. It can be being the "Debbie Downer" of your group who always finds something to complain about. It can be losing your temper with a friend or family member because you're stressed about work. It can be forgetting to pick your sibling up from school because you have been getting no sleep at night. It can be not being able to help your child cope with anxiety because you never tried dealing with your own. Before you know it, you not taking care of yourself is making you a ball of negativity that you bring to everyone you interact with.
When you make yourself your priority, you take care of YOU. When you take care of YOU, you are better able to take care of others too.
Here are six keys to prioritizing yourself that can make you strong, happy, and healthy.
- Have fun.
This sounds too easy. Isn't that cheating or something? Don't worry, it's not. You deserve to genuinely enjoy your life. I always ask myself, “When you’re on your death bed, what do you want to look back and see?” If you're not having fun and doing things you love with people you love, life begins to become boring, difficult, and depressing. Remember to do what brings you happiness and pleasure.
2. Take care of your body.
Always enjoy good food and relaxation. But, your body is a machine. You need to feed it healthy food and exercise so it runs optimally. It’s amazing how much better you feel when you put in the effort to take care of it. Exercise literally makes you happy. it triggers the release of endorphins in your brain (natural happy, tingly feelings). Take a walk. Go for a run. Play volleyball. Shoot hoops. Anything that gets you active.
3. Be kind.
What goes around, comes around. It can be difficult to be kind when you’re tired, annoyed, or frustrated. But everyone is fighting their own battles daily and it doesn’t help anyone when you are an asshole. Make someone else’s day; make their life a little easier by not being a shit :)
It will come back to you in a good way.
4. Take care of your soul.
Take time to relax and decompress. Do whatever gets your mind off of your problems and revives you. Naps. Yoga. Meditation. Writing. Painting. Sports. Hanging out with loved ones. Life can get hectic, but if you make time to refresh yourself, you’ll be able to face whatever you need to with a renewed sense of energy.
5. Realize that everyone is afraid of something. Even you. And that's perfectly OK.
We have the blessing and the curse of being in our own heads. No one can hear what we’re thinking, it’s our private space. But sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own mind that we forget everyone else has a mind that is doing the same thing as yours. Worrying. Stressing. Reminding you that you’re hungry af. There is no difference between someone who is successful and not successful except successful people don’t let their fears stop them. Everyone is scared; successful, happy, people included. They simply do what scares them anyway. There is nothing stopping you from being the person you want to be except for you. Go for what you want.
6. Ask for what you want.
Ask and you shall receive. If you don’t ask for what you want and stick up for yourself, how will you EVER get it? Fortune favors the bold, kids.
