Often times, we find ourselves so wrapped up and entangled in the daily obstacles of life that we forget to take care of one of the most important things — ourselves.

Life has the irritating habit of shoving everything down your throat until you're choking. It piles so much on top of you that after a while, you find that you've been turned into a leftover. This can sometimes be hard to admit to yourself, especially when you're such an important part of countless other lives who always rely on you. But in order for people to be able to rely on you, you first have to be able to rely on yourself.

I want to start out by saying that regarding yourself as a priority is not selfish. It isn't arrogant. It isn't cocky. It's called taking care of your health and well being. And anyone who cares about you would say the same thing. The most important thing to remember is that it's OK to take a break. Sometimes the hardest part is coming to the realization that you need that break. You have to take a step back and look at your life. Pinpoint what exactly is making you unhappy. And if you aren't quite sure, that's perfectly fine. A part of taking a break if figuring out what is and what isn't working for you.

A big part of prioritizing yourself is not worrying about what others will think.

If it makes someone else happy but isn't working for you, then change it. You're going to disappoint people; in fact, that's a guarantee. But you can't go your whole life living in fear of making other people upset. Because ultimately, if you're doing something that you don't like for someone else's sake, what's the point? As cliché as it sounds, life is short, so spend it doing what makes you happy.

An important thing to remember is that the same thing does not work for everyone.

We all work and think differently, and just like in math, there are multiple ways to solve a problem. If your way to solve a problem is different from everyone else's, it doesn't matter. As long as it works for you, it's perfectly acceptable. The conventional way of doing things definitely doesn't work for everyone. In reality, there is no "right" or "wrong" way to do something. The only one who can be the deciding factor of what makes it right or wrong is you.

Lastly, be honest with yourself.

No matter how much it scares you, admit whatever it is that is the source of your misery. Write it down, say it out loud or tell another person. If you keep making excuses, all that will do is temporarily occupy space until the problem arises again. And trust me when I tell you that it will arise again, and it will keep coming back up until you face it head on. Pushing your issues to the side is the reason for your stress and discontent in the first place. Don't let more problems turn into dead weight on your back. Get rid of whatever is getting in the way of your happiness.

Check in on yourself every once in a while and make sure that you are OK.

If you aren't, take the time to care for yourself. You can't help anyone if you can't help yourself. Look for what makes you happy. And when you find it, hold on to it and don't ever let it go — no matter what anyone else says or thinks. Because in the end, your personal well being is what matters the most.