There are simply times where you should have just chosen yourself. Whether it be what you needed or wanted, there will be times where you should choose yourself. If you don’t choose you, no one else is going to.

1. When I needed sleep.

This is pretty self explanatory, but we have all had those friends where they convinced you to go out after working a double. Or there was a boy that you couldn’t wait to talk to until just tomorrow and they ended up falling asleep on you. And then there were times you just chose Netflix over the value of a good night sleep.

2. When I wanted to be healthy.

Having a good workout routine/schedule is key to being fit. But instead we let school, friends, boys, or food get in the way and don’t make time. I wish almost every day that I hadn’t let my fitness go because now I feel so unhealthy. Getting back into shape is one of the hardest things to do, because you have to make it a priority in your life all over again.

3. When I was being bullied.

By this, I don’t mean I should have fought anyone, but I shouldn’t have let myself be run over. You go over and over in your head what you should have said. I should have told them that they were no better than me by trying to put me down, it just showed me how truly insecure they were. I shouldn’t have cowered in fear and let them get the best of me.

4. When I needed to cry

This is hard for me to admit that I need to do this sometimes, but the weight of the world builds on your shoulders and you have to release that stress in some form or fashion. For me, it is a good cry. You run around trying to get to the next thing like class, work, homework, family events, friend events, then try to better yourself and still plan for the future. It is like I don’t allow myself to feel the weight of every event until the pot is already boiling over, but I still push my emotions aside to get what needs to be done, done.

5. When I knew the relationship wasn’t healthy

This is either friend or significant other. Either way, you know when you are giving your all and the other person is just taking it. Or it could be that the other person is putting you down and manipulating you. No, the easy choice isn’t walking away, it is staying. Having a relationship with someone who only brings negativity and strain on your life is only keeping you from achieving whatever you aspire. The other person in that unhealthy relationship is only in the relationship to see what they can get out of it for themselves.