Putting yourself first ensures you live the life you want to, as well as promotes your emotional development. However, we’re often encouraged to prioritise our work, our family’s or our peers’ needs throughout our lives. It’s almost “selfish” to act in our own interests. Although, the crucial difference between a self-centered and self-aware lifestyle is that the latter is going to help you foster symbiotic relationships with those around you. Improve your mental clarity, overall mood, and relationships by taking small steps towards incorporating your needs into your lifestyle.

Figure out what you want

The first step towards putting yourself first is to understand exactly what you’ll need to do to accomplish that. Set aside uninterrupted time to really think about your aspirations. This is a good way to check-in with ourselves, and evaluate if our current lifestyle is conducive towards fulfilling those goals. If it isn’t, then perhaps it is a good time to reevaluate and take action. Being conscious of your needs, and making adjustments to achieve them are exercises in self-awareness and accountability.

Understand your limits

It’s difficult to accept that there are things we cannot do. They are a part of us. If we don’t consider our circumstances when making decisions, we tend to overextend and overexert ourselves. This leads to disappointment and/or exhaustion. Whether it’s a health issue, a shortage of time, or habits, we should make it a priority to acknowledge and manage these factors. Accepting and being mindful of things that are not conducive to your physical and mental health will help you make better life choices.

Teamwork makes the dreamwork

Being part of a support network with people you trust will work wonders for your mental health. Talking with your peers can help you see situations in different lights, find new ways to approach it, and understand the roots of your emotions. It’s important to understand that there is nothing wrong with asking for advice or assistance, especially when it affects your emotional and physical wellbeing. Note that a lot of our heroes rarely become successful on their own.

Take it easy

We are our own worst critics. Being kind and lenient with yourself when implementing large lifestyle changes is a form of self-care! It’s difficult to go from prioritising the needs of those around you to allowing yourself to put yourself first. Start small. Saying “no” to plans that seem too taxing emotionally and physically, or simply inconvenient, is a good place to begin. Though we may ruffle some feathers, prioritising ourselves will result in a deeper understanding of what we should focus on.