Habitually prioritizing other’s needs and wants ahead of your own chances giving away your precious energy, leaving little for you. It can bring up feelings of resentment and bitterness, and keep you from enjoying your life.
As women, many of us were taught to put others first. Yet leaving yourself off even your own priority list can lead to stress, exhaustion, overwhelm, and burnout.
Being too tired and stressed to fully enjoy life is a big cost because you’re unable to be fully available for anyone – including yourself.
If you feel so busy that you don’t feel aligned and at peace, then keep reading as I have some key action steps for you!
But I’m So Busy!
Sometimes being busy is fun, but it can be a slippery slope.
We can lose ourselves in the “I’m so busy” mentality. Busy with kids or grandchildren, making healthy meals, working late to get that task done, helping a friend, volunteering… and the list goes on.
All those activities are okay, but over time you can lose a bit of yourself if you don’t take time to also prioritize your own needs and desires.
Consider this perspective…
If you were a child, would you want your mother to feel completely exhausted and not even know the “real” her anymore? Or would you want her to take time for some simple steps to feel happier, more energetic, and ready to take care of you with a cheerful heart? I hope you chose the latter!
How can you show up as your best self when you’re depleted of physical and mental energy?
Claiming time for yourself is critical for both mental and physical wellness. Prioritizing yourself and taking time for yourself is not selfish, it’s an act of self-love.
Give yourself some space and get in touch with yourself.
It can help you feel happier and more present, and what better gift to give to your family, friends, and most importantly, YOU.
3 Key Daily Practices to Prioritize YOU (Even if you’re a busy woman!)
Here are some daily practices to help you avoid burnout, and ultimately avoid losing yourself so much that one day you look in the mirror and don’t even recognize the authentic, beautiful YOU.
Please note the word “practices” because practicing does not mean perfection.
1- Practice Self-Compassion
Do you treat yourself like your best friend or worst critic? Are you still beating yourself up for making that mistake the other day, or for not performing perfectly at that meeting last week?
What would you say to a friend who was having a bad day because she made a mistake and was being hard on herself?
I bet you’d tell her how her mistake wasn’t as bad as she is perceiving it to be, she’s good at her work, and that everything will be okay.
We can so easily be compassionate to everyone else, yet self-compassion isn’t as natural. It’s time to change that pattern!
Self-compassion is acting the same kind way to yourself. It’s easing self-judgement, taking care of yourself, and allowing yourself to be less than perfect.
Talk to yourself like someone who loves you would talk to you. Be gentle, supportive, accepting, and understanding – even when you make mistakes.
2- Practice Self-Care
Many people think about self-care as getting a massage or pedicure. Sure! Treating yourself to a little spa time is a great self-care activity! Yet those types of self-care activities are not easily practiced on a daily basis.
Giving your mind a break for even 10 minutes per day with some necessary self-care time can have a big, positive impact on your wellbeing. Here are some quick and no-cost self-care activities that can give you just a little time to rest and recharge:
- Read a book
- Take a long shower
- Meditate
- Take a walk
- Take a cat nap
Make your daily self-care routine a priority so you can better maintain your energy and can then serve others with a cheerful heart. Of course, add in a little spa time as your schedule and wallet allow!
(I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.)
My Favorite Home Self-Care Products (click image to view on Amazon)
Yes, I really have them all!
3-Practice saying “no” when you want and saying “yes” only when you mean it.
How often do you say yes to people when you really want to say no? It’s nice to volunteer or help people out, yet saying yes too often can result in neglecting your own needs and being too busy to enjoy life.
It’s okay to be choosey about what you say yes to. Habitually prioritizing other’s needs ahead of your own will wear you down and make it hard to fully enjoy your life.
Simply saying no to optional requests is a fair response, with no explanation or reasons required.
NOTE: Saying yes to something that you don’t really want is saying no to something else in your life.
How others treat you is often a reflection of how you treat yourself.
Your needs are important, and if YOU don’t make them a priority, likely nobody else will.
- What do you need?
- Are you physically exhausted?
- Are you mentally depleted?
- What’s causing you stress, and what can you change about it?
Actively prioritize yourself. Ask for help. Enjoy life.
You’re not superwomen with unlimited energy; you are a human with needs.
Prioritize yourself so you can enjoy life and be a better parent, partner, professional, and friend.
If you’re a woman who wants help getting to the root of what is keeping you from a joyful life, check out my coaching programs.
As a Certified Fearless Living Coach, it’s my passion to help you understand how fear holds you back, how you can take your power back from fear, and help you grow the confidence to create the life you truly desire… where everything is possible!
