How To Make Yourself A Priority

You may have seen the title to this and thought “Haha that bitch is crazy!”… Especially if you have a mess of kiddos or a demanding job. Making yourself a priority is important for a few reasons. But first let me clarify, I am not condoning you drop your family, job or other responsibilities, and move to a tropical place under a new identity. Rather, this post will be about meeting your needs, even if it’s just a few (the most important) so you feel fulfilled.

Why is this important? Well, for me in the humdrum of life I tend to lose myself, my identity becomes lost in a pile of unfolded laundry and dirty dishes. I then find myself wandering around listless. The Never ending stream of diapers, snacks, chores, homework, sports and other appointments can take a toll. Don’t get me wrong, I love it all, but if I let it go for too long, without taking care of myself, mama gets cranky. I’m guessing if you’re still reading you can relate on some level.

Here are some ideas to start making yourself a priority:

1. Communication – If you are feeling overwhelmed and need a quick breather before you lose your shit… Tell your people that you need to step away for a minute.
2. Boundaries – Yep I’m still preaching about boundaries, partly because I still need practice at this. If you need quiet time, a bubble bath or a little while to stare into the abyss, do it.. and don’t allow interruptions. My kiddos have accepted that they can’t bother me while I’m in the bath. It took a while but let me tell ya, it’s amazing.
3. Do what makes you happy – This sounds like it could be a no brainer. Sometimes I really have to think about what makes me happy. As humans our wants and needs are constantly changing, I’ve learned a lot about myself in the past year. What made me happy last year isn’t necessarily what I need now.
4. Set a routine – Schedule some you time every day or make it a part of you daily routine. I stay up just a little later than everyone else and read a chapter of a book. Some mornings I’m even awake before the little ones so I’m able to drink some coffee before all of the chaos.
5. Don’t feel guilty – You deserve some you time! I know, its easier said that done. I have found that feeling guilty is my anxiety kicking up. It take time and work but it is possible to relax without feeling guilty.

One of my favorite sayings is that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself and meeting your own needs, allows you to better take care of others.