In today’s bustling world, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle of responsibilities and commitments. However, to lead a fulfilling and balanced life, it’s critical to make yourself a priority.
Prioritizing yourself doesn’t mean ignoring the needs of others; instead, it involves finding a healthy balance between taking care of others and taking care of yourself.
This shift can make you happier, more productive, and more resilient.
In this post, we’re going to delve into 18 actionable and highly-effective tips to help you put yourself first, nurture your wellbeing, and ultimately, make yourself a priority.
Let’s embrace the journey to a more self-caring and balanced life!
Make Yourself A Priority: 18 Highly-Effective Self-Empowerment Tips
1. Set Personal Goals
A common problem is lack of direction. By setting personal goals, you have a clear path and a sense of purpose.
Your personal goals should inspire you to strive for better, and they serve as a roadmap for where you want to go.
The first step to making yourself a priority is to set personal goals that align with your values and aspirations. Ensure these goals excite and motivate you.
Here’s a tip, Write down three personal goals you want to achieve in the next six months. Make sure they’re SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
2. Create a Vision Board in Your Journal
A vision board provides a visual reminder of your goals and the life you’re working towards.
Use a page in your journal to create a visual representation of your goals. This acts as a constant reminder of what you’re working towards.
Include images, goal setting quotes, or symbols that reflect your goals and dreams. Collect images that inspire you and represent your goals. Glue them into your journal or draw your own illustrations.
This can significantly increase your motivation and focus on what truly matters to you.
3. Start Each Day with Intention
By starting your day with intention, you gain control and can focus on what matters most.
This could involve planning your day, setting a positive tone, or establishing daily goals. By doing this, you can start your day with a clear focus and a sense of direction.
Dedicate the first few minutes of your day to outlining what you want to accomplish. Spend 5-10 minutes each morning to write down your most important tasks for the day and how you want to feel by the end of it.
4. Prioritize Your Goals
It’s easy to get caught up in less important tasks and prioritizing your goals ensures that you spend your time and energy on what truly matters.
Use your journal to decide which goals are most important to you and prioritize them. Identify your top three most important goals. Allocate most of your time and resources towards these.
5. Use a Planner to Schedule Self-Care
Neglecting self-care is common, particularly when busy. Scheduling self-care ensures that it becomes a non-negotiable part of your routine.
Make a deliberate effort to carve out time for self-care activities. Schedule them in your planner just like any other commitment.
Whether it’s yoga, reading, or a simple walk in the park, scheduling these activities makes them a non-negotiable part of your day.
6. Break Down Goals into Manageable Tasks
Take one of your larger goals and break it down into tasks that can be accomplished in a day or a week. Write these tasks in your planner.
This will help to prevent feeling overwhelmed and while you write these smaller tasks in your journal, it is best to them one at a time to make them more manageable and less daunting.
7. Celebrate Achievements
Recognition of your progress, no matter how small, boosts your motivation and confidence. Take a moment to appreciate your journey and the effort you’ve put in.
Whenever you achieve a goal, take time to celebrate and reflect on your accomplishment.
After completing a goal or task, treat yourself to something you enjoy. This could be as simple as a special cup of tea or a walk in the park.
8. Reflect Regularly
Reflecting provides valuable insights into your actions, thoughts, and feelings.
Use your journal to document progress and reflect on your experiences. Regular reflection leads to better self-understanding.
Set aside 10-15 minutes at the end of each day to write down your goal setting questions, thoughts, feelings, and lessons learned in your journal.
9. Create a Gratitude Log
Negativity bias can lead to a lack of appreciation for what we have. A gratitude log helps cultivate positivity and a greater appreciation for life.
Making note of what you’re grateful for can help shift your focus towards positivity and personal growth.
Write down three things you’re grateful for every day in your journal. Try to make them specific and varied.
10. Prioritize Health
Neglecting physical and mental health is a common problem, so prioritizing your health improves overall well-being and productivity.
Set goals related to your health. This could be physical, like exercise and diet, or mental, like mindfulness and meditation.
Set a health-related goal each month, such as drinking more water, exercising regularly, practicing mindfulness, or cultivating an abundance mindset. Track your progress in your journal.
11 Use Affirmations
These positive statements can help you overcome self-sabotaging thoughts. By repeating affirmations, you can begin to believe them and they will start to impact your actions.
Positive affirmations can reinforce your goal to make yourself a priority. Write these affirmations in your journal.
Write down five positive affirmations about yourself and your goals. Repeat them out loud every morning and evening.
12. Identify Distractions
These could be digital distractions, unhealthy relationships, or even your own negative thoughts. Once you’ve identified them, you can take steps to minimize these distractions and make more time for yourself.
Make a note of what often distracts you from prioritizing yourself and find solutions to manage these distractions.
Note down distractions as they arise throughout your day. Then brainstorm ways to minimize these distractions in your journal.
13. Practice Mindfulness
Being present in the moment allows you to enjoy life more fully and reduce stress. It enhances your connection with yourself and helps you make more mindful decisions.
Dedicate a portion of your day to practice mindfulness. This can be done through meditation, mindful eating, or simply journaling your thoughts.
Spend 5-10 minutes each day focusing on your breath or observing your surroundings. Write down your observations in your journal.
14. Create Boundaries
Creating boundaries ensures that your time and energy are protected for what matters most.
Boundaries might include saying no to tasks that don’t align with your goals or limiting the time spent on non-productive activities. They help protect your time and energy for the things that truly matter.
Write down what boundaries you need to establish to ensure you have time for yourself.
15. Stay Consistent
Consistency is key when it comes to self-prioritization.
Lack of consistency can lead to sporadic progress and motivation. Staying consistent helps to build momentum and establish habits that support your goals.
Stay consistent with your journaling and goal setting activities. Choose one of your new habits and commit to doing it at the same time every day for the next 30 days. Track your progress in your journal.
16. Create a ‘Not-to-Do’ List
Spending time on unproductive activities can be draining. A ‘Not-to-Do‘ list helps identify and eliminate these, freeing up time and energy.
Not only should you identify what you need to do, but also what you need to stop doing. This can help free up time for self-prioritization.
Identify three activities or habits you want to reduce or eliminate. Write strategies for doing so in your journal.
17. Be Flexible
Rigidity can lead to stress and disappointment. Being flexible allows you to adapt to life’s changes and maintain progress towards your goals.
Adjust your plans and goals as necessary, and use your journal to navigate these changes.
Review your goals monthly. Adjust any goals that no longer serve you and write down any new ones that have emerged.
18. Remember Your ‘Why’
It’s common to lose sight of why you started. Remembering your ‘why’ provides motivation and a reminder of the benefits you’re working towards.
Regularly remind yourself of why you’ve decided to make yourself a priority. This can provide motivation and focus during challenging times.
Write down why you want to prioritize yourself and what benefits you hope to gain. Review this ‘why‘ statement whenever you’re feeling unmotivated or overwhelmed. We have produced a free printable goal setting worksheet that could help you on your journey.
Make Yourself A Priority – Summary
To make yourself a priority involves a consistent commitment towards personal growth, self-care, and mindfulness.
It’s a journey of setting and achieving personal goals, staying focused, celebrating achievements, creating boundaries, and managing distractions effectively.
Implementing these 18 actionable tips can help bring balance, joy, and a sense of fulfillment to your life.
Key takeaways include the importance of setting personal goals, the value of daily intention setting, the necessity of self-care, and the power of consistency.
Remember, these strategies not only benefit you but also those around you, as a happier, healthier you can contribute more effectively to the world.
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To support your journey in making yourself a priority, we invite you to explore the YLB 90 day goal planner and achievement journal. This tool is designed to facilitate effective goal-setting, daily intention setting, regular reflection, and much more.
Make Yourself A Priority – FAQs
What does it mean to make yourself a priority?
Making yourself a priority means acknowledging your own needs and desires, and actively working to fulfill them. It involves self-care, personal development, setting personal goals, and making decisions that align with your well-being and happiness.
How do I make myself a priority?
You can make yourself a priority by setting clear personal goals, creating time for self-care, maintaining healthy boundaries, and focusing on activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Regular reflection and consistent habits can also help maintain this prioritization.
Why is making yourself a priority important?
Making yourself a priority is essential for overall well-being. It boosts self-esteem, reduces stress, and improves health. It’s also important for personal growth, and can lead to increased productivity and better relationships.
Should your first priority be yourself?
Yes, prioritizing yourself is not a selfish act. By taking care of your own needs and well-being, you’re in a better position to help and support others. It’s like the airplane safety instruction to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others.
What is the role of goal-setting in making yourself a priority?
Goal-setting provides a roadmap for personal development and success. By setting and pursuing your own goals, you’re effectively making yourself a priority, ensuring that your actions align with your personal values and aspirations.
How does self-care fit into making yourself a priority?
Self-care is a key component of making yourself a priority. It ensures that you’re taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being, allowing you to function at your best in all areas of life.
How does a journal or planner help in making myself a priority?
A journal or planner helps you organize your thoughts, set and track goals, and schedule time for self-care. It’s a goal setting tool that facilitates reflection, mindfulness, and personal growth, thereby aiding in self-prioritization.
Is it selfish to make myself a priority?
No, it’s not selfish. Making yourself a priority is about acknowledging and respecting your own needs and well-being. By doing so, you can better serve others and lead a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Can making myself a priority improve my relationships?
Absolutely. When you prioritize yourself, you cultivate a sense of self-worth and happiness which can enhance your relationships. By taking care of your own needs, you’re able to engage more positively and effectively with others.
What if I feel guilty for making myself a priority?
It’s normal to feel guilty initially, especially if you’re used to putting others first. However, remember that prioritizing yourself is crucial for your health and happiness. With time, this guilt will fade as you experience the benefits of self-prioritization.