Are you taking care of your top priority?

You don’t have to feel guilt or shame. (Even though you probably do.)

Do you even know who your first priority is? Again, probably not. Still no shame.

Your first priority is: you. (You read that correctly. Read that again.)

Your family is #2.

Yes, it is difficult to do when you are running yourself to the point of exhaustion. You get up before the sun, get your kids ready for school before getting yourself to work. On a commute that takes at least half an hour. One way. Then you run errands, paying bills, going to the grocery store, and get the kids to their after school activities. Then home to make dinner. Another 30-minute minimum commute. Hopefully you get home before sunset. (Anyone else tired from just thinking about all this?)

You’re frazzled to the point you snap when someone ask you for the time. You have your cranky pants on and they are way too tight. And you might not realize it because it’s the way you’ve been forever. (You might have picked these habits up subconsciously.)

It’s because people, usually women, are taught to give their everything to everyone else. As a result, people are constantly sick and tired. Nay exhausted. And you really can’t help anyone when you are unable to get out of bed. Or the times when you don’t want to.

While self-care isn’t a crazy idea. It’s a new concept to many. The thought of taking care of yourself is not absurd. It’s essential. Non-negotiable level essential. Anyone who tells you any different doesn’t have your best interest.

The good news is, there are steps you can take to take better care of yourself. You can start today.

Here are three things you can do to start taking better care of yourself:

1 – Give yourself some you time. Your family and friends will be alright without you for ten minutes every day. Do something you want to do. Read a book for fun. Take a few more minutes in the shower, or bath. Have a quiet drink. You need it and deserve it.

2 – Start having your family do more for themselves. When you do everything for them, you are teaching them you will save their backside every time they forget their homework or cell phone. You are showing them you will take time out of your day to take them what they need. You are not abandoning them. You’re teaching them self reliance.

3 – At night, put your phone on do not disturb mode. And if you must have your phone in your room, put it on the other side of the room. Not within arm’s reach. So you can get a good night’s sleep. You are doing yourself zero favors by scrolling through social media while lying in bed when your mind needs to wind down. It’s too tempting to grab your phone with the intention of taking a few minutes to check your schedule for the next day. Next thing you know, you’ve spent 30 minutes doom scrolling on social media and your brain is so wired, you’re unable to decompress in order to fall asleep.

You need to start taking better care of yourself. It will make you feel better and no one’s going to do it for you. You can start doing one of the 3 tasks today.

Let me know in the comment section how tending to your needs more has helped you.

Cheers.