As the conversations surrounding mental health and self-care continue, there’s one consistent sentiment. The consistent sentiment is that you have to take care of yourself. Even though it’d be nice for others to check on you, assist you with hard tasks, or make sure you go to the gym, you have to do those things for yourself. You also need to prioritize balance and happiness in your life. Since you are responsible for yourself, consider the best ways to get started.
1. Honor Your Own Needs
If you’ve seen your parents put their needs before your own, you might’ve learned that you’re supposed to constantly sacrifice for love. While there’s a certain amount of sacrifice that’s involved in parenting, you don’t want to lead a life where you’re constantly sacrificing your needs to benefit others. Whether it’s rest, exercise, or a vacation, honor the needs you have inside of you. Don’t throw them away as frivolous luxuries. If you need to hear a certain type of music to become motivated at the gym, working headphones are one of your major necessities. They’re directly connected to your ability to exercise and maintain a healthy body. Try not to dismiss what you need as pointless or unnecessary. Instead, focus on making sure you know what the need is, and how you can fill it and improve your level of happiness.
2. Set Up Boundaries
Even though it’s not something you’d like to believe, there are plenty of people who benefit from you putting them first. You’ll need to set up boundaries to prioritize yourself. Set up boundaries surrounding areas you’d like to feel better in. An example of setting boundaries might be setting your own “office hours” where you’ll answer the phone when people call. You might need to set up the ‘do not disturb’ notification on your phone. For work, you might need to set up an automated email response to messages that come in after hours. Another example involves emphatically saying no when you’re in an uncomfortable position. Essentially, setting boundaries allows you to preserve your energy, peace, and happiness. Setting boundaries also helps to preserve your relationships with other people. In turn, this can help you lead a more balanced, ordered life.
3. Spend Time Alone to Center Yourself
Spending time alone is healthy because it allows you to reconnect with your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. One of the best ways to center yourself is through Vedic Meditation. What is Vedic Meditation? It is a type of meditation that releases stress and can serve as a catalyst for joy. Even if you only have twenty minutes to complete a meditation session, it’s possible to gain great results from this powerful practice. Wake up before everyone else in your home to maximize this time of meditation.
4. Recognize and Do the Things That Bring Happiness
Take a closer look at the things that tend to bring happiness. Think about the times when you’ve been the happiest. Consider what you were doing during those times. For some, world travel brings a deep sense of happiness and pleasure. For others, cooking a meal from scratch can bring a different level of euphoria. If you’re someone who loves to perform and write music, don’t wait for a record deal to come. Start producing music at home. Learn how to create and produce through YouTube tutorials. Set goals, and become intentional with the pursuit of those goals.
5. Hold Yourself Accountable
Pay attention to the areas where you’re the most inconsistent. When you choose to remain inconsistent in certain areas of your life, this leads to a great deal of insecurity. It also leads to a lack of self-trust. One of the best ways to hold yourself accountable is by setting small goals. Instead of trying to exercise seven days a week, start by exercising two or three days a week. As you gradually build up your ability to remain consistent, you’ll become more self-confident. Self-confidence naturally leads to a higher level of happiness.
If you’re used to showing up for others to your detriment, forgive yourself. You did what you knew to do at that time. Since you know better now, it’s your responsibility to do better. Thankfully, with these tips and intentionality, you can succeed.