“It’s time to prioritize yourself again.” I was given these valuable words of advice last week, and incorporating them into my daily life has already begun to have a large positive impact on my health and wellbeing. With busy schedules at the end of the school year and final exams quickly approaching, it can be easy to center our priorities around school, social life, extracurriculars, and other demands. This, however, often comes at the expense of prioritizing ourselves and our wellbeing, which is more important than any of the other priorities listed above. The following are some steps you may take to work towards prioritizing yourself again.
1. Listen to your body. Your body often tells you exactly what it needs, whether it be more sleep, water, nutritious food, or exercise. Taking care of your body is the first step to prioritizing yourself, and feeling happier, healthier, and more energized each day.
2. Be kind to your mind. The importance of mental health cannot be understated in your daily wellbeing. Daily life in college is full of fun and excitement, but it is also often accompanied by stress and uncertainty. It is important to recognize this and make an effort to identify your stressors and ways to alleviate them, whether this be through exercise, meditation, talking to family and friends, journaling, or another outlet.
3. Surround yourself with the right people. A large part of prioritizing yourself is surrounding yourself with people who make you feel like the best version of yourself. This means spending time with people who make you feel valued and loved for exactly who you are, and who bring joy and happiness to your life each day.
4. Take time for yourself. While socializing is a vital part of living a happy and fulfilling life, having a bit of alone time each day is also essential for your wellbeing. Whether it be going for a walk or run, reading a book, listening to a podcast, or watching your favorite TV show, set aside some time for yourself each day in order to feel more grounded and connected to your inner self.
5. Find the things that make you happy, and prioritize them. We often get so caught up in our class assignments, to-do lists, and social plans filling up our Google calendars that it can be easy to forget to prioritize the things which bring us the most joy. Incorporate the things that make you happy into your daily routine by taking classes that interest you, joining an intramural team to play your favorite sport, or volunteering for a meaningful cause that is close to your heart.
6. Take time to reflect. At the end of each day, reflect by asking yourself the following questions: Am I taking care of myself? Am I prioritizing the people and things which bring me joy? Does my daily routine make me feel productive and fulfilled? Am I setting aside time to do the things that make me happy? If you find yourself answering in the affirmative to these questions, then chances are that you are well on your way to making yourself and your wellbeing a priority.
Although some of these steps may sound cliché, following them is the key to living a more grounded, fulfilling, and positive life. Most importantly, remember that prioritizing yourself is not selfish but actually essential to maintaining your health, wellbeing, and overall happiness.