Make yourself a priority

At the beginning of this new year, I propose to make myself a priority. First me, then the others.

And I challenge you to do this on your own.

When each of us takes care of himself and is well on his own, then we won’t need to ask for attention from outside. We won't envy others. We won't strive to prove our strength to others.

Do it in small steps and enjoy the progress:

• Talk about it. Give yourself permission to express your feelings. It won’t be easy when you don’t have experience with this, but just try it in small steps. It won’t make you a weak person, but it will create a safe space for you. Nothing will go wrong because there are only your feelings. Find a community or talk with some people trained on this.
• Put into your calendar time for yourself. Just like you reserve an hour for each call you have at work, put it the same way an hour for learning, schedule an event for going to the theatre or for exercise. Put a timer to remind you of some small breaks, to drink water, or to take lunch. And do it daily.
• Take care of your physical health. Eat properly, do sports, sleep well, and do annual medical checks.
• Make space. Donate all the clothes that don’t fit you anymore or that you didn’t wear during the last few years. Throw all the things that are broken and you hope you’ll repair them. Unsubscribe to all the newsletters you don’t read or the pages you don’t follow anymore. Keep around you only people who make you bloom.
• Work smarter, but not harder. And choose the right part of perfectionism.
• Follow your values. Be humble. Be grateful.
• Pay it forward.

Let’s have a new year kind, happy, and full of love!