By Marci Gilbert
At first, admitting that you’re putting yourself first sounds selfish. What about my family or my responsibilities? Who will plan tonight’s dinner if not me? When you spend a long time not putting yourself first, you realize that you aren’t your best you. You may gain weight, you may be tired all the time. It’s sad because you get busy taking care of others and you sacrifice your own wellness.
It is important to take care of you first when it’s appropriate. (i.e. you should still put the airplane oxygen mask on a child before yourself!) Here are some of my ways for putting me first.
- I wake up really early to exercise. I used to exercise in the evening, but I realized it was causing me stress. I had to think about what class I wanted to do all day, make sure I left work at a certain time, and then I rushed around when I got home. One day I switched to the morning, and it feels so great to be done so early. Then I focus on eating right and drinking water the rest of the day.
- I signed up for a race that only I can complete. A race of any size is good. Just pick a challenging distance that you can train for and try. I like individual races or individual goals because only you can do it. Support from friends, family and spectators is great, but this is your goal to finish.
- I eat foods that my body likes and needs. You see I put the word “likes” in there too. The needs are fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and vitamins. The likes are indulgences like peanut butter cookies, ice cream, and French fries. Putting yourself first means also not depriving your body. You know anything with colored sprinkles on top makes you happier once in a while.
- I spend time with girlfriends. After spending most of my day at home on the computer with my puppy nearby, it is nice to leave her at home and spend time with friends. Everyone needs a little gossip session and time to catch up with friends.
- I step away from the computer and iPhone. Blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and texting can be with you every waking minute. You can literally be on your computer or phone all the time. I’m not great at stepping away, but I try to put myself first and do something outside of the web. Reading a real book, watching TV, going to dinner, or exercising are all important too.
Putting yourself first will make you a better person to the people around you too. When they realize that you need that time and see how you become happier and more centered, everyone knows it’s worth it. How are you putting yourself first?
Marci is the author of a daily blog about food and fitness at www.marcigilbert.com. She lives in Houston, TX.
