Free Yourself: Stop Doing Things for Others

Are you tired of constantly putting others first? Perhaps it’s time to take a step back and focus on yourself. It may sound selfish, but let’s face it – we all need some me-time every now and then. In this article, we’ll explore why it’s important to stop doing things for others and start prioritizing your own needs.

The Problem with Always Putting Others First

Putting others first can be a noble act, but when it becomes a habit, it can lead to burnout and resentment. Here are some reasons why putting yourself first is essential:

You Are Not Obligated To Meet Everyone Else’s Expectations

You don’t owe anyone anything unless you explicitly promised them something. Just because someone asks something of you doesn’t mean you’re obligated to deliver.

Resentment Can Build from Constantly Helping Others

Overextending yourself can result in feelings of frustration or bitterness towards the people who rely on your help.

Not Saying No Can Lead To Being Taken Advantage Of

People will continue asking favors if they believe that you have no limits or simply lack assertiveness skills.

Prioritizing Your Own Needs Is Healthy

Despite seeming like an unpopular choice, making time specifically for experiencing self care has several benefits:

You Will Experience Less Stress

Focusing more energy on what brings joy instead of sucking life out informs us how positively finding balance radiates throughout our daily activities.

According to science, allowing one’s body adequate rest contributes significantlyto better emotional stability (Hughes & Gunnell 2020).

### Boosts Happy Hormones
Prized moments spent getting recharged-in however manner which helps most- triggers dopamine, oxytocin endorphins resulting in less melacholy feelings

  • Examples may include reading books–(Hint: best done while counting clouds), watching movies (note: low-quality horror flicks might not make the cut), and munching on some delectable dessert sweets (Hint: Chocolate is a must!).

###You’ll Have More Time To Focus On Your Own Goals
Surprise! dedicating time to personal goals- like working towards that promotion, finally taking pole-dancing classes can be conducive in accomplishing them.

How To Start Putting Yourself First

Starting something new – especially when it goes against your ‘if I don’t people pleasesomeone they won’t like me’ instincts, can seem daunting. Here are some practical ways to slowly begin prioritizing your needs:

Practice Saying No

It’s okay to say no–especially if you’re already feeling overwhelmed or stressed out.Try these templates next time someone asks for help:

Situational Template Response Suggestion
“Can you do this last minute thing for me?” “I’m sorry, but my schedule’s full at the moment.”
“Could you please .(insert task here)?” “Unfortunately, I won’t have the capacity do that”.
“Would you mind .(place activity here).? Apologetically tellingthe personthatyou’suggest watching with them instead.’

Make A List Of Priorities

Keeping a list of what you want most important willprevent others’ demands from clouding ourjudgement.

Within this becomes detangling priorities between:

  • Urgent.
  • Important-but-not-urgent commitments,
    and those who should never have been listed down in first place.

Invest effort into tackling items within higher priority categories immediately.

Learn How To Delegate

Distribute tasks among others to reduce leveling up stress levels by offering delegation as an option –both personally and professionally. This will give fellow coworkers an opportunity for development and can free up just enough time for more leisure activities.

###Find A Hobby That Brings You Joy

To most this is ‘too good to be true’ since feelings of guilt kick in, but exploring a favorite pastime (one that might have been buried below piles of to-dos) has monumental benefits. It’s not only rewarding–it also provides ample opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals.

Conclusion

Making yourself the number one priority isn’t selfish; instead, it’s essential. You’re not created solely for another person’s convenience- there are instincts, emotions and desires unique and worth pursuing on your own.Recognize when you’ve given way too much energy into others or certain duties so making necessary adjustments will bring joy back to what must remain inevitable—scheduling “me-time.”

The next time someone asks you for something while projects from your previous commitments aren’t concluded,you don’t really need their company at theircoffee shop preference,or want them sending last-minute notifications remindful of an added workload consider priorities pertainingto personal tasks/projects easing unwanted emotional clutter along with motivation within solitude moments.

So lay aside old people pleaser habits –and get recharged!

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