Engy Elghannam 
When you contemplate focusing on yourself , your aspirations, your physical well-being, and your mental state, and all aspects related to you – what exactly comes to mind? How would it make you feel if, even if just for an hour , your sole focus was on yourself and your personal needs? Many of us often mistake self-care for selfishness or thoughtlessness towards others. However, if you take a moment to reflect, you'll come to realize that in order to be the best version of yourself for everyone else, you must first prioritize self-care. This is why, I thought it would be a valuable opportunity to encourage you to prioritize yourself above all else!
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It's absolutely okay to put your own needs first
Though the word "selfish" usually has a negative vibe, I'm using it here on purpose to stress the importance of understanding that looking after yourself is completely fine. To get started, the first thing you should do is embrace the notion that taking care of yourself isn't just allowed; it's essential.
Here's a simple yet highly effective exercise. Stand in front of a mirror and ask yourself these questions - What do I want? What do I need? How can I make myself feel better right now? If you can write down your answers, that's even better, but even if you just take a moment to look in the mirror and treat yourself with the love and care you deserve, you're already taking a significant step towards prioritizing yourself.
Write down three things that are most important to you in your life
In fact, I would recommend creating a list of 10 things that matter to you and then arranging them in order of their significance. Afterward, take a look at your list and think about your activities over the past week. Did any of the things you did align with the items on your list? To make it more specific, ask yourself if your recent actions are connected to the top three things that are significant to you or that you want to accomplish.
It's essential to let go of things in your life that lack meaning or don't serve your well-being for various reasons. If you find it difficult to release certain things, especially if they involve specific people, ask yourself, why? Why am I holding on to things that make me unhappy, diminish my sense of worth, or fail to contribute positively to my overall well-being?
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Identify the things that are holding you back
This might feel a bit overwhelming because it involves diving into your thoughts and feelings. But, try to make a list of at least three things that you know are getting in the way of achieving your goals and taking care of yourself. What did you come up with? For many people, it's often fears and anxiety that stand in the way of self-prioritization. Regardless of what's blocking your path, take a moment to ask yourself "why."
For example, if you're anxious about taking a day off, or taking a necessary risk, don't just let that fear linger. Challenge yourself to understand why you feel this way. Ask, "Why am I avoiding taking a day off when I clearly need it?" Or, if your concerns involve relationships, question, "Why do I repeatedly choose to be around people who aren't kind or honest, and don't align with the type of people I want to be with?" Be as honest as you can with yourself, even if it's uncomfortable. I can promise you that confronting these truths and answering these questions will bring you closer to making yourself a priority.
Ask yourself this: What makes you happy?
Have you ever taken a moment to think about what genuinely makes you happy? Go one step further and wonder; What can I do to bring more happiness into my life?
In the fast pace of life, we often get caught up in our daily routines and forget to consider what truly brings us happiness. I understand that life can be chaotic, and many of us are busy working long hours and trying to accomplish a lot. However, sometimes, all it takes is a few minutes or an hour to invest in yourself, your well-being, your physical and mental health, or anything that's important to YOU.
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List five things you'd like to do more often
If this is a practice you've tried in the past, don't give up. Approach it again with a positive attitude and sincere intentions. What are five goals you want to achieve? These are personal objectives you aim to reach, and they go beyond just making you happy. Next, think about the steps you need to take to accomplish these goals. For instance, let's say you want to learn how to cook, but your busy schedule has prevented you from taking cooking lessons. How can you create a plan with small, achievable steps to make progress?
So, what do you say? Will this be the year you prioritize yourself? Prioritizing yourself isn't always straightforward, and it might even involve seeking guidance from a therapist who can help you gain clarity on your true desires.
