5 Reasons You Should Stop Feeling Guilty For Putting Yourself First

Photo by Ieva Vizule on Unsplash

Amidst the myriad responsibilities and commitments in our lives, we always tend to focus on everything else and ignore our own needs. 

It seems hard to put ourselves first, and say no to other people. Our own needs seem to stay at the bottom of our to-do list. Sometimes, they don't even make it to the list. 

And even if we manage to take some time out for ourselves, we feel guilty for it.

A lot of it comes from overthinking the consequences of setting boundaries. 

Don't worry, everything will be just fine, even if you take some time off. And no, you're not mean or selfish for saying no and putting yourself first.

In fact, neglecting your own needs will lead to increased stress and resentment over time. Your productivity will be affected, and so will your relationships. 

In order to live a fulfilling life, it's essential that you feel connected to yourself and attend to your own needs. Don't let your guilt prevent you from making your well being a priority.

Here are 5 reasons why you should stop feeling guilty for putting yourself first.

1. Your relationship with yourself is the most important relationship in your life.

You will always have yourself, no matter what. Strengthening your relationship with yourself should be your top priority.

Taking regular breaks and engaging in some introspection will allow you to understand what you really want in life.

If you don't give time to yourself, you will never be able to know what you truly want and what makes you happy. You will keep chasing after things that don't provide any value to your life. 

However, when you take care of your well being and prioritize self-care, you feel more confident and motivated. As a result, you become able to help others in a much better way. 

2. Your goals are important.

You have set your goals to become a better version of yourself and improve your life. And, to achieve your goals, you need to put in consistent effort and stay accountable. 

Putting yourself last hinders you from focusing on the things that are truly important to you.

If you don't give time to your goals, you will not be able to reach your full potential and feel satisfied with life. You will always regret not giving it your best shot.

Make time for your goals, no matter how busy your schedule may seem.

3. You can't fix other people's problems.

A lot of times we forget about what we truly want because we are so focused on fixing other people's problems.

You might be thinking you are helping someone by trying to fix their problems, but in reality, you are only making things worse. You can't solve problems for other people. They need to do it themselves and learn from their experiences.

4. There is only so much time in a day, you need to prioritize yourself.

Work, chores, obligations, errands, special favors; when you have too much on your plate, it comes as no surprise that you'd be totally exhausted by the time you finish checking everything off your to-do list. 

As a result, you would merely have the time and energy to think about your own self-care.

Without taking breaks and prioritizing your needs, you are going to burn yourself out. In order to make the most out of your day and be more productive, you need to set healthy boundaries and avoid taking on too many responsibilities.

Instead of continuously placing other people's need before your own, give yourself time to do things that really make you feel happy and relaxed.

5. You don't need validation from other people.

We tend to do favors for others to be polite and nice. We think that if we say no, it might hurt our relationship with the people around us. 

This constant need for approval prevents you from honoring your worth.

When you always look outside for approval, you will feel worthy only if you get things done for other people. You will always keep trying to please other people and ignore your needs.

Let go of wanting to please everyone and focus on what's truly important in your life. You will become a more confident and happier person if you prioritize your goals and your wellbeing.

Why do you think people feel guilty for putting themselves first? How can they overcome feelings of guilt?

Share your thoughts with me in the comment section below. 

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