https://unsplash.com/photos/YCW4BEhKluw

Hands up who feels like they’re stretched to the seams. It’s safe to assume that just about everyone feels like there is too much to do and not enough hours in the day, days in the week, or even weeks in the year to stay on top of things. Whether you’re at school or trying to run a business, there’s simply not enough time to focus on yourself.

But, while you might feel you’re doing enough for everyone else, this also means you forget about yourself. Not to sound selfish, but focusing on you is always more important. What was that saying about being unable to fill from an empty cup? With that in mind, here are a few ways you can look after yourself and improve the lives of everyone around you.

Take Care of Future You

Too many people forget about their future selves, whether it’s them in a few hours, a week, or even years from now. Reminding yourself that you’ll need to deal with it at some point will make it easier to take better care of future you.

So what does this mean? Do the dishes need doing but you’re too exhausted? Future you don’t like that. Do you need to arrange something that is time-sensitive? You don’t want future you (and everyone else) to be disappointed. The more you look after yourself now, the better off your future self will be, and it will ease a lot of the stress you’re experiencing.

Accept Help for Deeper Issues

It’s easy to get swept up in work or relationships or responsibilities. So much so that you’ll wake up one day feeling different. You won’t just feel different, though. You’ll act differently. Perhaps you’re exhausted all day, every day. Maybe you’re experiencing uncharacteristic mood swings or become easily frustrated.

All of this points to deeper issues at play. Many people attempt to squish these issues and hope they go away, but it doesn’t work like that. If you have noticed a change in your behavior, or someone has mentioned you don’t seem like yourself, it is an opportunity to make some changes. Seeking anxiety treatment or therapy for other mental health issues, such as depression or burnout, can do wonders for your self-esteem and make it easier to look after yourself.

Don’t Try to Do It All

Successful and happy people have mastered the art of delegation. But if this is the case, why can’t everyone do it? Delegating can be difficult if you don’t understand how or when to delegate. This means you’ll try to do everything yourself because you only believe in yourself to get it right.

It should be no surprise that this causes problems in your personal and professional relationships. Learning to delegate will give others a chance to prove themselves and take the load from your shoulders. For instance, if you are a housewife and have been doing all the household chores yourself, it is time to divide them equally among the members. In the same vein, if you own an e-commerce business and have been managing all the responsibilities on your own, you should think of enlisting the help of professionals who can help run your business more efficiently. When you do this, you would have enough time on your hand for yourself, that you can use for self-growth or in spending time with your family. With these little changes, you’ll feel lighter, freer, and less overwhelmed with everything in life.

Make Time For Enjoyment

If you’re a workaholic, you may not know what to do with free time, yet this can have severe repercussions. You might not feel it right now, but eventually, this attitude towards your work-life balance will cause things to crumble.

As much as you enjoy your job or feel obligated to do it all, you must make time for enjoyment. Everyone has something that relaxes them, whether it’s soaking in the tub, reading, or playing video games. Don’t let your life get in the way of this enjoyment, and find time to embrace it.

Make Time for Your Well-being

Similarly, make more time for your well-being. Exercise and healthy eating are two crucial elements of living the good life.

Even if you don’t think you have the time to exercise, you can find pockets of opportunity while you’re folding the laundry or sitting at your desk. You can even lift weights while watching your favorite shows. It’s easy, it’s convenient, and it’s effective, so give it a try.

Clear Out the Clutter

Clutter is present in everyone’s life. Your desk is a mess, your cupboards have become akin to some modern art piece that could fetch a lofty fee at any gallery. But, this clutter is driving you to the brink. Knowing that all this mess is present means you can’t focus, so give yourself some time to clear out the clutter and start anew.

It’s not just physical clutter that’s the problem, though. You’ll also have mental clutter that can be more difficult to shift. Again, exercise is a great solution, but so too is journaling. With this, you can get everything down on the page and clear your head, making it easier to work through your problems and overcome any issues.

Find Ways to Get Outside More

Everyone knows the benefits of being outside, but circumstances beyond everyone’s control mean that hasn’t been possible for a while. Even now, you might think it’s impossible to get away from your desk. You can’t risk missing a call or an email, so you’re stuck there. By the end of the day, you’re too drained to do anything.

If possible, though, why not take your work outside with you. Take calls on the go, or arrange policies with your manager and employees that make this easier. Even a ten-minute walk can be enough to refresh your mind.

Recognize What You Need to Work On

As much as you know you have some faults, you might not recognize how these faults can affect others. If you want to be better for yourself and everyone else, it’s best to learn what you can work on.

Could you listen better when people are talking to you, rather than waiting your turn? Do you self-sabotage because you’re worried about things going wrong? These are just two examples, and everyone is different. Some self-reflection can help massively when trying to look after yourself.

Putting Yourself First

It can be challenging to put yourself above everyone else. For many, it feels selfish, and some people may not realize you’re doing it to make everything easier. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to take a little time to refocus and spend some time with yourself. Only then can you do everything you need for everybody else.