Does Putting Yourself First Really Work?

Who do you spend the most time with? Your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers? None of the above. You spend the most time with, YOU! But does putting yourself first really work? It may seem that putting yourself first is useless or an exercise in being selfish but really it’s the first step in being able to give more to the ones you care about.

The fact is, you are with yourself 100% of the time so “checking in” to make sure you have the mental fuel to run your life successfully is a necessity!

Run through the below 5 mental check-ins to see how you are doing with – you.

Are you doing something that gets you excited?

We all have responsibilities. But daily life doesn’t have to feel like the doldrums. Find something that makes you excited and brings you joy. Sometimes, the smaller the better so you can incorporate it into your daily or weekend routine. Dust off an old hobby. Learn something new on a Podcast. Or tackle a small project every week that makes your space feel great.

Ask yourself: What am I up to? Remembering that small things – over time – matter, jot down all the things that fill your day and see where there is room to add or (more importantly) edit. Making time for things that get you excited is important it can also lead to a life-changing vocation.

Tim Ferris, author & speaker says, “The opposite of happiness isn’t sadness – its boredom.”

Actions versus Goals

All dreams start somewhere and setting goals is a proven tactic to achieve success. With that said, actions have a more immediate impact on your day to day than goals. When you can see the changes you are making your confidence goes up and your motivation has endurance. Goals project in the future, actions are taken immediately and results are seen both in the now and over time.

Ask yourself: What am I working on? What actions are you taking today that are different from last year? Have you seen a change that makes you, proud, excited, or determined for more? For this…think small. Even learning how to RV on YouTube is an action that changes you. Why? Because you are learning new ideas that will change your actions and give you new results.

What are you thinking about?

Daydreaming is a good thing, right? Yes, but you have to direct your mind with food for thought. Media, advertisements and social platforms can overwhelm your sense of wellbeing with nonsense. With Americans now checking their phones 50-70 times per day, it’s easy to see how one can get distracted in all the wrong ways. Your brain is more likely to fall into negative scenarios than positive so feeding your mind with positive messages, ideas, and projects is paramount. When you have something good to think about, from a new blog post, a project you are working on, or a trip you are planning you are planting seeds for your mind to develop in positive ways.

Ask yourself: What do I think about when I’m daydreaming? Do you get excited or overwhelmed? Do you think you can achieve what you are thinking about or do you use distractions to escape? Giving yourself good food for thought from reading to dream boards can have a major change in your trajectory.

Do you have energy?

Sean D’Souza entrepreneur and speaker presents the perspective that we do not have “time issues” we have “energy issues.”

When you don’t have the energy you need to manage your days use D’Souza’s three topics to do a self-check.

Work rest ratio: Do you give yourself time to recover from your tasks? When the day is over, the weekend comes or your vacation is underway – have you figured out how to unplug and unwind?

Manage depletions: For KYD the most critical people (think negative YouTube comments) are usually the least engaged. We have employed a tagline…We don’t respond to nonsense. Managing our depletions at KYD keeps our energy resources high so we can provide for the most committed.

Have a backup battery: Exercise, meditation, prayer, support groups, mentorship or even learning from your favorite creators is powerful and their ability to re-energize you is essential.

Ask yourself: Do I have an energy plan? Staying excited to complete your most important tasks has more to do with your energy than your time. Managing your energy is critical in order to be satisfied with your day and ready for the next opportunity.

 Set yourself up for success

You can waste A LOT of time trying to be something you’re not. That’s why it’s key to zoom in on your best skill-sets and bring those to the next level. When you are growing, improving, and excelling your self-value goes up and authenticity with those around you is noticed.

Jim Rohn says, “Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become.”

Ask yourself: What am I spending the most time on? Building on your positive skill-sets will have exponential results. Because opportunities do not give advanced warning, prioritizing growth in a specific area will prepare you for success.