Focus on Yourself

It is not a selfish thing to focus on yourself, nor is it selfish to find hobbies you enjoy. Your happiness matters. Put yourself first. At the same time, this does not mean abandoning activities with others or becoming a recluse. Nor does it mean intentionally prioritizing yourself over the happiness of others. You can still be a compassionate, caring, and social person while also carving out time for yourself. Finding time for yourself is the single most important thing for accomplishing anything you want to achieve. Setting aside “me time” for myself consistently has been one of the main reasons for sustained happiness and feelings of fulfillment in my life. Everyone has the time to create “me time,” you just need to be deliberate in setting it up for your daily life.

“Me time” and focusing on yourself can look like anything. It does not need to be sitting in a room meditating alone, or it could be. It can be anything you enjoy where you are fully present with yourself, your thoughts, living in the now. One of my favorite “me time” activities is an early morning run with no headphones. I always seem to have racing thoughts at first and then slip away into a clear and empty mind as I succumb to the solitude presented by this activity. “Me time” can present itself in your life on a run, working out, reading a book, sitting on a bench watching the sunrise, cooking a meal, car ride alone near sunset, learning a new skill, building LEGOs, anything.

Once you have established “me time” activities, I am confident you will be more motivated to attack other areas in your life with a renewed sense of desire and happiness. Taking time for yourself reciprocates in how you interact and engage with others in all facets of life. Prioritize yourself, become a better you, for the good of everyone around you and yourself.