I don’t know about you, but my life can be busy, hectic, stressful, and sometimes it seems impossible to make time for myself. Knowing your worth, your abilities, and what you deserve in life is a key ingredient for happiness. No matter what your week is looking like, keep your needs at the centre and be kind to yourself.
We all need moments to realise how far we have come. We all need encouragement to feel confident, important and to help us keep going. If you are feeling low, forgetting to notice just how wonderful you are, then here are five steps to get you back on track!
1. Quality alone time
Just as we set aside time in our week for coffee with a friend or a long FaceTime call, it is really important to spend time with yourself. We lose touch with friends and family when we don’t make an effort. But we can also lose touch with ourselves when we don’t prioritise our own needs and emotions.
If you are struggling to feel happy at the moment, make room for some alone time to evaluate your emotions and realise what pieces are missing in your life. This is just the first step to finding what you need and getting to know yourself better.
2. Name three weaknesses
What do you need to work on? Making lists can be really helpful when you are looking to make a change and make some progress. List three of your weaknesses, three things that you would like to improve on, and then get started.
This is a happy list — it is here to guide you forward and encourage improvement. Perhaps you will choose to work on your confidence, have a set routine each week, be more sociable? Or maybe you want to increase your fitness, remove some old habits, save a little more money?
By planning the things you want to change, you are setting your own expectations that will make you proud. This will help you see just how special you are.
3. Now, name three strengths…
I thought we could start with the weaknesses so that you can pick yourself up with the strengths. Think about your work ethic, your social life, your achievements, your character. What about yourself makes you proud?
I always find it harder to list my strengths than my weaknesses, which says a lot about what I need to work on. We often find it too easy to put ourselves down, feeling like we are worth much less than other people. List those positives, stick them around your room and love yourself more.
Setting new goals and making changes in our personal lives can be unhealthy if you fear failing. By reminding yourself of what you are already good at, what you are really proud of, then you can pick yourself up if you have any slips on this new journey of change.
4. Set yourself sensible goals
I don’t know about you, but I always seem to achieve more when I have something to work towards. Something that motivates me to keep going. Setting goals can be so helpful, but they can hurt your feelings if they are unrealistic.
Look at your life and what you would like to achieve, then set yourself some sensible goals. Lay out a plan that will get you there in small, realistic steps. Then remind yourself that progress can still be progress, even if you have to repeat some steps.
We set ourselves up for failure if we expect to always win. By setting out sensible goals and encouraging yourself more, you will start to realise your worth — even when nothing seems to go to plan.
5. Treat yourself
It is amazing how a simple encouragement can change your attitude to life. A simple compliment can change how you see yourself in the mirror.
Last month we welcomed a new puppy into our home and, though he doesn’t always behave well, his face will light up when you say “Good boy!” He knows that he is being rewarded.
Whether you have achieved a goal or you are struggling to make progress, reward yourself for trying! I have completed Couch to 5k more times than I can count, but I refuse to give up.
If you are finding it difficult to feel worthy of praise, look at all of the things you have achieved. Look at what changes you want to make and encourage yourself for any progress you make. You don’t need to measure your success against anyone else’s — just do enough to make yourself proud.
Written by Ella Taylor
WellBe is spearheading the way to a brighter future for corporate wellness. Our innovative portal is scientifically designed and tailored to each individual employee to improve their wellbeing. We specialise in a range of services from coaching and therapists, to meditation and reading materials. Our aim is to reduce workplace stress that costs UK businesses £42 billion per year. Get in touch with us by visiting our site wellbe.global for more information.
