I’m so happy to be welcoming Chelsea back to The Elgin Avenue for our new season of posting! Even knowing what she’ll be writing I always love reading her pieces!
In today’s article Chelsea’s touching upon a dialogue which I feel many of us can relate to: Why making yourself a priority should be a priority. As I shared earlier this week, it’s all too easy to de-prioritise your own health and happiness in favour of ‘hustle’.
Chelsea’s sharing why putting yourself at the top of your to-do list not only benefits you, but those closest to you as well.
So sweetly Chelsea also shares one of our emails between the two of us – so you’re essentially getting a look at our inbox dialogue ????!
I hope you enjoy Chelsea’s article as much as I did, and that you implement positive actions for looking after yourself too.
Over to Chelsea!
Love, Monica x
Why making yourself a priority
should be a priority
Before we get into this article, I want to share a little backstory behind it.
As a contributor to the fantastic The Elgin Avenue, Monica and I create deadlines and article topics, just like any editorial site – and I usually can’t wait to write each piece.
But as the due date approached for this particular headline, I found myself exhausted. I’d been working non-stop prepping for a vacation, been up to my eyeballs in more work, and simply could have cried thinking about doing anything else that day. I 100% had not been making myself a priority—and in that moment, I felt like a fraud trying to write this.
So instead of forcing it, I emailed Monica about pushing the deadline back.
This was her word-for-word response: “Of course, honey! No problem at all! Definitely most important to prioritize your health and wellbeing – no rush! Enjoy some downtime, lovely, and I look forward to reading it when you’re ready.”
And that is exactly why I write for this site.
Monica, like myself, understands the importance of self-care, even when it’s not happening in her life. We’re not perfect, and even though we write articles like this one, most of the headlines are based on our own struggles. These are topics that we care deeply about and are trying to adjust to ourselves – or have done in the past.
As I pushed back this deadline and took a break for the weekend, I spent a few days completely recharging. That involved cancelling plans, saying no, doing weekend workouts, having an ice cream party with my fiancé, and blissful self-priority.
As a reminder to my future self and anyone else struggling with this topic, I’ve created a list of reasons WHY putting yourself first is crucial.
Your happiness is important
When you make yourself a priority, you have time to think about what makes you happy. You can take a look at who you’re spending time with, what hobbies you enjoy and if you’re finding satisfaction at your job.
And when I say, “what makes you happy?” I mean that exactly.
When, in your day, are you truly feeling high? Which tasks do you do first (because they are your favorite)? Learn the things that make YOU uniquely happy—they may be very different from what makes someone else happy.
When you stop putting work and others first for a minute, you might be surprised at what you learn about yourself and what changes you may need to make.
Mental and physical health
When you’re too busy worrying about other things, you’re probably putting your health on the back burner. Lots of eating out, late nights, and a general lack of nourishment can start to creep up on you and affect you more than you realize.
When your health and wellbeing are at stake, which they are, it’s imperative to create pockets of time to encourage a healthy life. That means a healthy body, but also a healthy mind and soul.
For me, that includes time for setting intentions, mediating (even for 5 minutes), going to yoga, walking my dog outside or getting in time for a trip to the produce department. Whatever it may be, make time for it.
It can negatively affect your relationships
Taking on too much and neglecting self-care isn’t just rough on you, it can also be rough on your friends and family. When you’re absent (mentally or physically) and stop caring for yourself, chances are you’re not taking care of your relationships either.
It might seem overwhelming to take on work, yourself and relationships with others, but there is something I always come back to: how important connections are and how they’re actually a leading contributor to happiness.
So, when you’re spending time with another person, you’re not only building that relationship, but you’re building your happiness as well.
On that note . . .
As I wrap this article, I’m taking a break from my computer and my commitments to others. I’m off to the kitchen to make a yummy salad with a side of this hilarious book, and I am looking forward to hanging out with my fiancé later today.
I hope that after reading this piece, you too can make yourself a priority at least once today! And make doing so a regular habit.
What’s Your Take?
How are you handling looking after yourself right now? Do you feel that you’re pretty good at prioritising yourself, or do you struggle too? What’s your favourite way to look after your own wellbeing?
Love, Chelsea x
Photography by Frances McMahon
CREDITS
Dress: H&M
Cardigan: Primark – Similar | Mug: ED x Royal Doulton & Full Set
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