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Last Updated on December 8, 2020 by karissa ancell
Do you struggle with making yourself a priority?
I love being a wife a mom and now beginning my journey as an entrepreneur. I think all three of these roles are what help make my life beautiful. Though not always easy I love the roles I have as a mom, wife, and entrepreneur. Many of us take on a lot of roles in our lives, but we don’t know how to take care of ourselves. Here are seven simple ways you can make yourself more of a priority.

When I decided to start running my blog and growing it into an online business, I began connecting with other bloggers and entrepreneurs. One common trait of entrepreneurs I know in my real life, and many moms are that they tend to be very busy and overwhelmed in their lives. I understand this because especially in the beginning of starting a business so much is your responsibility. If not 100% of running the business.
I also know as a wife and mother a lot of time we become the last priority in our lives. Things get busy, and not everything can get done in the hours available in the day. I think it’s important for everyone to learn ways to make yourself a priority.
I’ve learned from life experience and going through a lot of things in my life that one of the best ways to help your family and get more accomplished is by making yourself a priority. If you don’t take care of yourself, then you won’t be able to take care of your family or what needs to get done. So here are my simple ways you can make yourself more of a priority. Try doing these 7 things and taking care of yourself so you have more to give to others.
1. Get enough sleep
Doing this is so important for your health and your well-being. I know when life is busy and your to-do list is a mile long the impulse may be to go to bed late and get up early. You feel like you are wasting valuable time that you could be working.
The truth is that if you aren’t getting enough sleep, you are putting yourself at risk of getting sick more often. Then you will be potentially out of commission for days. Also, sleep-deprived mind and body are not able to get as much accomplished. You would be able to get more done in less time if your brain and body were better rested.
2. Make time each day for things you love
This is one thing that drives me crazy. I know so many women who are so busy all they time and work so hard and never make time for things that they love to do. You only get one chance at life and although I know that there are lots of things we have to do. To me, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t get to do things that we love to do.
We all have different hobbies and interests. It doesn’t matter what it is that you love doing, you should find the time to fit it into your life. Maybe not as much as you are doing other things. You need to reward yourself for all the time you spend taking care of your family and your business. By taking some time for yourself.
It doesn’t have to be a lot of time. Just taking 30 minutes for yourself can leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed. You are important and if you feel overwhelmed and stressed you won’t be at your best. Since you probably can’t take an extended time away from your responsibilities set a goal to spend 30 minutes on you a couple of times a week.
3. Setting boundaries with people in your life
This topic is something I’ve written about before. You can check out my post on setting boundaries here. It is such a life changer once you learn how to set boundaries with the people in your life. I think that when we don’t set limits on our time and what is acceptable to us. It shows that we undervalue how important we are.
If you work hard and are a kind person which I think most of us are then we deserve to be respected and have people value our time and what matters to us.
4. Learn to delegate responsibilities at home and work
I learned this lesson the hard way in my early 20’s. So I was married at 19, and we had our daughter right before I turned 22. My husband worked full time, and I worked part-time as a nanny, so I could make some money, and I was allowed to bring my daughter. I also was going to school part time. Then at home, I still did most of the chores and things. I didn’t know how to talk to my husband about the fact that I needed help. I wanted him to figure it out and being young and naive I thought he would be able to. Instead, I kept letting that tension build up and it was hard few years on our marriage.
Being older and somewhat wiser I’ve learned that I can have my husband do more around the house. I just need to be more clear about what needs to get done and negotiate responsibilities. Also having an older child, we are working with her to take care of her things and do chores around the house.
Right now I run my blog and business on my own, but this lesson of delegating responsibilities applies to work as well. When the time comes that I can afford a virtual assistant I will be getting one. It will be nice to have help with some of my least favorite blogging and business tasks.

5. It’s alright to ask for help when you need it
Now for me, #4 and #5 on this list go together. Not only did I not know how to delegate I also didn’t feel right about asking for help. Which looking back now was just so dumb of me. I had great people in my life who would have helped me, but I had this mental block of not wanting to ask for help.
I knew I needed help, but I was afraid and embarrassed to ask for help. So I tried to handle everything on my own. I ended up causing myself so much stress internally that it lead to me getting ill. I ended up having a massive stroke at the age of 25 which was more than likely due to all the stress I was putting on myself.
So from that moment on, I made the promise to myself and my family that I would speak up and ask for help when I needed it. It still isn’t something I enjoy to do but I know the consequences of not asking for help and putting too much on myself.
Remember a healthy and less stressed you is going to be a better you for all areas of yourself for your personal and business life. So when life becomes too hard because you have too much on your plate or a problem you can’t solve, then ask for help.

6. Try to get things done, not perfect
My motto with most areas of my life is, done not perfect. Sure doing things perfect would be ideal and sometimes things turn out pretty great and nearly perfect. Sometimes they don’t though. As busy people, we have a lot of balls in the air at any given moment, and it can be hard to admit that there just isn’t enough time. That’s why I focus on done.
So to get more done on my list so that I can maybe free up some more time for fun. I don’t go for perfect. Now there are going to be tasks that I work harder on and want to do better, but I think perfection on almost anything is impossible.
7. Be your own cheerleader
You have to stick up for yourself and realize your worth. That’s the only way you will become a priority in your life. If you are waiting for others to make you the priority in your life. That’s not going to happen. You have to realize that being happy, healthy and treating yourself the way you deserve. Has to start with you first.
I think you know that you are important and that you can do great things. It’s just difficult to make yourself a priority sometimes. Everyone has great potential in them. I also know that too often we put the needs of everyone else ahead of ourselves. The thing is that I see too many women not make themselves a priority and it costs them their health, happiness, and success.
8 Learn to Say no
One of the best ways to take care of yourself and begin to learn to make yourself a priority is to learn the power of saying no. By saying yes to doing things that you don’t have the time for or that you don’t want to do you are in effect saying no to yourself.
Because if you use all your time doing things you don’t want to do you are making yourself not a priority and making less time for what is really important
I hope that you will take in the information in this post and start putting yourself higher on your priority list. I also really hope that you will start taking more time for yourself and being making yourself a priority. Here is a free list of 30 ideas for you to take care of you. Taking a little bit of time for you is not selfish but really healthy and good for you. It’s also a great example for others in your life especially your children. If they don’t see you prioritize yourself they won’t learn to take care of themselves.
One of the best simple ways you can make yourself more of a priority is by learning to be more productive. Check out my free course where I show you how to do that.
Here are 30 things that take 30 minutes
Sign up to find out how you can take care of you by better in just 30 minutes a day. Remember you are a priority.)
Meredith says
Thanks for the great reminders. I definitely have issues making time for me and my needs, and especially with asking for help. This post came to me on a day when I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, so I really needed to read and remember these tips!
Robin says
Totally agree with you, especially on getting enough sleep and setting boundaries! Both are choices to say, “I’m drawing a line in the sand here that I won’t cross because my needs are important.” It’s hard shutting off your computer every night when there’s still so much to be done, but you have to realize that you can’t do well what the world needs you to do if you don’t get enough sleep!
Robin recently posted…15 Must-Listen Podcasts for Those Who Love Storytelling & Learning
Meghan says
Yes to every single one of these! It’s so hard to do, though, especially when you have multiple roles to fulfill. I needed the reminder today that “done” is better than “perfect,” so thank you. 🙂
Ares says
At this point in my life I feel making myself s priority can make a huge mess. And I’m not a mom yet! I need to sort things out before I have kids, since I don’t want to pass the “sacrifice” burden on them. It’s kind of a cultural stuff I guess, for women to put everything before themselves.
This post was really helpful, Karissa. Thanks a lot!
Love,
Ares.
Denea says
I have noticed I am so hard on myself. I am honestly my worst critic. I am hoping to use some of these tips in my everyday life.
Pam says
I need to work on some of these – especially the sleep one! I’m hoping I can improve in all of these areas this year!
Pam recently posted…Never Blog Alone
Paula says
This week I tackled some delegating and it feels good that I’ve located a podcast editor … and I can’t wait to see what she comes back with for my next episode. It really took trusting my gut and knowing I needed help.
This is a great post.
Paula recently posted…Episode 18: Flylady Marla Cilley on Finally Loving Yourself
Heather says
Sleep is definitely important for self-care! I spent the month of October exploring self-care from the perspective of a mom with littles. These are all great tips! I think that once you start making the time for yourself to have that space, self-care becomes a little easier to manage.
Heather recently posted…How to Make More in 2016!
Bri says
I need to do all of these things this year! Thank you for the reminder! 🙂
Bri recently posted…Winter Beauty Round Up
MyTeenGuide says
These are great tips. Getting enough sleep is very important for me to function well.
MyTeenGuide recently posted…The Glow In The Dark Party You Wish You Were At Right Now
Nikka Shae says
You hit the nail on the head. With four kids it’s hard to make time just for me. 2016 I will make more time for me.
Nikka Shae recently posted…Musings at the Museum
[email protected] says
With my new job, I have really started to make a point of taking care of myself. I am excited for year of 2016.
[email protected] recently posted…Save money with shopping the month
Di says
Love these tips! I definitely agree that putting yourself first is a priority! Something I finally started to do towards the end of 2015
Di recently posted…Pedometer – Step your way to health
Erin says
Get enough sleep. Yes. Im so glad that you put this as number one because it’s so important!
Erin recently posted…Incredibly Easy Winter Wreath
LauraOinAK says
Taking care of ourselves is SO important, but something that I know I have skipped over a lot since becoming a mother. Thanks for the reminder to make time for myself and embrace things I enjoy.
LauraOinAK recently posted…Modern Mermaid Dress for Celebrating Downton Abbey
laura londergan says
I am still working on #1 but #2 is hard for me. I tend to put myself last and there ends up being no time left for what I want to do. BUT I am changing that this year 😉
laura londergan recently posted…TOP POSTS :: Best of December
nicole says
Its all about me, especially this year. I changed my eating habits and exercising. I have to take control over my life. Thank you for sharing everything you mentioned is right on.
nicole recently posted…Gourmet Hot Dogs
Debra says
I absolutely love this! I need to be better about it. I tend to burn the candles at both ends and then wonder why I am so blasted tired!
Debra recently posted…One-Pot Simple Alfredo for a Classy and Simple Meal
Jenn says
Wow, what a legacy of entrepreneurship you have in your family! That’s fabulous! I completely agree that we need to make time for ourselves and be smart about how we’re expending our energy each day, especially when running a business. It’s like the airline safety talk: put your mask on before you try to help someone else with theirs!
Jenn recently posted…The Senses Project | Inspired By… Van Gogh
Yanique says
It is so important for us to make ourselves a priority. It’s hard for us to give the best of ourselves to others when we are depleted. Great article. Sharing!
Yanique recently posted…Social Emotional Learning Activities For Kids
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
I love this so much. I try so hard to get enough sleep but it’s SO HARD when my husband snores so loudly. LOL.
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
Oh how I struggle with delegating tasks at home. I am a bit OCD, and when things aren’t done my way I tend to get agitated, and redo them. So 9 times out of 10, I do it all myself. I am trying so hard to let go, and just be happy that whatever the task is that it’s done. Thanks for linking up with us at the #WednesdayShowcaseParty
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh recently posted…The Wednesday Showcase
Susannah says
I fail right off the bat with #1. With my little man I NEVER get enough sleep. 😉 These tips really are great, though. 🙂
Susannah recently posted…Celebrating Christmas With a Toddler {Giveaway}