How to Recognize and Balance Your Priorities

As we get older, it is common to have a lot of responsibilities in all areas of our lives; whether it’s with work, our homes, our loved ones, or even ourselves. It can be overwhelming and difficult to really recognize and balance our priorities when we become busy. Everyday life will continue to pass us by, and we may come to find that we are neglecting important people or responsibilities in life.

For me personally, I have a few different things that I have to do in a week. For example, I am a college student, so I prioritize my schoolwork as well as the work that I do at my internship. I also prioritize spending time with my loved ones. I really enjoy being with my people (this includes family, a boyfriend, and friends), and they mean the absolute world to me, so I want them to know that. I also like to set aside time to focus on my passions/hobbies, whether that’s writing, working out, or spending time in nature. And of course, I prioritize self-care. It is so important to show love to yourself, and this is something that I practice daily.

The first step to recognizing your priorities is to write them down (and you can even try to list them from most important to least). By doing this, you will be able to really see each activity right in front of you, and you may even realize that it isn’t as overwhelming as you originally thought. Ever since I started college back in 2017, I haven’t been able to live without a planner. Most of the time, I only write down school assignments in my planner, however it can be very helpful to have a personal planner as well.

Every day is different. Some days I have a lot to do, whereas other days are more relaxed. There are certain things that I like to do/have to do daily, so sometimes I will write down each task I would like to do for the day. You can do this either on your phone, or you can grab a pen and paper. For example, on Mondays, it’s often a goal for me to do some writing/blogging, take some time for self-care, spend time with loved ones, workout, and write down/begin my school assignments for the week. Of course, I may not cross everything off of this list every day, but I do my best to focus on the most important tasks, and that is what matters most.

I may not be the busiest person in the world, but life can get overwhelming and stressful sometimes. There are times when I feel that there simply aren’t enough hours in the day, and I can be hard on myself if I fail to complete every single task on my list. I think that it is extremely important to pause each and every day, and remind yourself that you can handle anything that comes your way. It all comes back to self-care. Take some time out of each day to take a breather and do something that makes you happy, even if that means relaxing and watching your favorite TV show. In order to get things done, you need to be in the right headspace, and you need to feel prepared. This is why I believe planning out your day is so important. Just make sure that you don’t fall into any bad habits, or that you spend too much time relaxing. Balance is key.

The people who love you are going to want to see you at your best, and that is why I always say that you should be your main priority. Taking care of yourself should be a main priority. Only then can you truly make time for other people and other things. If life is getting a bit too hectic and someone asks you do something, it’s ok to say no. It doesn’t mean you don’t love or care for the person, it just means that you need time for yourself, and if that person loves you, they will understand. I’ve always had trouble with saying no, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve really recognized the importance of standing up for myself and doing what’s best for me.

I think that for myself, having a routine helps me a lot. I know that everyone’s lives are different, and for some people, each day can look very different, but if there is even one thing that you can do at a certain time every day, this can help. I’ve always been very self-aware, and this becomes more and more true as I get older. I am very in touch with my feelings, and if I’m being honest, I don’t hide my emotions very well. The good thing about this is that I can very easily recognize when I’m reaching a breaking point, whether it’s emotionally, mentally, or physically. There is beauty in discovering more about yourself. There is beauty in alone time. Utilize this time, and get to know yourself.

I understand that it can be difficult to really recognize and balance your priorities. However, when you stop and think about it, it comes down to your attitude, your values, you goals, your work ethic, and your passions. If you find that you are neglecting yourself, your loved ones, your work etc., take a step back and remind yourself of what’s important to you and go from there. We all have our bad days and bad moments, but you have the ability to turn things around. Remember that difficult days don’t last, and you can and will get through them. Priorities can change over time as well, so take the time to learn what they are, and rearrange accordingly. Just remember that you should be a priority to yourself as well. Never forget that a little self-care can go a very long way.

I hope that you found this post helpful, and that you share it with your loved ones as a gentle reminder. Thank you so much for reading! Until next time!