4Demand time for solitude . Even if you have to get up earlier , carve out some quiet time to be by yourself . Use this time to pray , meditate , drink a cup of hot tea or read your Bible . The point is to schedule this time and stick to it . If you don ’ t take care of yourself , it limits how much you can do for others .
5Learn how to say “ No .” So many people have the hardest time saying this word . It is usually because they are a people pleaser by nature and they don ’ t want to disappoint anyone or they need the approval of others . Sometimes it is because they are trying to avoid some form of conflict . Regardless , use this word as needed .
6Learn how to say “ Yes .”
Are you so conditioned to taking care of everyone else ’ s needs that you rarely do anything for yourself ? Some people need permission to do things that are in their best interest because they feel guilty if they ever put their needs in front of their caretaking routine . I ’ m here to tell you that it is okay to put your needs first when you feel you are being overwhelmed . It is not selfishness , it is called self-responsibility .
7Start changing some of your regular routines . If you feel like you are always running around in a crazy cycle of never getting ahead of your to-do list , try different ways and different times of doing things . Instead of staying up late to get some free time , wake up earlier to get it . The key is to start thinking outside of the scope of what you are doing in search of better and more efficient ways of doing things .
8Ask for specific help .
The more stress you accumulate , the heavier it becomes . If you accumulate too much , the weight of carrying it will break you in body and in spirit . Chances are pretty good that if you are relating to this topic , you probably are horrible at asking for help . So before you dismiss this point , please at least consider it . If there is someone you can ask for help , be as specific as possible in doing so . For example , if you could use some help with shopping and cooking for a second household perhaps you could ask a sibling , your spouse , or one of your teenage children to assist you with getting these tasks done .
9Eat right , sleep , and exercise . Nothing is worth your health . This is another non-negotiable that must be demanded of yourself .
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Bolster your support network . People who overextend themselves , usually have no friends or they have lost contact with their friends and family because they are always too busy doing for others .
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Clearly communicate your expectations . I need you to do ________ by _________. Make the request short and simple . The more verbose you are , the more confusing it will be to the other person .
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Go to therapy . Therapy is a great way to learn how to find your voice . The voice you are looking for is a voice that can speak up for themselves and a voice that is able to practice assertive communication . Therapy can also help you pinpoint when this behavior started and how to stop exhausting yourself .
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Learn how to stay calm . Do not let other people or circumstances dictate who you are . Decide to be a master of yourself and especially your emotions . This all starts with a decision to be a calm person . This is another reason to study self-improvement . Look up the how to ’ s of becoming a calm person .
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Invest time in building up your self-esteem . Lou Holtz said “ It ’ s not the load that breaks you down , it ’ s the way you carry it .” Spend time on you for your personal growth . Building your self-esteem and confidence will reduce your tendency to seek the validation of others .
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