Spring is here. The air is fresh, and it’s a great time for a personal refresh. The longer days and brighter weather provide the perfect backdrop for seeking new beginnings and focusing on yourself. As you spring forward into a better you, here are 9 ways to focus on yourself.
Using the New Season to Find New Ways to Focus on Yourself
1. Build a Strong Self-Relationship
Sure, we all know how to meet new friends, family members, and coworkers, but when’s the last time you made an effort to get to know yourself?
It might sound silly, but take the time to get familiar with who you are as a person. Consider how significant events have changed you, or called into question things you thought you knew about yourself. Approach these changes, and yourself, with curiosity.
Spend more time alone and in silence. Use a mirror to explore all parts of your body. Even ask your loved ones about how they perceive you, they may recognize parts of you that remain hidden—even to yourself!
2. Get to Know the Future You
Once you have a better idea of who you are, get to know who you want to be. How satisfied are you with your relationships? With your career and hobbies? Are you happy with how you take care of your body?
What does the future you look like, feel like? What and who are involved in their daily routine? Consider trying a future self visualization meditation for additional clarity.
3. Pave a Path for Getting There
Envision drawing a line from the current you to the version of yourself you want to be in 5, 10, 15 years. Use it to develop goals that help you become the version of yourself you want to be.
Regardless of where you want to end up, a good place to start is with self-love and self-care. Be sure to do what makes you happy—not just what brings others joy. As a good starting-off point, this may entail focusing on:
-
Health (eating better, exercising, quitting smoking, spending less time in front of a screen)
-
Relationships (joining a club, signing up for a class, making more of an effort to stay in touch with loved ones)
-
Finances (starting a budget, working with a financial planner, cutting out unnecessary spending—subscriptions, soy lattes, shopping sprees)
-
Spirituality (developing a meditation practice, going to church, spending time in nature, taking time to connect with what matters)
-
Career (looking for another job, cutting down your hours, turning of email notifications after work hours)
-
You (having a weekly solo date night, diving into a book you’ve always wanted to read, establishing boundaries for relationships)
4. Regularly Check In With Yourself
Once you’ve developed some goals, recognize that they aren’t set in stone. You may get a gym membership and then realize that you much prefer leaving stress in nature instead. It’s okay to make changes.
If the path you’re on feels wrong, don’t be afraid to change your mind and go down another one.
5. Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Support
Working towards a better you doesn’t mean that you have to do it alone! Don’t hesitate to recruit the help of friends or family. Alternatively, you could consider this as the perfect time to finally schedule that therapist appointment you’ve been thinking about.
6. Do the Things You Love Doing
Since you’ve taken the time to know who you are and who you want to be, devote some time to doing the things that those versions of you love doing! Use this period to figure out if you’ve been lacking time for the things you enjoy, or if certain interests have been replaced by those of your loved ones.
Carve out time for new and old hobbies and periods of relaxation. That could mean a long soak in the tub, or a ride into the sunset on your Sol.
7. Reflect on Your Journey
Having a daily practice to tie into focusing on yourself is helpful. This is where journaling can come in handy. Consider the practice of freewriting, which, like it sounds, entails just writing in sentence and paragraph form without stopping, without the need for correct spelling or grammar. You might jot down feelings or ideas that you never knew you had in you!
If writing isn’t your cup of tea, leave a daily voice message for yourself on your phone.
8. Practice Self-Compassion
On every step of the YOU journey, it’s important to practice self compassion. Making an effort to focus on yourself may bring up difficult thoughts or feelings. You may feel guilt when you cancel plans to spend an evening alone. Fear may arise when you decide to drop down to part-time work to follow your dreams.
Recognize that it’s all for a greater purpose, and show yourself a little love for going down this path of self-discovery.
9. Celebrate Successes and Practice Gratitude
When you’re taking steps toward becoming a better you, everyday is a success. Express gratitude for every goal accomplished, or any days that go well. Recognize that focusing on yourself isn’t self-centered, nor is it a waste of time. In fact, it’s one of the most rewarding things you can do for your well-being.
Now, there’s a reason to celebrate.
