It's not only OK to put yourself first, also, it's anything but something you need to feel regretful for. Thinking about your mental wellbeing before others is something a lot of people find hard to do. However, carrying on with your life to satisfy others can significantly affect your emotional wellness. While it's good to be kind and considerate of other people, you have to find the balance of looking after yourself too.

Have the option to search internally and question whether you are happy. Pause for a minute to ask yourself:

• Am I happy?
• What do I need at this moment?
• Am I satisfied with what I'm doing?
• Am I improving my mental health?

Putting yourself and your needs as a priority isn't narrow-minded. It's something we should all do because we all matter.

There are so many ways to begin putting yourself and your mental health first; for example, essential self-care is an excellent first step. Even taking a couple of seconds for yourself to take care of your body - such as a skincare routine, applying make-up - can be a significant opportunity to check in with yourself.

Attempt to dedicate time, do things you appreciate, and always make time for the things that satisfy you. If you're someone that works from home, telecommutes, or attends web classes, make sure to take a step back. Offer yourself a break, particularly from screens. Even with regular breaks from classes, you may feel unmotivated and crashing. Seek help. In some cases, you may feel totally alone; however, many others feel precisely the same thing.

Ensure you have a good and healthy sleep pattern. It will massively benefit you because sleep is essential for your mental health. Other tips are: avoid watching the news before you sleep, rest and wake up at consistent times each day, and follow a healthy diet. You will see an improvement in your overall health and energy.  

Always make time for the things that make you happy.

These are uncertain times for everybody right now and whatever comes is vague too. Remember that caring for yourself shouldn't be a luxury, yet something you do regularly. Never feel guilty about it.

10 ways to motivate yourself 

1. Make a shortlist of your needs. 
2. Ask for help from your family and friends. 
3. Balance the time you give yourself and others 
4. Learn to prioritize yourself and to claim time for your goal, which is critical for long-term success like health and weight loss. 
5. Learn more about the importance of self-care. 
6. Focus on yourself.
7. Acknowledge the people you love and care about the most, love you too.
8. Say "no" to requests that waste your time, and you don’t agree to 
9. Think out in simple ways to take care of yourself.
10. Plan for a goal to accomplish so that your future self will thank you. 

And now, ready to start putting yourself first?