FIRST OFF, YOU’RE NOT ALONE
“Not long ago I had a really (and I mean really) hard time actually putting myself first.”– Heather J. Keys, 5 Ways To Put Yourself First
“I was petrified of someone actually thinking I was selfish…”– Heather J. Keys, 5 Ways To Put Yourself First
Taking care of one’s self looks different for everyone, with that said, here are some ways to help encourage you to be your best self and to put yourself first.
1. Set your work hours and be sure to share those work hours with others.
Post your work hours on your website, on social media, and within any written correspondence with your clients/potential clients.
2. Close your laptop/turn off your computer at the end of your workday.
It’s important to have the separation from your work so that you can focus on yourself and your family.
3. Set your email and social media notifications to turn off at the end of your workday.
This will help you spend less time scrolling through your business emails and social media when it’s not working hours. Only reply to emails during working hours and set your social posts to hit your feed during working hours so that you can engage during your working hours.
4. Read a business educational book daily
I do this in the morning to help get me into the proper mindset of working on my business. I specifically read books that are NOT photography related, that way I’m gaining another perspective from a different industry.
5. Get fresh air!
Schedule in time to go OUTSIDE. I mean it. They say that fresh air helps the mind with creative tasks and it can help you stay focused on your goals. Plus fresh air helps the body recharge quicker. If you are feeling sluggish, stand up for 10-15 minutes. Office lights and dark spaces cause us to be tired and less engaged in what we are needing to work on.
Here are a few other fun ideas on ways you can put yourself first, feel free to snag this and post it up on social media to help remind yourself and others. Accountability is so great, so be sure to share this article with someone you feel could use a little extra encouragement.
Please let me know if any of these suggestions resonate with you. If you’d like to comment your response below, I’d love the feedback too… plus any tips on how you go about put yourself first.
Have a rad day!
Heather
As well as being a wildly fun and outgoing wedding and family photographer, I’ve also been fortunate enough to win some pretty rad photography awards both Nationally and Internationally. My images have been featured in well-known online and printed publications too. Woot woot!
Since being an “elder photographer”, I have also had several unique opportunities to speak on national stages while teaching and training up and coming wedding professionals within the industry. While that’s groovy and all, what makes me the proudest (and happiest) is being able to serve the rad couples that I work with.
It’s about getting you happily down the aisle. I’ll be there to capture the way you light up when you slip on your wedding dress or when you button up your suit jacket. I will be there the moment you see your love, standing there in all of their beauty. You’ll have every single magical moment captured, telling your perfect love story!
I try to write my goals for the day the night before, it helps me have a more productive way.
That’s awesome!