Not giving a damn is hard sometimes, I’m an emotional mess when it comes to saying no to people. Don’t judge me but I’m a people pleaser. This year I’m working on not being so focused on everyone else’s needs. And do a little more care and reflection with in. So, here’s how I’ve been working on not giving a damn.

Understanding your Priorities

I must admit that sometimes I may drop everything to help a friend or my kids and then struggle to recover the task that I need to get done for myself. Here’s what I’ve learned about understanding my personal priorities.

• Arranging tasks in hierarchical order based on urgency and relevance.
• Deciding what’s most important to you and aligns with your values and goals.
• Recognizing tasks that need immediate attention versus those that can wait.
• Practicing prioritization to relieve stress and maintain work-life balance

Know when to say no

I struggle with this, I must admit. I know I’m not the only person that does. It’s the disappointment from the asker that gets me every time. Here’s some tips.

• Reflect on your personal limits.
• Be clear about your limits.
• Be prepared for the reactions of others.
• Journal your progress.
• Stick to your decision.
• Repeat reassuring phrases.
• Take a step back from your emotions.

Mind your business

• Stay Out of Other People’s Business This tip is majorly obvious, but it’s the HOW that’s important. …
• Mind YOUR Business by Taking Responsibility for your Thoughts …
• Ask Yourself if an Issue Actually Concerns You …
• Take Responsibility for Your Thoughts and Feelings …
• Stay Away From Forming Unnecessary Opinions …
• Question Your Own Emotions and Feelings …
• Don’t Feed into the Obsession to be Always in the Know 

Practice self compassion

Self-compassion comprises three components designed to tap into the different ways people emotionally respond to their experiences of pain, suffering, and failure.

1. Self-kindness: Instead of harshly judging with negative, shaming self-talk, self-kindness is about shifting toward gentle warmth and acceptance for suffering, pain, or the sense of failure.
2. Common humanity: When failure, suffering, or disappointment hits, being aware that all humans fail and make mistakes, and suffer disappointment and loss, offers self-compassion for the experience.
3. Mindful approach: A mindful approach involves looking at what has happened in a curious and observant way without overidentifying with the experience (identifying with someone or something else more than is necessary)

I hope these tips help you be a better you!