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5 Women On How They Put Themselves First In 2020 

Rebecca Cohen  |  September 14, 2020

We get it. Putting yourself first is not always easy. Five women tell us how they prioritize their needs this year. 

Putting yourself first is simultaneously one of the hardest and most important things we can do in our lives. Lately, the need for self-care has become more important than ever, as millions of us have struggled emotionally and financially during a global pandemic and economic upheaval. 

Maybe you have kids at home and are working around the clock to ensure they are getting the most out of their online classrooms and lessons. Maybe you have aging parents who are fearful of venturing out to the grocery store or the pharmacy, so you’re doing it for them. Or maybe your 9-to-5 has become more of a 24/7 and your accrued vacation days are begging for some love. 

No matter your situation, it’s important to check in with yourself and get the TLC you need — that only you can give to yourself. Five members of our HerMoney community shared their pandemic stories (via our private HerMoney Facebook page) and weighed in on how they’re making moves to rise above the chaos and cash in on some me-time. 

Kimberly G. was looking forward to a summer home with her kids for the first time in a long time. But after “dipping her toe” back into the workforce, she found the perfect job. “Starting a new job felt like putting myself first because really we are doing fine on a single income so mama guilt [kicked in] in leaving my kids to fend for themselves.”

Libby R. “started donating platelets every other week and just signed up for the marrow registry,” she says. While on the surface this sounds like putting someone else first, she enjoys the long appointments and uses the time to listen to books on her own.

Landa R., whose work always came first as the sole breadwinner in her home, took time off from her job at a food stall to help her son — who she’s homeschooled for the last 4 years — prepare for his GCSE exams. “We’re both in the covid risk group which made our life very stressful,” she says, “but being able to say ‘I’m here for you’ and mean it, helped him finish the curriculum on time and boosted his confidence.” 

Kayla S. took a look toward her future. “I set up a brokerage account so I have a backup income stream if I were to get laid off from my job (which is unlikely since my company said no layoffs).” 

As for me, I treated myself to a little home office upgrade (read: a $49 IKEA desk that is the only thing on the internet that will fit in my 100-square foot bedroom) to make my workdays more organized and more enjoyable. Sometimes, it’s the little things in life. 

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