Prioritizing Wellbeing
But There Just Isn’t Time!
I talk to busy women every day who all struggle with the same problem. “There just isn’t time to prioritize my well being!” We live in a world where being busy is the accepted norm and our attention is pulled in many directions. Often sleep, exercise routines, and healthy meal preparation are the first things we let go in order to get it all done.
Here’s a staggering statistic. 6 in every 10 Americans live with chronic disease including heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or cancer and 4 in 10 adults have two or more chronic diseases. These numbers are projected to rise.
Here’s the good news. Research has shown that by ensuring we get the proper sleep, movement, and nutrition and manage our daily stressors, most of us can prevent and even reverse these and other chronic conditions including digestive problems, headaches, as well as muscle tension, sleep problems, weight gain, memory and concentration impairment.
It’s becoming more and more apparent that we must start prioritizing our well-being. But how?
Here are 3 pillars to prioritizing your well-being.
Eat plenty of nutrient dense whole foods. If you aren’t sure if you’re getting enough nutrients, free apps like MyFitnessPal, My Plate or Yummly are great tools to help you learn more. Focus on adding fresh whole foods that are packed with nutrients. Using fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat and cheese with a few pantry staples like whole grains, rice and beans does mean we have to spend some more time shopping and cooking. But prioritizing our nutrition means putting long term benefits over short term ease. Involving the whole family in the planning, shopping, and cooking helps teach and model healthy habits that will last a lifetime!
Establish a regular routine for movement. Guidelines recommend all adults get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise or a mix of moderate and vigorous exercise plus 2 or more days of strength training to include all major muscle groups. Putting 30 minutes for exercise on your calendar each day will pay dividends. Again, including the whole family. Get the kids on their bikes while you run or jog. Do your pushups on the playground while the kids swing. It doesn’t have to be complicated or cost a thing.
Set up sleep routines. We all know most adults need 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. While we sleep our brains and bodies repair. Sleep allows us to process what we’ve learned and remember it. Sleep also plays a role in our metabolism and our immune system. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each night is a powerful way to prioritize sleep.
What will you do to prioritize your well-being so that you can bring your best to the work you do and the people you love? Want some help? Message me for a free strategy session!