Where Are You on the Priority List?

I already know the answer to this question. For most of us women anyway. Where are you on the priority list when it comes to your family, to your job, to your friends, etc. etc.?

Let me ask you this question another way.

Do you feel guilty for wanting to take time for yourself when you are tired? How about when you want a night off from running the kids around to all of their functions, or from doing the housework, cooking dinner, running errands, spending time with friends, family?

If you barely have time to breathe, where do you fit into that? Where do you rank time for you on that list? At the bottom?

I can’t tell you the number of times I have heard from women that they don’t have time for to focus on their health. Usually it is more of a discussion along the lines of symptoms like fatigue, migraines, joint pain, digestive issues. Wondering what they can do really quick to fix it. And my answer is always the same.

You know there isn’t really a quick fix, right?

Your body is whispering to you right now and without taking the time to fix it, it is going to start screaming at you to the point that you will have no choice but to deal with it. Or suffer significantly while you try to hold your world together.

Not the answer they wanted to here so off they go to continue living the definition of insanity. You know, beating your head against the wall, doing the same thing expecting a different outcome. Ya. I’m very familiar with it.

And I do have to tell you, myself included, even when we as women finally commit to what is needed, it is a very big struggle doing what is required to put ourselves first. It is in our nature to nurture those that we adore. I can’t tell you how many times I have gotten the call about falling off the wagon in terms of self-care including diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management. It is so easy to dismiss all of the hard work that we put into feeling better for someone else’s needs time and time again. Even when we know it is the wrong thing to do. We do it anyway.

Question for you?

If you can’t find the time to look after you, how are you going to offer them the best of you?

It’s a fair question. I’m convinced we know that if we don’t look after ourselves, that harder times are coming in terms of health. I just don’t think we have really taken the time to imagine how bad it can be, or how impactful it can be.

Let’s look at it like Spock might.

If you don’t take the time to look after my health now, where will you be in 3 years? 5 years?
If you get sick and can’t work, how will that affect your family financially?
If you get sick, how will that affect your ability to nurture your children, your partner/husband?
Who will pick up everything you do if you get sick? Can your partner/husband honestly take it all on?
How will it affect your relationship if you get chronically ill?

These are questions you should be asking yourself if you get sick. Now, let me take a stab at answering them

The symptoms will continue morphing and getting worse. Eventually an autoimmune or chronic illness will develop. If you continue to do nothing, additional illnesses will develop.
Getting healthy isn’t cheap no matter the path that you choose. And will get even more expensive the longer you wait. It will take a toll on your family, especially if you have to quit your job because you are sick.
It is going to be difficult nurturing anyone when you are exhausted and barely functioning.
Think of yourself as a single parent and how hard that could be. That is what you will be asking your partner/husband to take on if you do nothing If you are already a single parent, think of yourself functioning as a very chronically ill person, with no choice because there is no one else to pick up the pieces.
You know the answer to this question better than anyone. The strongest relationships will be tested in this scenario. Be honest with yourself.

When we get lost in our lives, it is easy to put off reality and, in this case, reality is a mean bitch and she deals a tough hand. Probably one of the toughest you will ever experience.