YOU FIRST! Why You Need To Make Self-Care a Priority

There are numerous excuses why you don't take care of yourself.

"First, I need to do blah blah blah."

"My children require so much of my time."

Or, as usual, "I'm too busy!"

Whatever. We all have the same amount of time in the day, so you must make the most of it. You'll never get the most out of your day if you're not eating well, sleeping enough, and exercising. You'll never be truly successful if you slog through a day full of to-dos and never give yourself time to care for your body and mind.

Sleep Enough!

In theory, you could get a lot more done if you only slept 4 hours a night, but it's useless. If you don't get enough sleep, the rest of your 20 hours will be much less productive. You'll need a steady supply of caffeine just to stay awake, you won't feel like working out, you'll be tired during that afternoon meeting and grab a samosa to perk yourself up, and you won't feel like having sex with your spouse at night, instead, you'll plop yourself down on the couch to watch TV. Is it clear where I'm going with this?

If you don't get enough sleep, you won't have enough energy to enjoy your life.

Eat Right!

Yes, it takes a little longer to prepare some protein and a nice salad for lunch than it does to get that takeout nearby, but what are you throwing away in terms of energy and health?

Make time to plan your meals. Determine how to incorporate high-quality protein sources into each meal. Learn how to incorporate more vegetables into your favorite recipes. Your fuel is food. Don't fill up with cheap gas.

Move More!

The majority of us spend the majority of our days at our desks. Incorporate more movement into your daily routine (walking to the store, climbing stairs) and schedule regular workouts on most days of the week. Exercise for 30 minutes five times a week can make the rest of your hours more energetic and productive.

Remember, Self-Care is Not Selfish!

Taking the time to sleep, eat well, and exercise will provide you with more energy. You'll be in a better mood, less likely to argue, and more likely to complete tasks efficiently. You'll be a better version of yourself to share with others if you have more energy. If you were willing to neglect yourself because you care so much about others, consider self-care as a way to give more to others.

That's a win-win situation.