4 ways to prioritize your health on a busy schedule

If you feel like the best words to describe your life lately is IN A RUSH then this post is for you. You're busy with meetings, paperwork, taxes, appointments - and all of those little things that seem to pop up every week. 

When life throws too much at you, how do you adjust so you can handle it? Unfortunately, we often sacrifice our health and wellness to meet that deadline or answer that last email, whether it's skipping a morning workout to have more time to study or eating lunch at your desk while you work on a presentation.

Photo by Vitalii Pavlyshynets on Unsplash

be aware of your health

The first step is to take inventory of your health. Compared to last year, have any symptoms or changes cropped up? Take a scrap sheet of paper and make a list. Aching joints or muscles? Sleepiness? Insomnia? Do you drink more caffeine than you did this time last year? Does your meal pattern look the same? If you've started a new job, compare your habits now to before the new job. Whether the changes have been for better or for worse, you can't make changes until you take stock.

consider seeing a professional

Most business owners wouldn't hesitate to bring in a consultant to help with a new marketing campaign or call a professional to install a new computer system. But we don't often take ourselves as seriously as we take our business - even though we should! So, as you take stock of your health, check your calendar and records and note when your last appointment was - with your doctor, dentist, or therapist. Don't forget about the specialties, too, like physical therapy, orthodontics, and chiropractic care.

Carve out time in your schedule to call or email to make some appointments and bring your health list with you. 

take small steps

Next step is to re-evaluate your day-to-day schedule. Is it sustainable to maintain your current pace and still meet the health and wellness goals you've been thinking about? If your anxiety has been increasing, consider talking to a mental health provider and coming up with concrete changes to make. Break larger goals down into smaller objectives. For example, if you want to get more sleep, think about why you don't get enough sleep now. Then decide what changes to make - such as setting an alarm for when it's time to get ready for bed. You can check out this post for more self-care tips.

take some shortcuts

We're used to paying for convenience, and often when our health goes on the backburner, we're paying with our health rather than our money. An example? Eating fast food rather than bringing your lunch might save you some time, but may make you feel worse in the long run. Or maybe you skip the gym after work so you have time to make a healthy dinner - you just don't have time for both. Look into a healthy meal prep service - it might be the answer to your problems. Many services have a variety of options, from the number of servings you get, the frequency of deliveries, as well as different cuisine types.