prioritize yourself
Happy Monday! I hope you’re ready to attack this week with all you’ve got! Prior to this past Friday’s video recap, I wrote two posts on the importance of knowing when to rest instead of quit and one on the importance of being passionate. Piggybacking off last Wednesday’s post on rest, I want to talk today a little about self-care.
Have you ever felt burnt out? Obviously it’s why rest is so important! But there’s another reason burn-out can occur. Do you notice it usually happens when you’re firing on all cylinders and working hard to manage your time so that you can fit in a number of projects and commitments? Unless you set aside time for yourself and make your needs a priority, you won’t be able to fulfill all your other roles to your utmost ability.
I start everyday of my week at 5 AM. I do the immediate necessary blog tasks I need to accomplish in the first 15 minutes of my day, and then I get myself up and head to the gym. My gym routine is incredibly important to me because it’s the hour to hour-and-a-half of my day that is completely my own. I use that time to focus on getting stronger, maintaining my health, and clearing my head.
Is there a specific time of day you set aside for yourself? I have hobbies I enjoy, as well, but it is the day-in, day-out commitment to my physical well-being that helps me feel at my best. Completing my gym routine and having that time entirely to myself enables me to feel as though I’ve given myself personal time, which then enables me to feel ready to throw myself into business work, creative projects, and collaborations with others.
If you don’t take care of yourself and make your health a priority, you won’t be able to perform at your utmost or to give your best to others in collaborative settings. Have you ever seen the show “Friday Night Lights?” It’s one of my absolute favorites. I must have watched the entire series at least 4 times now - start to finish. Coach Taylor has a saying - “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose.” What a great tagline, right? When you take care of your body and your mind, prioritizing it over bad habits or too many indulgences, you give yourself the gift of health. You’re not held back by a foggy brain or an empty heart - or half-assed attempts at something. When you prioritize yourself, your health, and your goals, your eyes become clear and your heart becomes full because you begin to see all the beautiful possibilities that come along with creating something out of nothing and with pursuing your passions.
Prioritize you and your needs. Set aside time for yourself and your health everyday. Go to the gym or for a hike, take a walk, practice yoga or meditation, and make healthy choices. Your body, your mind, and your creative productivity will thank you for it.
Thank you so much for reading, and, as always, if you have any pressing questions or if you want to discuss something further with me, feel free to subscribe below or reach out to me on the “contact” page. I’m so grateful you're here and that I’ve been getting a lot of really challenging questions and even better feedback from a community all over the world. I couldn’t do this without you! So THANK YOU! I’m here for you, and I love hearing from you, too! You’re the best, and you have everything you need inside of you! Please believe it! Starve your ego, feed your soul - and follow your heart!