One of the things I hear from patients all the time is
“I just don't have time to take care of myself.”
I understand it.
You have a career. A business. Kids. A spouse. Aging parents. Bills. Responsibilities. People depending on you.
And somewhere along the way, your own health slowly moves down the list.
You'll start exercising again next month.
You'll get your blood work done when things calm down.
You'll work on your sleep eventually.
You'll make that appointment when you have more time.
The problem is that life rarely gets less busy.
You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup
I like to think of health as something we have to continuously invest in.
Sleep fills your cup.
Good nutrition fills your cup.
Exercise fills your cup.
Managing stress fills your cup.
Relationships and social connection fill your cup.
Taking care of medical problems instead of ignoring them fills your cup.
But life is constantly taking from that cup too.
Work stress. Poor sleep. Financial pressure. Injuries. Family responsibilities. Long hours. Travel. Illness.
You can keep pouring into everyone else for a long time.
But eventually, if you're never putting anything back in,
the cup runs empty.
This is especially difficult for people who are used to taking care of everyone else.
But your health isn't just about you.
If your family depends on you, your health matters to them too.
Your kids don't only need you today. They need you ten, twenty, and thirty years from now.
Your spouse doesn't simply want you around. They want you healthy enough to travel, walk, laugh, explore, and enjoy life together.
The people you love want your
presence, not just your productivity.
Start With Something
Taking care of yourself doesn't mean completely rebuilding your life tomorrow. Start somewhere.
Go for a walk.
Get back into the gym.
Schedule a consultation/physical you've been putting off.
Improve one meal.
Drink more water.
Go to bed earlier.
Call a friend.
Address the blood pressure you've been ignoring.
Small decisions repeated over time can create a very different future.
You don't have to do everything perfectly.
Your Health Gives You Options
This is one of the biggest reasons I'm passionate about prevention.
I don't want to wait until someone becomes sick before we start paying attention to their health.
We want to build health while we have the opportunity.
We want our patients thinking beyond how they feel today.
Here is something to think about.
What do you want your life to look like ten or twenty years from now?
What do you still want to be able to do?
And who do you want to be there for?
Take care of yourself because
your life matters too.
And remember, one of the best things you can do for the people you love is to take care of the person they depend on.
You.
- Dr. C
