Striving To Be Healthy Is Not Selfish
to those who are too busy to invest in themselves.
As a kinesiologist, one of the most challenging and fascinating parts of my job is the first 45 minutes spent with a new client. I typically call this the ‘initial intake’ session, and it involves far more conversation than physical activity. While some health providers jump into workouts or fitness assessments right away, I take my time and try to find out just what the client is looking for. More specifically, I attempt to identify the barriers that are preventing them from living the life they want.
Although each individual sitting across from me has a different life story and health history, there is one consistent theme that comes up over and over again. While you may think that the biggest roadblock to healthy living would be a lack of motivation or pure laziness, it’s often deeper than that.
The largest barrier for many adults is a belief that they either don’t have the time/resources to make healthy life changes or that they don’t deserve to invest in themselves.
A lot of us are stretched so thin that taking care of personal health has become low on the priority list. I often hear about work or kid’s sports schedules getting in the way of fitness regimes and diet management. While you may hear these as excuses, I meet clients all the time who genuinely believe that they can’t address personal health until their long list of to-dos is complete each day. Some report that it’s not responsible or even selfish to approach life any other way.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
While I rarely try to offer advice within the first 45 minutes of meeting someone (I find purely listening to understand is a better strategy right out of the gates), I do ask them how they think life would look different if health was more of a priority. Even from this question alone, many people start to realize that a small investment in personal health can positively impact the other stressors in life such as work, relationships, and ironic as it may be, health itself.
It may be a hard pill to swallow, but it’s not noble or humble to completely neglect your health for the sake of helping others or getting things done. It’s actually far more selfish to NOT take care of your health when you have other people counting on you
It’s time you start investing in this area so that you can be the best version of yourself for the people around you. Even if you can only manage to clear out 5–10 minutes of your schedule each day, this small decision can have a powerful snowball effect on the rest of your life. Here are a few practical ways you can fill that small window of time:
go for a walk outdoors and get in some fresh air
take a few minutes for deep breathing to lower stress
do a 5-minute mobility routine before bed to prevent joint pain
complete a quick core circuit during your lunch break to boost energy
take a break from the office to get some sunlight in your eyes
pack a simple lunch the night before so you don’t have to eat out
and many more!
These may feel like trivial behavioral changes, but they will act as a catalyst for bigger transformations down the road. After all, the most stubborn barrier for most of us is the simple act of overcoming inertia! Once you take a small step and start to see the positive benefits, taking the next one becomes that much easier.
What I often see is that those who begin taking better care of themselves end up finding more time in their day as their capacity to be productive and motivated goes up significantly. Yes, it may feel overwhelming to add one more thing to your plate, but trust that this decision will benefit your work-life balance in the long run. I’ve seen this story unfold time and time again and I’m confident that you too can restore a better relationship with your health without having to make crazy sacrifices in the process.
In Closing,
Striving to be healthy is not selfish. It’s the complete opposite. If you want to be at your best in your workplace and at home, be intentional with how you take care of yourself. It just so happens to be a mandatory requirement for living a robust life that is free of restriction. Your future self and all your loved ones wouldn’t want it any other way so why delay?!
You’ve got this.
-DavidLiira.Kin
