Prioritizing the Essentials

This post was written by Haley Hall.

Let’s get real about something. Our priorities are off.

One of the most common complaints I hear from my clients is, “I don’t have time.” Whether it’s exercise, drinking water, eating lunch or grocery shopping, finding the time proves to be difficult for most people. It makes sense because we are busy. We are busy with work, social lives, family, projects at home, not to mention television and social media. But when we think about the fact that food and water are essential to sustain life, does it actually make sense?

Our bodies are made for survival. We have mechanisms that preserve life and thankfully our bodies are pretty good at it. So we (usually) don’t pass out when we skip a meal and we can walk around chronically dehydrated. We grow accustomed to the lower energy levels our bodies run at when we skip meals. But the reality is our failure to prioritize food, water and exercise is affecting us. It affects our long-term health, our energy levels and our weight. These essentials for life are worth prioritizing.

Let’s take two common examples: breakfast and water. We’ve been hearing for years that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and yet most people struggle to prioritize breakfast and either skip breakfast, grab a pastry or eat several hours after waking up. This often results in poor energy, increased sugar cravings and poor metabolism, all of which may lead to weight gain and poor long-term health. We are prioritizing 10 more minutes of sleep and convenience over the most important meal of the day.

I also commonly see people fail to prioritize water intake. The 3 minute trip to the bathroom feels costly between back to back meetings. Yet water is essential for life. Proper hydration promotes stable energy, mental focus and productivity at work. In fact, a 1% decrease in hydration can lead to a 12% decrease in productivity(1). So grab your water bottle and sip throughout the day, it’s worth prioritizing.

So I want to challenge you today. What are your goals? Do you want to lose weight? Run farther? Increase your energy levels? Promote long-term health? How are you prioritizing those things? Does the way you spend your time, money and energy reflect your goals?

How can you re-prioritize this week? Consider sacrificing something for your goals. Maybe it’s no television or social media until you’ve been to the grocery store or packed lunch. Maybe you commit to eating breakfast every day, even if it means waking up 10 minutes earlier. Maybe you drink the water your body needs, even though it means a few more trips to the kitchen (and bathroom). Maybe you turn the TV off 30 minutes earlier tonight so you can get up for a morning workout.

Start small by picking one goal for this week and sticking to it. You can do it. Your health is worth it and your body will thank you. It will thank you with better energy levels, and improved focus & productivity at work. You might even notice a more stable mood. Keep at it and the compounding habits you create will promote a healthy weight and long-term health.

Do you need help setting realistic goals and learning how to prioritize your health? Schedule your complimentary 15-minute phone consultation here to learn how we can help you out.

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