Many of us have running goals, fitness goals, or health goals. Yet we don’t always put the work 100% into achieving them. We’re not elite athletes, we aren’t being paid to reach these goals. We have dreams that we may or may not think are even attainable. So we may go after them. We may not. But the difference for the women that actually achieve their goals, is that they know what they need to support their goals and they use that to their advantage. So when will you know when you’re ready to prioritize your health?
Prioritizing yourself and your goals can be daunting. Where do you start? What’s the most effective way to reach this goal? How long is it going to take? How much strain on the family, the schedule, the finances, is this going to be? We don’t want to waste our resources, our time. But we long for something. Once it’s in our head, it’s hard to let go of.
If you are struggling and think your symptoms are all a normal part of aging or training or life, let me tell you that you don’t have to and no, they’re not. If you’re tired of not feeling yourself and have a big goal you want to chase in the next year, it’s time to find a health professional who can help you get there.
Signs you ARE ready to prioritize your health:
- You’ve tried all the DIY diets and remedies and not had success. You want something that actually works.
- You’re tired of feeling STUCK where you are.
- You’re willing to do the things you need to do to feel the way you want to feel. You’re ready to play the long game to reach your goals.
- You are frustrated with how much your symptoms are controlling your mood, daily activities, and relationships.
- You’re ready to reframe how you see your schedule, your routine, and your life. Nothing changes if nothing changes. You recognize you may have to make changes, give up some things, make room for new habits.
- You understand you need to put your life vest on first. It’s impossible to give others your attention if you aren’t first taking care of yourself.
- You are willing to put in the time. Your health and your goals are important enough to find a way to fit it into your schedule.
- You know what matters and you need help crafting the goals to get you there.
There are also a bunch of excuses that women tell themselves about why now isn’t the perfect time. (And honestly, it’s never going to be the perfect time. Unless you decide it is).
Excuses you might give:
1. You’re too busy. You wear stress like badge of honor or feel a sense of accomplishment through your level of stress.
Let’s flip that around: If you weren’t running 1000% all the time, what would you be? Or who would you be? You know that chronic stress is keeping you from your health and fitness goals. But if your self-worth comes from everything you DO, it’s going to be really hard to heal, give your nervous system a break, and come down from the cortisol high.
2. Nothing you’ve tried so far has worked, so why would working with a dietitian be different?
No one else can “fix” you or provide you all the answers. A dietitian can guide you on your journey, but you have to take responsibility and become your own healer. YOU are the only one who can heal you. YOU have to put in the work it takes, find the time, rearrange your schedule to fit it in.
Part of taking ownership of your own health also means being willing to call yourself out the ways you are sabotaging your own healing. Playing the victim, focusing on labels and diagnoses, ignoring unresolved trauma, giving up on your goals, and being inconsistent are all detrimental to the healing process. Do you believe you can actually reach your goals?
Or have you already decided you can’t?
3. You have other more urgent projects.
But guess what? You always will. There is never a perfect time and the longer you put off your own health, the easier it gets to keep putting it off. When will it be the perfect time to prioritize your health?
4. It’s hard to justify the cost.
This is an investment in you and your health that will pay off for years to come. If you don’t take care of yourself now, when will you? Many of us spend way more than we realize on the DIY options, the quick fixes, the supplements, the doctor’s visits. Add up everything you have ALREADY spent on your health without the results you want. How much is that compared to the cost of working with the health professional who can actually get you where you want to go? (And yes, that right person may NOT be me. I want you to achieve the goals you want, with the help of who and whatever is best for YOU).
Do any of these resonate with you? Are you ready to invest in yourself? Are you ready to prioritize your health and make this the year your go after your goals?
If you’re ready to work with someone and want to know if we would be a good fit to work together, let’s chat!
