Putting your health first isn’t always easy. As a college student, I understand the constant battle of trying to balance your health with everything else going on, and, sometimes, your health just needs to go out the window. Usually, it simply comes down to time. You don’t have time to fit in a workout because the group project that was supposed to take three hours took five. You don’t have time to make a healthy meal or get enough sleep, because you have to study for that big final exam tomorrow. Sometimes, you simply don’t have time to put your health first, but it should never be long term. So, take my advice; below are three sage pieces of advice for why, despite its difficulty, putting your health first is so important:
1. It feels like an investment.
Like any investment, putting your health first will take time, discipline and even money. It requires you to take the time to schedule your life and discipline to stick to your schedule and your priorities. It may take money to buy the right foods and get a gym membership; but it's also equally vital to put aside money to do the things you love, the things that you give you joy. Whether that means going to concerts, visiting museums or exploring new places, it is vital to allow yourself to do things that make you happy, since being happy is a key part of your overall health and wellbeing!
2. Your life feels balanced.
When it comes down to it, it is all about balance. Putting your health first doesn’t mean you won’t have time do be involved in activities, have a job, can't have a social life or won't be able to stay on top of your schoolwork; it simply means that you have to know how to juggle these all and prioritize time management. Invest in a planner or set reminders--these may help you stick to any schedules you set for yourslf. If you find yourself exerting all of your energy towards one aspect of your life for a long period of time, you may want to take a step back and evaluate how you can better achieve that balance.
3. You feel like yourself.
When you are putting your health first, you will most likely feel the most like yourself than if you weren’t doing so otherwise. That is, you're more likely to feel motivated, refreshed, and active. When you feel good, you are more likely to be motivated to make steps towards your goals, and maybe even create new ones. When you feel most like yourself is when you will realize that there are endless possibilities out there and you will be driven to follow your newfound aspirations, thanks, in part, to putting your health first.
In my opinion, putting your health first is the single most important thing that you can control that will greatly boost your chances for emotional, social and academic success. There will be weeks when you have to sacrifice aspects of your health to just do what you need to do to stay afloat, but putting your health below other things should not become a habit. At times, when I find myself biting off more than I can chew, I try to go back to my priorities and remind myself what is important and what’s not. I then try to adjust my schedule so that I can really make sure that I am taking care of myself and doing what is most important to me. I went through my college career with the attitude that I will put my best foot forward in everything I do and ensuring that I have the time and energy to apply myself entirely to any commitment. This is something that I hope to continue after college as well.
Although you may think it will help you be more successful or that people may look more highly on you, you really can’t do your best if you are spreading yourself way too thin. If you want to help other people and make a difference in this world, taking care of yourself and putting your health first will help you get there.
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