When Life Gets Busy, What Gets Left Behind?

5 days ago

2 min read

There are certain times of the year when it seems like everyone takes a collective deep breath…and then starts running.

The kids are back in school. Fall schedules are filling up. Summer projects are being finished—or at least being moved to the "next year" list. On the farm, hay season is winding down and there is always one more fence to fix, one more thing to put away, one more job that needs doing.

And suddenly, the calendar is full.

So what is usually the first thing we take off the list?

Ourselves.

We tell ourselves we'll exercise when things slow down.

We'll eat better when we have more time.

We'll make that appointment next week.

We'll get more sleep after we get caught up.

We'll take a day off when everything is done.

But here's the problem I've learned—both as a chiropractor and simply as someone trying to keep up with life:

Everything is rarely done.

There will always be another patient, another meeting, another load of laundry, another animal that needs attention, another fence that needs mending, another kid who needs a ride, another project waiting in the wings.

Life doesn't necessarily get less busy.

Sometimes we have to decide that we matter in the middle of the busy.

Taking care of yourself isn't selfish. It's what allows you to keep taking care of everything else.

Your body gives you signals long before it gives you a reason to stop. Maybe it's the nagging ache you've been ignoring. Maybe you're exhausted all the time. Maybe you're not sleeping well. Maybe you're simply realizing that you haven't had a quiet moment to yourself in weeks.

Those little signals are worth listening to.

Not because you need to add one more thing to your already-too-long to-do list…

…but because you are on that list, too.

So as we head into this busy season, here's your Monday Minute reminder:

Take the walk.

Drink the water.

Get the sleep.

Make the appointment.

Sit down for five minutes.

Meditate while you walk your favourite path.

Take a breath.

You don't have to earn the right to take care of yourself.