The Pursuit of Ultimate Wellness
by Alicia Kirschenheiter, Certified Advanced Health & Fitness Expert, Personal Trainer, Fitness Coach

I know that when you read the title of this blog, the overwhelming response will be, “Who isn’t busy?” or “That’s so me, I have no time for anything.”

Precisely what I was after.

EVERYONE is busy. When a client comes to me and asks me to help them with their health and wellness goals, they always add, “But I have no time.” This is generally followed up with a list of all the things they are doing to prove to me (or to themselves) that they have no time.

The path to wellness starts with conviction and determination. I have always said that and to this day still believe it. Half-heartedly going forward into anything never turns out well. In general, our lack of time to commit to health and wellness usually stems from our lack of commitment to ourselves. We are never as important as anything else going on around us. Somehow we have downgraded our own self value. We seem to find time for everything, from work, to shopping, to sports, to kids' sports, to Fido’s daycare…but when it comes to actually taking care of ourselves, the pot is empty.

I propose this little proverb that was once shared with me: “We cannot continue to fill the cups of others, if we ourselves are empty.” Think on that a minute.

Basically it's saying: "How can we continue to serve the needs of all the others and other things that we have deemed so important without taking the same considerations for ourselves?" It’s a simple concept that’s not very simple in application.

Yes, guilty as charged. I am as guilty as the next person of being a victim of my own over scheduling. As are most of my clients. Basically, while multitasking gets the jobs done, it is certainly not helping us stay healthy nor is it helping to feed our souls. In an effort to keep life balanced, my advice is to schedule the same consideration for yourself as you would schedule time for everything else. Make yourself the appointment you need to keep. Somehow, we can find time to visit the doctor when we are sick, but can’t seem to schedule the time we need that may prevent the visit in the first place. Truly, once you begin to shift the focus on yourself from last place to first place, the other things that you value most will be that much better. You can begin to approach them with more energy, engagement and less resentment because you have already taken the time for yourself, to take care of yourself.

The best part is you can begin at any time. Being a priority doesn’t require anything more at first than a conscious moment to breathe deeply and sit quietly. After that whether scheduling an appointment for gym time, meditation or healthy meal preparation, make it something you enjoy and something that gives back to you throughout the day.

Be well!