Health Before Hustle

I recently got the opportunity to go on The American Dream TV show here in San Diego.

During the 6 minute interview, I emphasized the importance of taking care of ourselves first.

Entrepreneurs are notorious for prioritizing everything and everyone else first and putting themselves, their health, and well-being last on their priority list.

When asked, 10 out of 10 entrepreneurs say they believe health & exercise is important for overall health, happiness, and success.

Yet 9 out of those same 10 entrepreneurs put themselves last on their priority list.

Taking care of everything and everyone else first.

When asked about it, their responses are almost always all the same…

“Taking care of myself first would be selfish.”

(Screeching sound)… Hold up!

It’s time we squash this silly story about it being selfish to take care of ourselves first.

Why?

Because how exactly can we give our best to our businesses, careers, family, friends, spouses, anything that matters to us if we’re unhealthy, unhappy, unmotivated?

I don’t see how we can possibility be our best if we’re not feeling our best.

If we continue to put ourselves last on the list.

Exercising if we have time.

Preparing and eating healthy meals if we have time.

Taking time to meditate if we have time.

Stretching our tight and tensed muscles if we have time.

Continuing to put the hustle before our health.

If we truly do care about our businesses, careers, family, friends, and spouses, we must flip the script.

Health before the hustle.

For the same reason whenever we fly we’re told in the event of an emergency to put on our oxygen mask on first before assisting others.

Cliche I know, but why do you think that it?

Seriously? Why is that?

Because if we’re not in a good place, mentally and physically, how can we expect to take care of anything or anyone else?

Sure we may get away with it for a while but is that really how we want to live?

“Getting away with it.”

Not feeling our best or able to give our best to the people and things we value most because we believe it’s selfish to take care of ourselves first?

Not having the confidence we want to have.

Not having the energy we want to have.

Not doing the things we want to do.

No way — let’s flip the script.

Health before the hustle.

During the interview, I shared two quick ways to do just that — to put our health before the hustle.

First, let’s change the story we’ve been telling ourselves.

That it’s selfish to take care of ourselves first and replace it with a new story.

One that says when we’re at our best, feeling our best, that’s when everything and everyone around us (including you and I) benefits the most.

Second, start with small daily steps.

What kind of small steps?

A 15 minute walk.

5 minutes of exercise.

Eating one salad.

Drinking 2 cups of water.

Meditating for 5 minutes.

Reading for 5 minutes.

Writing in a gratitude journal for 5 minutes.

Stretching for 5 minutes.

It’s the small steps, when done daily and consistently, that add up to be the big steps.

“I don’t have time” need not apply here.

5 minutes, that’s it.

We all have 5 minutes to spare.

To invest in ourselves, our health, happiness, and overall well-being.

Taking care of yourself first is not selfish.

Small daily steps ARE the big steps.

Focus on these two concepts for the next 30 days and I assure you, you’ll feel awesome.

Happy, healthy, alive, more energized, more confident, more motivated.

And trust me, others will notice too.

They may even ask you, “What have you been up to? You’re looking great and all energized.”

At which point you can smile and respond…

“I’m being selfish.”

Take care of you first.

Because when you do, everything and everyone around you will benefit big-time.

YOU will benefit big-time.

Everyone wins.

“To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never fully achieve.”