Written By: Karoline Comiskey Olsen, April 5th 2024
Taking care of yourself should not be an “if I have time”. Taking care of yourself must be a priority.
In today's society most see exercising and eating healthy as an act of selfishness. Maybe I am exaggerating. Point being that people's actions tell that story. You go to work. Eat as well as you can given the situations you are in. And then you TRY to exercise when you can. After you put the kids to sleep? Asking your spouse to entertain the kids while you prioritize you? Maybe you feel bad? We know we should exercise and eat healthy. But it's left up to the day and the situations we are in to prioritize it. For all of you who can relate to this, I am proud of you for TRYING and your mindset of wanting.
But what if you allowed yourself to prioritize exercise and eat healthy FIRST? What if you figured out when your body craves movement the most and what foods make you feel your best? What if you allowed YOU time to breathe, maybe meditate and/or journal? And what if your boss encouraged this and did not see this as a means of weakness or selfishness?
The older I get and the more mature I get the more I realize that I am a producer. I have the need to always be productive and always have. In high school I would do my homework while I was driving to sailing. I would study at the gym (not even joking). I would call my family on the bus, study on the bus and I have for the longest time even struggled with watching a movie without doing something else... My boyfriend has pointed this out several times to me and I have thought it was a GOOD thing.
I am multitasking. I am advancing whether in my social life or career. “I feel good when I am productive.” I look at my parents and realize where I get it from. Our whole family gets stressed out if we are bored... I know I am not alone. Our society is designed to nudge productivity (especially in the US). In my case it led to burnout and achieving more without satisfaction. I can very much understand why some of the most successful people are also unhappy. My point is not to stop being productive. Rather my point is that if you have the drive and ambition to produce and achieve that very characteristic alone is a blessing. Having a boss who truly sees that and helps you slow down. Take breaks. Prioritize sleep. Move in a smart way that is what your body craves. Being on your own TEAM. Fueling your body with nutrient dense foods.
I am beyond excited about building a brand that stands for WELLNESS. Prioritizing YOU, health, healthy eating, movement - before everything else. Because I have experienced that it makes me more creative, kinder, makes me do more, but in a sustainable way. I am the best version of me when I prioritize ME - and that is never something I want anyone to be ashamed of!