There is a common pattern among people who struggle with maintaining their health: they prioritize everything else first. When you put your family at the top of your priority list, you’ll likely find yourself skipping workouts because spending time with loved ones will always seem like the better option. Similarly, if making money for your family takes precedence over your health, you’ll consistently choose work over exercise.
This mindset creates a situation where taking care of yourself becomes a luxury rather than a necessity. You only work out when it’s perfectly convenient—like when you’re vacationing in Bora Bora with nothing else to do, perfect 72-degree weather, and access to great facilities. But this approach is fundamentally flawed.
The Health-First Philosophy
What I’ve learned through my years of coaching entrepreneurs and athletes is that health must be your foundation, not an afterthought. When you’re healthy, your capacity for achievement multiplies exponentially. You get to pursue multiple dreams and wishes each day. But when you’re unhealthy, your energy and focus become severely limited—you’re essentially restricted to just one wish or dream daily.
This isn’t just motivational talk; it’s practical reality. Consider how your productivity, creativity, and patience diminish when you’re exhausted, in pain, or mentally foggy. These are the direct consequences of neglecting your health.
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Reframing Your Priorities
The solution isn’t to care less about your family or your career—it’s to recognize that prioritizing your health actually enables you to show up better for both. When I finally understood this connection, my perspective shifted dramatically.
Here’s how this reframing works:
- Your health is the engine that powers everything else in your life
- Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary for sustainable success
- Consistent health habits create more energy for both family and work
- Small daily investments in health compound over time
This isn’t about finding perfect balance every day. Some days will lean more toward family, others toward work. But your health can’t be the variable that gets sacrificed consistently.
Making The Mental Shift
The breakthrough moment comes when you realize: “I really care about my family, and I really care about the activity I get paid for, therefore I’m going to take care of myself.” This mental shift transforms health from a chore into an enabler of your most important values.
I’ve seen this transformation in countless clients. Once they connect their health to their deepest motivations—being present for their children, having the energy to lead their team, or enjoying the fruits of their success—consistency follows naturally.
Your health isn’t competing with your other priorities; it’s the foundation that makes achieving them possible.
Practical Implementation
Making health a priority doesn’t require dramatic life changes. Start with these approaches:
- Schedule your workouts first, before other commitments fill your calendar
- Involve your family in active pursuits rather than seeing exercise as time away from them
- Recognize that even short, consistent health habits yield significant results
- Frame self-care as an investment in your capacity to serve others, not as selfishness
The most successful people I’ve worked with don’t wait for the perfect conditions to prioritize their health. They create systems that make healthy choices the default, not the exception.
When you truly internalize that your health determines how many dreams you can pursue each day, your motivation shifts from external (looking good, pleasing others) to internal (maximizing your capacity to live fully). This is when lasting change happens.
I challenge you to examine your current priority hierarchy. If health isn’t at or near the top, consider what that’s costing you in terms of your effectiveness in all other areas. The minute you put your health first, everything else doesn’t become less important—it becomes more achievable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Isn’t putting health first selfish when others depend on me?
Not at all. Prioritizing your health is actually one of the most selfless things you can do. When you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing, you have more energy, patience, and presence to offer those who depend on you. Think of it as putting on your own oxygen mask first—you can’t help others if you’re depleted.
Q: How do I find time for health when my schedule is already packed?
Start by recognizing that health habits don’t always require large time blocks. Even 10-15 minute movement sessions, preparing meals in advance, or ensuring adequate sleep can make a significant difference. The key is to schedule these activities first, rather than trying to fit them into whatever time remains after everything else.
Q: What if my family resists when I try to prioritize my health?
Communication is crucial here. Explain to your family that taking care of your health will help you be more present and energetic with them. Better yet, find ways to incorporate them into your healthy activities—family walks, cooking nutritious meals together, or active outings can strengthen relationships while supporting your health goals.
Q: How do I maintain health as a priority during especially busy work periods?
During intense work periods, focus on maintaining minimum effective doses of health habits rather than abandoning them entirely. This might mean shorter workouts, simple but nutritious meals, and protecting your sleep as much as possible. Remember that these busy periods are precisely when your body and mind need support the most.
Q: How long does it take to see benefits from putting health first?
Some benefits, like improved mood and energy, can appear within days of making healthier choices. Other benefits compound over time. The key insight is that prioritizing health isn’t just about long-term results—it immediately expands your daily capacity for achievement and enjoyment. You’ll likely notice you’re more productive, creative, and patient quite quickly once health becomes your foundation.
