Do you always put everyone else first?

 For many of us, putting the needs of others before our own needs is just second nature. Being selfless to some extent doesn’t always just come from the goodness of our heart (although sometimes it does), but often from necessity.

There are only so many hours in a day, things need to get done, and if we don’t do them nothing happens.There’s also that element where we love the people around us, we want to help them, we want to see them succeed.

Especially when we are dealing with our significant other, our children, or grandchildren, it can be incredibly fulfilling to lend a hand, offer support, or just plain take tasks off the hands of others who need it.

This is a wonderful thing. This is what communities are built on. Plus, it is a source of enjoyment, gratification, and boosts our self esteem when we offer acts of service to others who need it, and appreciate it.

Issues can arise however, when we fall into the habit of always putting others first, and neglecting our own wants or needs. So we’ve put together three important ways you can make sure you are taking care of yourself, so that you will have the energy and motivation to be able to keep taking care of others.

1: Fill your body with good things

Keep hydrated, get in fresh fruit and vegetables, include lean protein with meals to keep you feeling full and stabilise blood sugar levels, and choose whole grains to avoid blood sugar crashes. When you don’t take the time to prepare fresh healthy food, you are more likely to go for the quick and unhealthy convenience foods which make you feel bloated, heavy, and tired- not the best frame of mind to be in!

2: Set aside downtime

Take yourself off for a walk, sign up for a yoga class, read a book somewhere quiet, take a cooking class, visit a friend, or treat yourself to a spa treatment. Anything that you enjoy, is just for you, and that makes you feel like you have spoiled yourself a little can do wonders for your mood and motivation.

3: Have a sleep schedule

Trying to keep your bedtime and wakeup time consistent (even on weekends) means your body clock will be set so that you wake up refreshed, rather than bleary eyed and wishing for another hour or two on a Monday morning. The number of hours you need to sleep varies between different people, but generally somewhere between 7-9 hours is required- you can experiment a little to see what works best for your body.

If you are eating healthy, getting good quality sleep (and enough of it), and taking enough time for you, and are still feeling unmotivated and tired, why not spend a week or two with us at OnTrack and kickstart your journey to feeling healthy, fit, and reaching your goals.