I know it sounds counterintuitive when our to-do lists are so long and our calendars are so full, but we need to take time for ourselves.

I always feel the benefits of taking a break outside, going for a walk, eating a healthy meal (rather than snacking or grabbing what is convenient) and an earlier bedtime so why are those the very things that drop from my priorities when I feel my time getting short?

We get so busy trying to do everything that we lose sight of our priorities.

If this sounds a little too familiar, don't try to overhaul everything at once - that will lead to overwhelm. Instead of making a healthy change, you'll just give up and be right back on the same hamster wheel.

Instead, pick one thing from the following list (or something more fitting for your needs) and implement it this week:

• spend 15 minutes on the phone with a friend you have been "meaning to call"
• pack a lunch and eat in the park 
• go for a short walk in the evening
• limit time spent on your phone or computer (especially in the evening when you need to be winding down)
• spend 15 minutes a day reading a book
• set an earlier bedtime - 30 minutes a day is gives you 3 1/2 more hours of sleep each week.

Taking time for ourselves can sometimes feel selfish but it improves our health and well-being. In the long run a little time spent caring for yourself each day can make you both more productive and a better wife, mother, co-worker, volunteer and friend.

Commit to one small change this week.

If you need help, don't tackle this alone! I'd love to help you begin the process of prioritizing what is truly important to you and your family.

Y'all have a great week!

     Renee'