I was recently asked about barriers to creating a healthier lifestyle for yourself.

Our number one barrier: Time.

We glorify the grind.

Putting more hours in is important when you are trying to develop a specific talent or skill (i.e. hundreds of cataract surgeries in residency prepare you to help save vision when you are out on your own as an attending).

More hours, more patients, more clients, more work, may result in climbing the metaphorical ladder in our careers.

But when does the grind end? And what is left for our kids, family, and friends at the end of the grind?

Time is finite friends (not so sound morbid). But I think it’s important to keep that in mind because it helps us reframe our thoughts.

Every day that we wake up with our health and wellness, it is a gift. Being in medicine, we know this is all too true.

So, it starts with YOU my friend.

• Start small, pick one health habit, once a week that you want to work on.
• Create time for that habit (i.e. be very specific- on x day and x time I am going to do xyz).
• Then re-assess at the end of the week.
• How did it go for you? What went well? Were there any challenges?
• Remember, you don’t have to dive in and change everything in your lifestyle overnight, that is a recipe for burnout friends.
• We are perfectly incomplete and a masterpiece in the works.
• Each day is a new learning and growing opportunity.

Working with a coach like me can help navigate the sometimes murky, ever changing, and exciting conditions of changing your health and wellness habits.

And when you need a little motivation, listen to the Jessie J Song “Masterpiece”, it is soul-firing.

My habit this week: working on stretching out my piriformis muscle. I’ve been having more and more lower back pain after workouts and it’s because I don’t take the time to stretch (who has time to stretch)? So, I got myself this lovely foam roller and know it’s a little “treat” at the end of a workout.

#dosomethingdaily for yourself friends & have a great week!

Xoxo,

Shani Esparaz M.D.