Your Phone Can Wait: What Happened When I Prioritized My Healing

I used to treat my healing like an optional side quest. I’d get to it after I answered all my emails, after I finished that big project, after I cleaned the house… you know how it goes. My own mending was permanently at the bottom of the list, covered in dust.

But then I hit a wall. Burnout isn't a dramatic flame; it's a slow, cold ember that finally extinguishes your spark. Your body will let you know it's time to slow down.  Trust me, those panic attacks are not fun.  I had already known that I was prioritizing everything and everyone over my own well-being. This had to stop!

So, I did the radical thing. I made it a priority to put myself first, and I treated it with the same non-negotiable respect as a doctor's appointment. Sometimes that hour was a just laying on the floor of my office. Sometimes it was crying and screaming. Sometimes it was just sitting in silence playing my game.

The world didn't end. The emails piled up, sure, but I was finally showing up for the one person I kept neglecting: me. Prioritizing your healing isn't selfish; it's the ultimate act of responsibility. You can't pour from an empty cup—you can't even find the cup.

This is your sign to put yourself on the top of your list.