No, I’m not talking about your actual car…I’m talking about your physical body and your mental health.

Recently, I had a conversation with a very successful jewelry boutique owner who was frustrated with her gradual weight gain over the years as she built her business. She also noticed aches and pains in her joints and that she was running out of energy by 3PM every day.

I asked her “How often do you take a moment to slow down, so you can get a better idea of what your body is trying to tell you?”

She scoffed!

“I don’t have time for all of that. Slowing down is not an option for me right now.”

Deep sigh…

How many times have you said that or something similar when it comes to slowing down or taking a break? How often do you ignore the signs that your body needs some TLC? How many times do you say “I’ll get to that later” or “I’ll call the doctor next week”?

Here’s the thing…

If your car engine light came on, you would prioritize getting that checked ASAP.

You need your vehicle and you know that if you don’t take action soon it could cost you a pretty penny down the road.

However, when it comes to our bodies, our physical health, and our mental health, we convince ourselves that we must carry on…even when all of the signs point to SLOWING DOWN.

So, why do we do this???

Maybe it is fear that we will miss out on an opportunity. Maybe it is not wanting to seem weak or incompetent. Maybe it is not feeling safe enough to take a break. Perhaps the hustle & grind mentality is so ingrained in your DNA that you actually don’t even know how to slow down.

We take care of the things that we value. 

This week, I am challenging you to do at least one of these activities:

• Schedule a check-up with your doctor or cleaning with your dentist
• Book a massage or bodywork session for your tight muscles
• Block off lunch in your calendar and eat lunch away from your desk
• Take a walk before or after work.
• Start taking a multivitamin and a probiotic
• Go plant-based for one day
• Pack your lunch or cook a meal at home instead of ordering takeout

Do something this week that the future version of yourself will be so glad you did! What will that be?