Health Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Priority (Even When Life’s Busy)

It’s OK not to want it. You don’t have to prioritize fitness, health, meal prep, or any goal just because you feel like you should. But if you do want it, you have to be honest with yourself.

I get it. Life is busy. Really busy. I’ve never worked just a 40-hour week in my life. I’ve always had multiple jobs, responsibilities, and obligations. And for 15 years, I managed a university fitness center that was open 18 hours a day, meaning I was basically on call all the time. On top of that, I balanced second and third jobs, with barely a moment to breathe. Now, as someone who works for themselves, I can honestly say that it’s no less chaotic. In fact, it’s more time-consuming than ever.

And yet... I still find a way to make time for my health and fitness. If I can do it, you can too.

But here’s the truth: Life won’t suddenly slow down for you to hit your health goals. Work, family, responsibilities, and the chaos of everyday life will always be there. If you’re waiting for the “right” time, you’ll be waiting forever.

But if you really want it—if you really want to feel better, move better, lose that 10 lbs you’ve been wanting to shed, or simply prioritize your health—you have to make time. You have to choose yourself.

Challenge Yourself: Do You Really Want It?

Before we get into how you can make time, let’s take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself:

• Do you truly want to prioritize your health right now, or are you making excuses?

• Are you waiting for the “perfect time” that will never come?

• What are you willing to make some sacrifice to make room for your health?

• If you keep putting your health on the back burner, what will the long-term impact be on your life?

• Are you holding yourself back with beliefs like “I don’t have time,” “I need an hour,” or “I’ll start Monday”?

If you answered “yes” to wanting health but no to making changes, it might be time to dig deeper. Are you truly committed, or are you waiting for life to slow down in a way that isn’t going to happen?

How I Make Time for Myself in a Busy Schedule

Now, I know that many of you reading this are going through your own transitions. Whether you’re navigating a gender transition, a life transition like a new job or a move, or just trying to figure out how to juggle the chaos that comes with being an adult, I get it. It’s hard.

But here's the thing: Making time for yourself isn't selfish—it’s essential.

Here’s how I manage to make time for my health and fitness:

1. Schedule Yourself First I’ve learned to prioritize my own well-being before everything else. This was a huge shift for me because for years I was used to being the last person on my to-do list. But when I started putting myself first—even in small ways—it became much easier to stay consistent.

2. Cut-off Time for Work I set a hard cut-off time for work so it doesn’t spill into the rest of my day. It took a while to practice this, but it’s essential. Your work is important, but it can easily take over your life. By having a set time to stop, I create space for everything else, including my fitness and self-care.

3. Daily Checkout Time At the end of each day, I take 10 minutes to review my schedule for the next day. This helps me prepare mentally and align my top 3 priorities—whether that’s work related, making a healthy meal, doing a quick workout, or just making room for other parts of my health. It helps me transition from work mode to personal life.

4. Non-Negotiable Self-Care I started treating self-care like any other important meeting or obligation. If I don’t take care of myself—physically, mentally, and emotionally—everything else suffers. That’s why it’s non-negotiable. I schedule it in, just like I would for any other responsibility.

5. Schedule Time for Movement, Not Perfection There’s a misconception that fitness requires hours in the gym or a perfect routine. That’s just not true. Sometimes a 20-minute walk is enough. Sometimes, a quick home workout or meal prep session is all I need to keep the momentum going. You don’t have to go all-in at once. Just start small and build from there.

Time Audit: Finding Time Where You Didn’t Know It Existed

We all think there’s no time for health and fitness, but I promise, there’s always time—you just have to find it. Doing a time audit—tracking how you spend your day—will reveal hidden gaps where you can fit in a workout or meal prep session.

Some of the common time drains I’ve noticed include:

• TV: It’s easy to watch TV mindlessly, but this could be replaced with something that aligns more with your goals.

• Social Media: Scrolling can easily eat up 30 minutes or more without you even realizing it.

• Video Games: I’m not saying to cut them out completely, but if you find yourself spending hours on a game, maybe try swapping some of that time for a walk, workout, or meal prep.

• Distractions: We all get distracted throughout the day, whether by emails, texts, or just random things. These distractions can take a toll on your time.

You don’t have to cut these things out completely, but if you really want to lose that 10 lbs, feel better, or move better, start swapping some of those time drains for activities that bring you closer to your goals. A 20-minute walk or prepping a healthy meal can make a huge difference.

Mindset Shift: Prioritize Yourself

It’s all about shifting your mindset. Instead of thinking “I don’t have time” or “I need an hour,” try reframing it as:
💡 “What can I do in the next 10 minutes?”
💡 “How can I make progress today, even if it’s small?”

When you start small and keep showing up consistently, those 10 minutes add up over time. Small actions, done daily, lead to big results. And you don’t need to be perfect. Perfection is overrated. Consistency is key. And the best part? Something is always better than nothing.

Learning to Say "No" Without Guilt

A big part of making time for yourself is learning to say "no." I love hearing from clients who feel proud after saying "no" to work meetings outside their hours or extra responsibilities they can’t take on. But I get it—saying "no" can be tough, especially if you're like me and feel guilty letting people down. Here's the truth: you can't pour from an empty cup. Saying "no" isn’t about rejecting someone—it’s about protecting your time and energy for what truly matters: your health, your family, and yourself.

Instead of thinking of saying "no" as turning someone down, try reframing it as protecting your space. Setting boundaries is a form of self-care, and you deserve to have space to take care of yourself.

The Bottom Line

You either make time for yourself, or you don’t. And if you don’t want to—if this isn’t a priority for you right now—that’s OK. Just be honest with yourself. But if you do want it, if you want to feel better and prioritize your health, then you have to take action.

As someone who’s been through many transitions in life—whether personal, professional, or gender-related—I get that life is hard, and things don’t always go according to plan. But making time for yourself is the one thing you can control. And when you do, everything else becomes easier.

You got this. 💪

If you're feeling like it's hard to make time for yourself or just don't know where to start, I get it. Sometimes, it takes a little extra support to build those healthy habits and make real change.

If you’re ready to take that next step, whether it’s through personalized coaching or having access to on-demand workouts at your fingertips, I’m here to help you. The option is yours!

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Whatever you choose, the most important thing is that you take that first step. You don’t have to do this alone.