There comes a moment when it just hits you—something has to change.
I was exhausted, running on empty, and pulled in so many different directions. My full-time job as an actuary took up most of the day, but it wasn’t my true purpose. I wanted to be present and happy with my kids, but my patience was thinner than I wanted it to be. My energy was low. Most of our dinners were take-out or easy meals that weren’t the healthiest. I didn’t have the time or energy to prioritize my health and I didn’t feel like me anymore.
As moms, we’re used to juggling everything—work, kids, meals, appointments, and a million little things in between. But somewhere along the way, we forget that our health matters, too. I kept telling myself, “I’ll get to it later,” but later never came… until I hit my breaking point.
In this post, I’m sharing the moment I finally realized I needed to prioritize my health, what I did next, and how small shifts led to a big transformation. If you’ve been feeling tired, overwhelmed, or like you’ve put yourself on the back burner for too long, this is for you.
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The Moment I Knew I Had To Prioritize my Health
Life didn’t feel sustainable but I kept pushing myself to keep going. On March 18, 2024 I went for my routine annual mammogram and breast ultrasound. My mammogram came back fine, but the ultrasound came back BI-RADS 0 which meant that the radiologist couldn’t make a conclusion. I had to go for a targeted ultrasound the next day. That came back BI-RADS 4. On March 22 I had a biopsy.
I’m an anxious person, especially when it comes to health issues for myself or family members. Waiting for the biopsy and then waiting for the results was torturous for me. I of course went down the Google rabbit hole, convincing myself that I had cancer. I tried to be strong for my girls, but my older daughter caught me crying in the bathroom one night. She asked me what was wrong and I told her I had a test done and was nervous about the results. She gave me a hug and told me she loved me.
During the waiting period, I kept telling myself that if this was it for me…if I was going to be diagnosed with cancer and potentially die from it, this wasn’t how I wanted to go out. I worked hard to have my children, almost giving up on a second child after 3 miscarriages. I loved my husband and my girls so much, but I wasn’t enjoying my life.
My biopsy thankfully came back negative. It was a fibroadenoma, but this was a wake-up call for me.
The Steps I Took To Prioritize My Health
My biopsy made me realize it was time to prioritize my health. I wasn’t ready to quit my job immediately but my husband and I put a plan in motion where I would leave my job in June 2024. This helped my mental health tremendously.
I wanted to work, but wanted a job where I was helping people, and felt like what I was doing actually mattered. After doing some research, I thought that health coaching would be a career that I’d enjoy. I’ve always been interested in health topics and I could help women going through similar struggles as me! I found the Primal Health Coach Certification and began that program in July 2024.
I started taking other steps to prioritize my health that I learned from the Primal Health Coach Certification course.
1. Eating more nutritious foods
I’ve significantly cut back on grains, sweets, and processed foods. I focus on whole foods like quality proteins, healthy fats, and vegetables. These changes have helped my digestion – I’m less bloated and hungry, and I have more energy! I’ve also been cooking more, and have discovered some great recipes that I’ll be sharing in future blog posts such as Pork Chops with Shredded Brussels Sprouts, Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast, Pulled Pork Shoulder BBQ, and Primal Hot Cereal.
2. Reframing exercise
I used to push myself to work out daily whether I had the energy or not. I felt guilty and got down on myself if I had to skip a workout. Now, I don’t push myself as hard during my cardio workouts and I alternate cardio with strength workouts to have variety. I also move so much more during the day now, doing chores and errands since I have more free time.
3. Having a Consistent sleep routine
I wind down at the same time every night, ditch my phone an hour before bed, and do calming activities such as reading and meditating. I’m able to fall asleep easier and actually find myself waking up before my alarm most days when I have a consistent evening routine.
4. Finding Present Moments
When I find myself being pulled into a million different directions I force myself to stop and focus. I make lists and set priorities. Most days I’m able to tackle my cleaning and work tasks while my girls are at school, so I can be truly present with them when they come home. I sit with my older daughter while she does her homework. I have the energy now to play board games, have dance parties, and just run around with my girls.
Deciding to Prioritize My Health Changed Everything
Looking back, I wish I had realized sooner that prioritizing my health wasn’t just about me—it was about my family, too. When I started making small, intentional changes, I became more energized, more present, and more patient. I wasn’t running on fumes anymore. I felt stronger, happier, and more like myself again.
If you’ve been putting yourself last, waiting for the “perfect time” to make a change, let this be your reminder: there is no perfect time—just the decision to start. Even the smallest steps, like drinking more water, taking a five-minute walk, or going to bed 30 minutes earlier, can make a difference.
You deserve to feel good. You deserve to take care of yourself.
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