Dr John: “I Don’t Have Time.”
It’s a common complaint and (let’s be honest) excuse. Patients frequently tell me they did not perform their home exercises because they “did not have time.” It’s difficult to accept that as an excuse. As Dr. Ducat said a few weeks ago, personal responsibility is up to the individual. The immediate question is “do you want to get better?” The answer is inevitably, “yes.” Then why would someone not take the 10 minutes to perform exercises at home when that would lead to improvement in health?
It’s hard to say why someone will not exercise or take care of any task on time. Many of us are extremely busy and we put our work before ourselves. We all have to earn money and provide for our families, but how can we provide when we are not taking care of ourselves first? Your health is the most valuable asset you have and, unfortunately, in today’s world, especially in this country, our health is constantly at risk. We sit for hours at a time, we eat unhealthy foods, and we are so go-go-go that our stress levels sky rocket. We have to make time to do some activity, to eat healthier, and to relax our minds.
There is enough time. It all comes down to time management. I will be the first to say that while I may be neat and organized, I don’t have the best time management skills. It’s difficult and it can be overwhelming at times. But there are ways to ensure that you get things done. To do lists and calendars keep you honest. Writing everything down helps you prioritize. Highlight important things on your calendar with your favorite color so that you constantly look at it. Map out your day, week, even your month or year if you have to. Set up the appropriate amount of time to get some activity in (even walking for 30 minutes counts); block it in your schedule. Write down when you are at work and when you are free. Be deliberate with it. Most importantly, block out some time to do nothing at all. It’s important to get yourself into a relaxing environment and just shut your mind off. There is enough time for everything.