Why it’s ok to be selfish sometimes.

Here is some motivation for anyone who finds it difficult to put exercise as a daily priority. For a majority of us we are bombarded with guilt anytime we take a little time, money or attention for ourselves, especially you parents. Always being made to feel like it’s the “really good” parents or spouses that are constantly selfless, and always giving to their children, spouse or job. I used to think only single people had the ability to dedicate time to exercise everyday and that maybe it just wasn’t meant for certain people like me. I used to see it as a chore or as something else to check off my “to-do” list. But I changed my attitude. I knew I could be a better mom, wife and person if I was taking care of myself. I now view it as a reward to myself. How can we dread doing something that is so good for our bodies and our mental state? So changing your attitude towards exercise greatly improves the success rate of commitment.

I’ll use the best analogy I read from one of my parenting magazines. When you’re on an airplane and the flight attendants are explaining safety procedures to you, you’re always told you should put on your own mask before you try to help someone else with their mask. Does this actually qualify as being selfish? Uh, no. But there is such a thing as “fit shaming”. I’m familiar with it but I try to ignore it as much as possible and so should you. Some people have this idea that taking time to exercise isn’t caring about your health, but is vain. Also, wanting to feel good in your own skin makes you self absorbed, a bad parent, spouse and an overall despicable person. You probably have loose morals also…..
You’re not!! I don’t live your life, I don’t know what challenges you have. All I know is from my own personal challenges. I know that I had to start waking up at 5:30 to get in my workouts before my kids got up. I have put my daughter in her highchair in front of the TV next to my treadmill so I could finish cardio and she could finish breakfast. Gasp!!!! She’s ok! She doesn’t have emotional scars from it.
I’m here to tell you that you should exercise to take care of you and that wanting to be in shape does not vain anymore than taking a selfie makes you a narcissist. So as Taylor Swift says, shake off the haters!! Quit feeling guilty about the time that you set aside exclusively to do what makes YOU better. Ignore the negative voices in your head. Do it for you! Because you’re worth it! You can and will be better to everyone around you if you’re taking care of you!!