I Took a Step Back: Here’s Why 🌿
✨ You may have noticed a change — this blog used to be called Health and Habits Coaching, but I’ve rebranded it to Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies. The new name reflects what I’ve come to believe deeply: real wellness happens when we care for both our mental and physical health, not just one or the other.
My Step Back
The past eight months have been rough. Between a recurring UTI that left me exhausted every day and burnout from trying to make everything a priority, I finally had to stop and look at how I was living. I was stretched too thin. And when everything is treated like it’s urgent, nothing actually gets the attention it deserves.
I realized I couldn’t keep going like that.
Burnout + Health Waking Me Up
The UTI wasn’t just a physical thing — it drained me mentally too, caused more depression and anxiety, and had me more irritable regularly. I was drinking 2-3 Monster drinks every day because I was needing the extra energy to make it through. I decided to let my body and mind heal before I started writing again.
What Changed My Perspective
Recently, I listened to Dr. Stephen Cabral talk on a podcast, and something he said stuck with me. He said you can only really have two or three priorities in life. Not ten. Not everything. Just two or three. I was thinking “no that is not true. I have the ability to do more like 5 or 6. I realized after thinking it through he was right. Everything I view as a priority falls into 3 major categories
Family and Dogs
Health
Finances
Everything else? It’s secondary.
How I’m Living It Out
Dr. Cabral also talks about breaking things down into 12-week focus periods, which makes it easier to actually follow through. I’ve started making some small but intentional changes based on my three priorities:
Finances (Work): Work is the main way I support myself and my goals. Instead of trying to spin out in a million projects, I’m accepting that this is the top financial focus right now. Aside from that, I set aside a small amount of time each week to work on a side hustle.
Health (Basic Self-Care): I’ve gone back to the basics: brushing and flossing daily, drinking water, taking my meds, eating decent meals, and getting in at least a 15-minute walk. Nothing fancy, just consistency. Habits are key!
Family & Dogs: I’ve been blocking out time to be fully present with them. No multitasking, no distractions — just attention.
It sounds simple, but honestly, it feels like a weight lifted.
My Reminder Moving Forward
I have a tattoo on my arm that says Process not perfection. That’s really what all of this comes down to. I’m not doing it perfectly, and I don’t expect myself to. But I’m learning to focus on what matters most, and to let go of the guilt of stepping back.
Taking a step back didn’t mean I gave up. It meant I made space to heal, refocus, and actually live with more intention.
So if you’re feeling like everything is too much, maybe ask yourself the same question: what two or three priorities actually matter most to me right now? You might find — like I did — that less really is more. 🌿
Do you need help deciding your priorities? Let’s chat. You can reach me on Instagram @jamieh_mentalhealthcoach or send me a message. Your first coaching session is free — because sometimes having someone walk alongside you makes all the difference.