If you prioritize yourself, you are going to save yourself.——Gabrielle Union

When I left corporate life and started my own business, I thought I had it all figured out. When I made the decision to change my lifestyle and get fit, I thought I was on the right track. And when I purchased a second business, I knew I was doing the right thing. Slowing down never occurred to me. I was all about making things happen.

Over the course of three years, I programmed my brain to be in a state of perpetual motion. Even when I wasn’t working, I was thinking about work. There was never enough time to get things done, and I feared I’d let someone down if I stopped long enough to relax. But the busier I got, the less I seemed to accomplish.

When the fatigue and brain fog set in, I told myself I just needed to work harder and get organized. But something was wrong. I was emotionally and physically exhausted. My Apple watch buzzed repeatedly in the night, warning me that my heart rate was over one hundred. My body ached, my head pounded, and no matter how much I exercised, I was losing strength.

When I visited the doctor, the first thing she asked was “How’s your stress level?” I shrugged. “Same as usual. Nothing new or out of the ordinary.” But something was happening in my body. A multitude of tests and bloodwork revealed I had Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism, with symptoms that include accelerated heart rate, high blood pressure, physical anxiety, fatigue, and muscle weakness.

As Dr. Joy sat next to me to discuss the treatment, I said, “This doesn’t seem fair. I’ve worked so hard on my health. I quit drinking, changed my diet and lifestyle, and lost weight. Things are supposed to get better, not worse.”

She smiled sympathetically. “We’ll get it figured out. Do some reading up on Graves’ disease and take care of yourself.” She wrote prescriptions for heart and thyroid medications and referred me to a specialist.

I scoured the Internet for information, articles and personal stories. I learned that autoimmune diseases cause the body to attackits own healthy cells. Disorders can be hereditary and are more common among women. In many cases, they are triggered and aggravated by stress.How is your stress level?I asked myself.

The following day, that question resurfaced when I bumped into an old friend. We hadn’t seen each other for a while but were connected on Facebook. After exchanging hellos, Cindy said, “I just love following all the things you’re doing. Wow, you’ve taken on a lot; you’ve got quite a juggling act. I don’t know how you do it all, but you make it look good.”

I smiled. “I have to admit, some of those projects I’m juggling are starting to get heavy.”

“So, stop juggling and put something down. It’s okay to tell people ‘no.’?” As we parted ways, she added, “It was good to see you. You look like you’ve lost weight; take care of yourself.” She waved and disappeared around the corner.

For the next week, I thought about our short conversation. I re-read online articles indicating that stress management played a part in controlling Graves’ disease. And I made a list of everything I was juggling. I was running two businesses — each requiring a multitude of different tasks. My calendar was filled with online marketing, photo shoots, website design, copywriting and planning a huge regional event. On a good day, I’d squeeze in thirty minutes of writing the book I was working on. I barely had time to blink, let alone relax. But, somehow, I was managing to do it all. My commitment to do more, be more and serve more was too much. I examined the list. It was clear I didn’t wantto do it all. Something had to give.

Prioritizing was hard. I examined the juggling act and tried to decide what to let go of. I bid farewell to clients, explaining I was cutting back and lightening my workload. When asked to speak at events or take on new projects, I said “no.” And I found someone to help me plan that big event. My calendar got a makeover, and I reminded myself it was perfectly acceptable to have white space on my schedule.

Until then, I didn’t realize how much I’d missed the simple joys — little things that helped me relax and recharge, like long hikes, taking my dog to the park, visiting my favorite bookstore, and sitting on the back porch to watch the sunrise. Those things belonged on my calendar, so I started using an orange highlighter to block out time for myself. Those orange blocks are mine. They represent time to unplug, let my imagination wander, and focus on what’s important.

Along with scheduled downtime, creative work found its way into my day. I blocked snippets of time for my writing and photography projects. Once I’d prioritized, it didn’t take long for everything else to fall into place. I didn’t know how, but I was more productive by doing less.

My calendar is still full, and my workload is still heavy, but I’m not buckling under the weight. I know my limits and when it’s time to stop juggling. I’ve learned to be kind to myself. I start each day with meditation and end with gratitude. And somewhere in the middle, I savor a quiet block of time, reserved for just me. These little things play a big part in my wellbeing.

Perhaps this disease wasn’t triggered by stress. Then again, maybe it was. Either way, the diagnosis has helped me reclaim my life. Dr. Joy was right. We’re getting it figured out. Gradually, I’m becoming a healthier, happier, more relaxed version of myself.（1045 words）