Hi,<\/p>\n
One of the most popular seminars in Fortune 500 companies is Setting Priorities. That\u2019s because if your priorities are off, your whole life can be off. That can be true when it comes to your role as a supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder as well. Let me ask you something: Are you taking care of Number One? And I don\u2019t mean that Number One is your loved one. I mean that Number One is YOU. If you don\u2019t take care of yourself first, you won\u2019t be able to take care<\/p>\n
of your loved one. You have to have your priorities right, just like they teach in those fancy business seminars. But I\u2019m going to teach you the concepts today.<\/p>\n
First of all, let me give you a warning. If you DON\u2019T get your priorities in order, you can suffer.<\/p>\n
You can suffer physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Don\u2019t underestimate the power of stress. Stress can be fatal. It is the leading cause of strokes and heart attacks. Stress can lead to depression, which will affect you emotionally. It can also cloud your thinking and your judgment, so it affects you mentally. And it affects your peace of mind, so it affects you spiritually as well. Your life can be in a great deal of turmoil just because of stress if you don\u2019t watch out. And if you don\u2019t get your priorities in order. Have I scared you yet? GOOD. I meant to. I want you to heed my warning, because I want you to be able to be the best supporter you can be. Your loved one is counting on you. Your family is probably counting on you too. But most importantly, YOU are counting on you. You have to be stress-free for YOU. To be the best YOU you can be. That way you can also be the best supporter you can be to your loved one. But only if you take care of Number One first. And that\u2019s YOU.<\/p>\n
So the first priority is to take care of yourself physically. That means that you get yourself to the doctor not only when you don\u2019t feel well or when something is wrong with you, but also for regular exams and routine tests to make sure that you\u2019re physically healthy and that everything<\/p>\n
stays ok. It also means that you eat a healthy, nutritious diet, low in carbohydrates, fats, and sugars, and that you avoid caffeine and alcohol. You should stick to a good sleep schedule just like your loved one is doing, so that you can be well-rested every day. That means that you go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning, and that you sleep for 8-9 hours every night. Loss of sleep isn\u2019t just bad for your loved one, it\u2019s bad for you as well \u2013 it keeps you from having the energy you need. And you should exercise at least 3 times a week, even if it\u2019s just walking.<\/p>\n
You should also balance your life with things that take care of yourself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Remember\u2026If you don\u2019t take care of Number One (yourself), you won\u2019t be able to take care of your loved one.<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
One of the most popular seminars in Fortune 500 companies is Setting Priorities. That\u2019s because if your priorities are off, your whole life can be off. That can be true when it comes to your role as a supporter to a loved one with bipolar disorder as well. Let me ask you something: Are you taking care of Number One? And I don\u2019t mean that Number One is your loved one. I mean that Number One is YOU.<\/p>\n