The Cost of Putting Yourself Last: Why Prioritizing You Isn’t Seasonal
Every year, like clockwork, we see it: In December, as the holidays approach, therapy sessions get cancelled. In September, as back-to-school chaos hits, reschedules roll in. And almost every time, the reason is some version of:
“I’m just too busy right now.”
“The kids need me more.”
“I’ll come back once things settle.”
Let’s be honest: things never really settle. Not for long.
Because this isn’t just about busy seasons. It’s about a pattern.
A deep, familiar habit of putting yourself last.
If you’re a parent or caregiver, you’re probably used to being the glue.
The calendar keeper. The lunch packer. The emotional regulator. The default. So when life picks up speed—holidays, school transitions, sickness, sports—you do what you always do: You take care of everyone else.
But here's what we want you to hear, gently but clearly:
The times you cancel therapy are often the times you need it the most. Not because you’re broken. But because you’re running on empty. Because you’ve spent all your energy meeting everyone else’s needs and have nothing left for your own.
What Gets Missed When You Miss Therapy
When you cancel your session “just for this week,” you’re not just losing 50 minutes.
You’re pausing:
The only hour where you don’t have to be in charge
A space where your feelings, needs and stories matter
A reminder that you are worthy of support, not just service
What starts as a one-week break often turns into two… or five… or we don’t hear from you again until you’re burned out, overwhelmed and back at square one.
Let’s flip the script.
Your therapy appointment isn’t an indulgence.
It’s maintenance. Protection. A boundary with the chaos.
You don’t need to earn your session.
You don’t need to wait until everyone else is okay.
You don’t need a crisis to justify care.
You are allowed to have needs. Even in December. Especially in September.
What Prioritizing Yourself Looks Like (All Year)
Keeping your therapy appointment even when it’s inconvenient
Saying, “I matter too” when your schedule is full
Letting your children see what it looks like to model self-care, not martyrdom
Choosing long-term wellness over short-term comfort
When you prioritize your healing and regulation, everyone in your life benefits—especially your kids.
You wouldn’t cancel their check-up to make room for another errand.
You wouldn’t say, “We’ll get to it once the holidays are over.”
You wouldn’t say, “They’re just being dramatic, they don’t need support.”
You’d keep the appointment. You’d show up. You’d make it a priority. You deserve the same.
This season—whatever season you’re in—we invite you to make a different choice.
Don’t wait for January to care for yourself. Don’t wait for summer to feel light again. Don’t wait for life to slow down to get the support you need.
Prioritize yourself not when it’s easy… but when it’s especially hard.
Because that’s when it matters most.
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