Many things in life are outside your control, but trying to maintain your wellness has plenty of opportunities to take charge and make good decisions. The question is, will you?

We often blame others for our stress or feelings of unhappiness, because there are many things in life that are not within our control. So when we DO have a chance to take control, we need to make decisions that help us be healthier. Go ahead and blame others when you aren’t in control, but take responsibility for your decisions when you are.

While you may have a lot of obligations, you owe it to yourself to create some downtime. This article offers some ideas for making time for yourself, which may require some initiative on your part, but which can also be very helpful. Unplugging from your electronics can get you away from a constant onslaught of information. Engaging in exercise can help you clear your mind and focus on something else. Reading a book can transport you temporarily to another time and place, away from day-to-day demands.

You may be uncomfortable taking charge of your life, or taking care of yourself. Your environment growing up may have discouraged the idea of looking out for yourself. Your social culture may value professional success far more highly than personal happiness, even though the two go hand in hand. It could be helpful to do some reading on achieving happiness or managing your time. You might also want to work with a coach, if your personal history leaves you unprepared for taking care of yourself.

Most of us want to do well in our jobs. As a result, we often sacrifice our mental and physical health to achieve that. We need to remember that, if we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t be that great at work. Either we’ll be low-energy, or we’ll burn out early and get tossed aside. Make some positive choices in life to improve your own wellness. You will most likely see a positive impact on the rest of your life, too.