Put your health first ... Sheryl Crow does

My grandmother used to say that the more important word in "hard lesson" is the second one. Life sends tough -- sometimes seemingly insurmountable -- obstacles our way. It's our responsibility to pull whatever good can come out of those difficulties.

Sheryl Crow faced one of the biggest obstacles anyone can encounter when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two and a half years ago she underwent a lumpectomy and radiation to treat her illness. Today, she remains cancer free.

Crow walked away from her battle with cancer with an important life lesson in hand. She says that breast cancer helped her put herself first in her life. That's an example we all can learn from. Many of us put our health on the back burner in favor of more pressing commitments. But what could be more important than your well-being?

Put yourself first by following these tips:

• Exercise daily. Make a commitment to be active every day. Does that mean you have to go to the gym and have an intense workout every day? Not at all. Make sure to dedicate time during the week for more focused exercise, but also be physically active as much as possible every day. Play with your kids, walk the dog, work in the garden, even do some jumping jacks during the commercial breaks of your favorite show. Just move!
  
• Eat right. While a quick stop at the drive-thru might save you some time, you're giving up a lot of nutritional value and adding unwanted fat and calories. Take the time to shop for healthful ingredients and cook your own meals. Also, be sure to have plenty of nutritious snacks.
• Stress less. Take time to relax and enjoy life. Find ways to reduce the stress in your life. Learn to say no to obligations you don't have time for. Read a book, take a bath, or sign up for a yoga class.