07/14/2025
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This quote is from Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and I find that it relates to health as much as it does life in general.
Covey would illustrate that idea with a jar, big rocks, pebbles, and sand. And the goal was to fit it all into the jar. If you fill the jar with sand and pebbles first, there won't be enough space for the big rocks.
However, if you put the big rocks in first, the pebbles and sand will fit around them. Putting the big rocks in first will allow it all to fit.
Now, Covey uses this as a metaphor for effective time management and prioritization. It emphasizes the importance of identifying and focusing on your most crucial priorities before tackling less important tasks.
How does this relate to our health? Well, in my years in functional medicine, I have come to see that the big rocks are the aspects making up our lifestyle or daily habits.
Fueling our bodies with whole foods, moving our bodies appropriately, getting good quality sleep and managing the daily stress are the big rocks.
Starting with these “big rocks” will take us quite far and then we can add the smaller pebbles and sand - looking at functional medicine testing, supplements, using wearable technology etc.
But starting with the other way around is not as effective and we end up spinning our wheels, spending a lot of time, energy and money that could have been saved starting with first things first.
What big rocks have you forgotten today?
In health,
Dr. Emily
