October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an international campaign to raise both awareness and research funds in the fight against breast cancer. It’s also an opportunity to educate women about breast health and encourage them to make preventative screenings a priority.

There’s a variety of reasons why we put our health at the bottom of the priority list. According to PBS, roughly 40% of Americans delay seeking medical care because of the financial burden.  For others, simply taking the time to schedule an appointment is a challenge in their day-to-day lives. With the holiday season just around the corner, this “never have the time” argument is more true than ever.

The irony is, those busy schedules that keep us from getting regular check-ups can also make us more vulnerable to getting sick. Stress and lack of rest can often make it difficult for our bodies to fight illnesses, which is why it’s vital for us to identify where we’re running ourselves ragged. What can you let go of or ask for help with? What can you simplify for the sake of your own sanity (do you really need four types of stuffing for Thanksgiving?), and where can you set boundaries to promote better time management (and no, setting boundaries doesn’t make us lazy — but we’ll talk more about that later)?

Ultimately, if your health is at the bottom of your to-do list, you’ll never effectively accomplish the other things on it. Even if you currently can’t make the time for a check-up with your doctor, make it a daily practice to check in with yourself. Self-awareness and self care are some of the strongest forms of preventative care available, and you don’t even need a prescription!