If you're anything like me, you are always functioning at 120%. No task goes unfinished and no task is given less than full effort. But what happens at the end of the day?

I don't know about you, but I never stop working. Every second of the day is filled with something productive. Whether it be reading motivational books, working out, class, work, homework, or about a hundred other things; I am always doing something. And I love being productive. I literally get a mini high when I know I'm working towards a goal.

But here's the truth about being so "Type A": if you're not careful, you're going to suck the life out of yourself. We get so hung up on doing things that "need" to get done, that we end up forgetting our own human needs. Biological needs that need to be met in order for us to be able to function at such high productivity levels. So I'm here to tell you why it's okay to slack and put biological needs before work or social needs.

The first neglected biological process is eating. As a certified nutritionist, I often encounter people who are convinced they eat enough but still feel sluggish all of the time. The truth is that a majority of people are not eating enough food, let alone enough of the right foods. Everyone's body has a unique amount of calories needed for everyday function. Those calories are then broken down into three groups: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

This is called your macronutrient breakdown. Personally, I track all three of these categories daily and it keeps my body balanced and functioning properly, but it can be grueling and overwhelming for some people.You do not need to count every gram of food you eat every day (though it does have its benefits), but it is important to be conscious of what and how much food you are putting into your body.

Be conscious because your body has an energy balance that needs to be maintained. If this energy balance is not maintained non-essential bodily functions begin to shut down. These processes include reproductive function, metabolic function, and brain function. Yeap, that's right, your brain function will be hindered.

And metabolic function means how your body processes food. So even if you are not eating enough you can still gain weight because your body is not balanced. So that pizza you decided to swallow whole because you hadn't eaten all day prior, is going to go straight into fat stores because your body's metabolism is all out of whack.

The other biological process that is rejected is sleep. How many times have you gotten four hours of sleep one night because you were up late doing a paper or catching up on Netflix? And then the next night you get twelve hours in an effort to "make up" for getting so little the night before?

Sorry, but sleep does not add up in a bank somewhere. A pattern of over and under sleeping is only going to hinder your daily routine further. Everyone has heard that eight hours is necessary, but what isn't widely known is that if you live a high-stress life (so basically everyone everywhere) you actually need more than eight hours.

Now that I've flooded your brain with an absurd amount of science based nonsense, I'm going to swing back around to my original point. It is okay to slack for the sake of your biological needs. I am actually begging you to put yourself before your work more often. Work more efficiently during the day so that you can get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Consult a nutritionist or download a food tracking app so that you can take in the right foods to function properly.

You only get one body so please take care of it. Choose sleep and healthy foods because it will pay off in the end. You will feel more energized throughout your day and your mind will be clearer. Love yourself enough to take some time away from your busy schedule and focus on what your body is telling you it needs.