When I became a dad, I suddenly had far less free time. In an eerie coincidence, a lot of things that used to feel important turned out to be bullshit anyway. I kind of expected that would happen. What surprised me, though, was what became more important.

I’ve talked to a lot of men about what being a father means to them. Here are some words that come up frequently: provider; coach; occasional drill sergeant. One guy I know describes himself as a stock-horse. He plods forward no matter how much you load him up. That one has stuck with me.

Many dads I talk to feel like providing for their families is their first role. Being present for their kids and partners comes next. And then self-care. Theoretically. But health stuff is often crowded out by everything else. It’s understandable. However, nobody in that zone looks—or feels—like they’re having a good time. Nor are they showing up at their best for their families or their professional lives.

Working out—or taking care of yourself in general—can feel like a luxury. What’s a luxury? Diamonds are a luxury. Unless you need to drill through stone or glass. Then you need a diamond drill bit. According to the internet, anyway; that kind of work is above my (very low) handy guy pay grade. However, I definitely know how much better I feel when I’m moving, eating, and sleeping consistently well. The difference is ridiculous and my experience is not unique.

Beyond priorities, there are a couple of barriers to beginning with health. One is energy. The other is time. It takes money to make money. Ok, so start with what you’ve got and invest it well. You don’t need to overhaul everything. In fact, the problem might be that you’re grossly overestimating how much time, space, and energy you need to make this change.

My challenge to you is to ask how little exercise you need to feel better—more focused and energized. I’ll bet you a coffee it’s way less than you think.