Even if you strive to consciously make healthy decisions, time may not always be on your side. With such a hectic schedule every day, it can sometimes be a lot easier to grab something that’s quick, fast and affordable to eat, like fast food, on your way out or during your short lunch break.
Meanwhile, the gym may be the last thing you have the energy for after a long day at the office or on the job.
However, it doesn’t have to be a tradeoff. Being healthy and being busy is possible, it just takes a little work to turn these choices into a habit. It can be difficult at first, but there are small changes that you can start implementing into your daily routine to live a healthier lifestyle. Here are a few tips that can make a big impact and won’t be too hard to stick to!
-
Designate time for meal prepping
Making a new meal each night for dinner or thinking of a lunch to pack for the following day can seem like a monotonous chore. If you designate an hour specifically to cooking and prepping meals for the week, or by ordering a meal kit online, you’ll save yourself loads of time. Then, when it’s time to eat, all you’ll have to do is take ten minutes to reheat or prepare. Eating healthy doesn’t have to require a lot of effort!
-
Make being active a lifestyle
Getting physical activity doesn’t just need to be an hour session at the gym. Exercising shouldn’t be a chore, it’s about making it into a conscious lifestyle. If you lack the time to do a full-on workout, try squeezing in little ways of staying active throughout the day. Go on a walk when you take a phone call, take the stairs instead of an elevator, or even do a small yoga routine right before bed. Be mindful of where you could be more active in your daily routine and take advantage.
-
Address deficiencies
With a fast-paced lifestyle, getting all of your required nutrients each day can be incredibly tough. Common vitamin deficiencies like iron, vitamin B, and magnesium can have a huge effect on your overall wellness. This is why it’s important to address any deficiencies with a doctor and to take supplements or a daily multivitamin to keep yourself balanced.
-
Develop a relaxation technique
Eliminating stress as a whole is a near impossible task. Once you’ve come to terms with this realization, you’ll understand that you should be focused on how you cope with stress and what relaxation techniques work the best for you. What may help your friends or family deal with their anxieties may not benefit you the same way. It’s crucial to try out different coping mechanisms to find the right one for you and your unique situation. Techniques such as meditation and yoga are just a couple of ways you can learn to relax and deal with your stress, but there are many more methods you can try as well.
-
Create to-do lists to stay organized
Have you ever found yourself running a bunch of errands but end up forgetting something along the way, just to run back out later? It happens to all of us but this is a huge time-waster and can be extremely frustrating. By organizing your to-do lists, you’ll be better able to stay on top of all of your to-do’s and feel more in control of your life. It’ll allow you to visualize all the things you need to get done while also prioritizing and planning when to do them.
-
Set realistic goals
One of the biggest complaints of chronically busy people is that there’s never enough time in the day to get everything done. Striving for long-term goals is essential for growth, but it’s just as important that these goals be realistic and achievable. Instead of aiming for that six-pack by summer, start off with making a small workout plan and build your way up over time. Want that promotion? Work on one project at a time instead of trying to take on everything at once. By setting realistic goals, you’ll get to where you want to be over time and feel less overwhelmed while doing it.
-
Fill up your water bottle five times a day
Most people don’t drink enough water each day to stay hydrated. If you wait until you’re thirsty to drink water, you’ve already let yourself get dehydrated. When you drink enough water, you’ll have a stronger immune system, feel more energetic, and you’ll cleanse your body from the inside-out. Start by getting a great reusable water bottle and fill it up at least five times throughout the day. With a goal, you’ll feel more motivated to drink water and therefore become healthier in the process.
