There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to do. And it can feel like an added stressor when you are trying to integrate healthy habits into your already hectic schedule. But if you make time for healthy habits, you’ll find yourself with extra reserves of energy that will lower your stress and help you get through life’s challenges.
Here are a few things you can start doing right now to make healthy habits a relatively painless part of your routine:
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Drink water throughout the day. You don’t hear this nearly enough: water is an all-purpose wonder-substance. It’s great for your skin, your digestive system, and circulatory system, and aids in weight loss and cellulite reduction. If you feel fatigued during the day, it’s often because you aren’t hydrated properly. Drink water throughout the day, sipping from a large bottle or glass. If you have it nearby, it’s easy to remember. If you don’t like the “taste” of water, keep a supply of lemon so that you can add a slice to your water – it cuts any bitterness, adds a bit of vitamin C and makes it taste more festive!
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Cut back on the amount of soda and coffee you drink. Sugar and caffeine dehydrate you and create energy rushes followed by crashes, which are ultimately energy-depleting. Substitute with drinks like green tea or 100% fruit juice.
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Replace high-sugar foods with low-sugar versions. Cutting back on the amount of refined sugar you consume helps reduce calories and weight gain and also helps you avoid the energy slumps that come from sugar withdrawal. Items high in refined sugar include most soft drinks, cereals, baked goods, and of course, candy and ice cream. Look for low-sugar or no-sugar versions of these, or simply opt for healthy snacks instead.
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Stock up on healthy, portable snacks. When you are grocery shopping, pick up bags of baby carrots, string cheese, nuts, fresh and dried fruit, single serving packs of applesauce, yogurt, wholegrain crackers, peanut butter, turkey jerky, etc. Having healthy portable snacks around will help you avoid bad vending-machine, convenience store and fast-food options. Read some more portable snack ideas.
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Take the time to plan healthy meals for the week. Spend 15 minutes or so to map out your meals. Keep it simple. Then, when you shop for groceries, make your purchases based on the meals you will make during the week. This will help you avoid relying on less healthy take-out or fast food choices. Learn even more grocery store tips.
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Purchase frozen, ready-to-cook ingredients. Frozen fruits and vegetables have high vitamin and mineral content because they don’t sit around losing these nutrients for long before they are preserved. Although you’ll want to keep plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables around, it’s great to have frozen produce available for quick meal additions and smaller servings. Also, some grocery stores offer frozen boneless chicken breasts and a wide variety of seafood items in re-sealable packages. These are great for quick, healthy meals.
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Pack your lunch the night before. You'll have given yourself the gift of extra time in the morning and you will assure that you have a healthy meal during the day. Don’t forget to pack snack items so you can avoid the vending machine.
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Cook double batches of whatever you’re cooking. When you prepare dinner, especially on weekends, cook extra and freeze to use for another dinner or lunch. Then, you'll have a healthy meal ready to go when you are.
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Give yourself some slack. If you are stressed out about preparing healthy meals every day, use what some experts call the "80/20" rule in your eating. If 80 percent of what you eat is healthy, then allow yourself to take it a little easier for the remaining 20 percent. You and your diet will survive.
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Fit in exercise whenever you can. Experts recommend that adults exercise a minimum of 30 minutes three times per week. Aim for this amount, but don’t kick yourself if you can’t meet this goal. Any amount of exercise is better than none. No time to go to a gym? Build a stock of exercise tapes – many have routines that you can complete in 20-40 minutes. Use hand weights or do crunches, leg-lifts and lunges while watching television. Or invest in an exercise bike – you can pedal while catching up on your reading. Think of what would be most interesting to you and what best fits your schedule and budget.
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Take a walk break during the day. Even 20 minutes can make a difference in your energy level, plus it gives you time to clear your head. If you walk with a friend or colleague, it also gives you time to socialize.
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Whenever possible, walk. Increase the amount of time you can walk, versus sit or drive. It doesn’t take that much extra time to park a bit farther from the store entrance, or to make a personal visit to a colleague rather than phoning, instant messaging or e-mailing.
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Get enough sleep. Even if you gain more time in your day by cutting back on sleep, you will be less effective throughout the day, as your energy level and cognitive functioning will be reduced. Insufficient sleep also makes you more susceptible to illness. By getting enough sleep, you become more efficient during the time you are awake.
Begin integrating some or all of these habits today. Make them part of your normal routine. You’ll be surprised at how little time is involved and how much better you’ll feel!
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Mary Guarino, Ph.D.
Member Comments
e bike while you catch up on some reading??? I DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ!!!
Same thing with the exercise tapes - i I'm home y kids are bugging me, I've tried exercising at home - I'm interrupted Every.Single.Time - 10/18/2012 12:24:27 PM
That said, a big problem I've started having since joining SparkPeople last summer is that I'm just getting so fed up with being nagged about it all. It IS always the same advice over and over and over.
The Diabetic Diet! = eat fruits and veggies and whole grains
The Depression Diet! = eat fruits and veggies and whole grains
The ________ Diet! = eat . . . what do you think?
So yeah, we're all supposed to be nearly vegetarian and, of course exercise. 30, no now they're saying 45, oops, no now it's 60 minutes a day. (yes, I've read all three) And you always have to keep adding minutes as you get used to it, and more weight as you get used to it or it doesn't do any good any more (yes, I've read what amounts to saying that). So, when does it stop? I guess we all end up doing nothing but exercising all day and lifting weight like those super heavy-weight lifters.
I know it's all supposed to be good for us, but I just have gotten to the point where I get snide about it and don't want to do any of it because I'm so sick of hearing it over and over and over.
Especially when my mother in law who grew up eating poorly, wasn't careful about what she ate as an adult, has been what would be considered fat most of her adult life, and never did exercising other than housework and just being one of those people who can't sit still is turning 90 this year and still doing very well. Her older sister does have a pacemaker and is diabetic, but she still gets around on her own power and will be 93 this year.
My Mom who smoked, was always slender, ended up weighing 80 pounds and dying from Alzheimer's at 82.
I don't know. I just am tired of having to have something that used to be a fun, enjoyable part of life turn into just another worry. Another of life's stressors.
Oh, and then stress makes you gain weight too . . .
*sigh*
I just wish I could feel as happy, cheery, excited and positive about healthy eating and exe... - 2/2/2012 5:52:51 PM
If it's not different, it's really not worth my time to read it and there's really no need to write a new article about it either. Just reference one of the other 100 articles that say the same thing. I'm just saying... - 8/19/2011 1:03:51 AM