Do you lead a busy life? Silly question, really. We are all busy. Whether you have a full-time job, go to school, stay home with the kids, or do some combination of it all, the odds are good that you are busy. Really busy. So what about your quest to stay healthy?
Unfortunately, fitness and healthy nutrition may be challenging to fit into that busy life. Missing a workout, picking up some fast food on the way home, or even skipping a meal, are things that we have all done when we just get too busy.
Face it, life is never going to be perfect and neither are we. There are, though, some things you can do to help you stay healthy in spite of your busy life.
Busy Life? 5 Tips to Stay Healthy!
1. Take Some Time for Food Prep
Take some time once a week (many prefer Sunday, but it’s whatever day works for you) to set up the meals for your week ahead. You can plan your menus, pre-cook some foods, chop up fruits and vegetables, and save a lot of time each day.
2. Schedule Your Workout
Give your workout the priority it deserves by adding it right to your schedule. When life really gets crazy, be realistic and schedule a shorter period of time, like a half an hour, so that it isn’t so overwhelming.
3. If it Must be Fast Food, make it the right fast food
Even with the best intentions, sometimes fast food happens. Just remember, there are options out there that are not burgers and fries. Many fast food restaurants offer much healthier, leaner options that are still quick and inexpensive.
4. Work It In
Even short bursts of exercise are helpful, so fill in downtime with some fitness. Waiting for the oven timer? Get down and give me 10 pushups! You can’t sit at your desk all day. Get up and throw in 10 squats every hour or so. You get the idea. And, as I always tell my clients, if you have only 15 minutes to spare, don’t say, “why bother?” Instead, stay healthy and use that time to do a quick circuit workout. You will thank yourself later.
5. Make Breakfast Easy
Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but it is also the one that frequently gets skipped when schedules get busy. Stay healthy by making your breakfast easy. Overnight oats, smoothies or smoothie bowls, can be a quick and nutritious option in the morning, providing you with the fuel to keep you going for hours.
What are your best tips to stay healthy when you’re really busy?
Weekly Linkups
My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
Meatless Monday with Annmarie and Dixya
Tuesdays on the Run with Marcia, Erika, and Patty
Inspire Me Monday with Janice
Wild Workout Wednesday with Annmarie, Jen, and Nicole
The Plant-Based Potluck Party with Deborah
The Running Coaches’ Corner with Rachel, Lora Marie, and Me!
Friday 5 2.0 with Rachel and Lacey and Meranda
Great tips! I always meal prep so no matter what I have something healthy on hand! As for workouts, I get up at 5am to get my workout in first thing every morning. Otherwise it won’t happen.
Make breakfast easy – that’s a really good tip! It always seems like I’m rushing in the morning so having a smoothie or a breakfast I make the night before is super helpful!
When I know I have a busy day coming up I make sure I get up early and get a workout in beforehand. When I don’t have anything going on, that’s when I can be a little more relaxed and work out whenever I want.
I agree with everything you mentioned, but something that I think has helped me is to get outside. Ideally, some outdoor action everyday is optimal, but even just a quick walk around the block and some fresh air do a body wonders. In Iowa, it’s so cold, I think getting outside actually enhances my immunity because none of those germs stand a chance of surviving on me LOL
Planning ahead helps me eat healthily. I plan my weekly dinner menu and smoothies, so I have all the ingredients on hand. With regards to workouts, I have a weekly schedule that I follow which is based on my work schedule. When I have to go in early, then I have to juggle to get it all in. But I do make it happen.
Yes! Such great tips!
One thing that always keeps me on the healthy train is staying hydrated with water.
Love making easy breakfasts!
I feel like my day is off to a great start when I have a healthy breakfast prepped and ready to go!
Food prep is important for me to keep me away from processed foods, and I’m counting calories so it’s even trickier.
I put together a meal planning calculator to help me get my calories per meal almost instantly, then I add some sample meals in my Fitbit food log to see how the ingredients I have in my fridge balance out.
https://www.feelbettertogether.com/meal-planning-calculator/
All this sounds good but I gotta be honest, I’m totally guilty of not eating breakfast on most days and I know I have a problem and I need to say no to hungry mornings, and not just for my co-workers’ sake. Making breakfast easy sounds like a really good idea.
The kids love smoothies, so I think I’ll try to whip up a big batch of that instead of only feeding them in the mornings and forgetting to put some healthy food in my belly.
I suck at meal prep. Well, maybe not. I make a pot of black beans for the week and eat that whenever I can. I do add some cheese and jalapeno peppers so it isn’t exactly that healthy. I never miss breakfast! I am always hungry in the morning so I make sure to eat.
Thank you so much for sharing this information. Ever since this year started it’s been hassle schedule. Though there are times I was able to go for an active lifestyle but there are times that it will take weeks to go back. Anyways, great post, I’ve learned a lot and will surely take not all of these. Cheers! 🙂
As much possible, I’m trying to take some multivitamins though I may not relay too much into it. Trying to stay active too. Anyways, great post!