It can be difficult to keep a healthy lifestyle when you’re always busy. It’s easy to get distracted and eat something out of convenience when your schedule is constantly packed.
It is important to try to stay healthy despite how busy you are. Otherwise, you’ll risk becoming fatigued or rundown, which will make everything more difficult for you.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to make sure you get enough sleep, eat foods that will keep your energy up, and exercise regularly.
1) Get 8 hours of sleep every night
There’s no getting around it; if you don’t get enough sleep, all your plans for the day are going to be thrown off. This is because sleep deprivation can make you feel tired and grumpy, slow down your thinking, and hurt your immunity system (so you’re more likely to get sick).
To make sure you get enough sleep every night:
-Stick to a regular bedtime schedule, including on weekends; this will train your body to fall asleep on a schedule
-Make sure your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. You can use eyeshades or earplugs if that’s what it takes to help you sleep
-Don’t do anything besides sleep in your bed (no reading, watching TV, etc.)
2) Eat foods that give you energy
To keep your body working, you need fuel.
The best sources of energy are complex carbohydrates (e.g., whole grains) and lean proteins (e.g., fish, beans). These will replenish your energy without providing too many calories for your body to process at once. They’ll also keep you full longer than processed foods will.
You can “pack in” lots of calories by eating healthy fats, but only if you’re not on a strict diet. Otherwise, if you eat too many unhealthy foods that are high in sugar or fat, it will lead to weight gain.
-Eat small meals throughout the day to keep your energy level up. If you wait until you’re starving to eat, you’ll be more likely to overeat
-Eat fewer processed foods
3) Exercise regularly
There are lots of ways you can exercise, so it’s important to find something that keeps you interested. Think about the kinds of activities you enjoy and see if there are some that would keep your heart pumping.
Some fun ways to exercise include playing tennis, dancing, taking hikes, practicing yoga, and biking.
If you like team activities, joining a sports league or playing on intramural teams can be great options. That way you’ll get the chance to make new friends while staying active.
-Remember that it’s OK to start off slowly; no one can run or lift weights for hours when they first start exercising
-Do what you enjoy. If you don’t like running, try riding a bike instead
-Don’t expect to get in shape overnight. It takes time to build new habits. So, if you’ve been inactive lately, be sure to ease into an exercise routine gradually
-Drink lots of water before, during, and after you exercise. This will help your body stay hydrated while also flushing toxins out of your system
-Jot down the activities that keep you interested in a journal or on an online calendar (e.g., iCalendar). You can then look back at it to remind yourself of your favorite activities
-Mix up your workout routine every few weeks to avoid hitting a plateau. Change the duration, intensity, or focus (e.g., try doing yoga for one week and lifting weights the next)
4) Take time to pamper yourself
It’s important not to ignore your own needs when you’re busy, because if you do, you’ll eventually become irritable and inefficient.
There are lots of things you can do to relax and keep your spirits up. For example:
-Take a warm bath with calming essential oils
-Drink a cup of herbal tea
-Make an appointment at a day spa for a relaxing massage or facial
-Sit and watch your favorite movie (or TV show)
Some other tips:
-Take a mini-break to relax for 10 minutes every few hours. The best option is to meditate because it’ll help calm you down without requiring much time. Just close your eyes and focus on your breath; soon you’ll start feeling calmer.
-Perform breathing exercises to instantly relax when you start feeling stressed out
-Turn off your cell phone for an hour or two every day so you can focus on the task at hand without being interrupted.
5) Maintain a positive attitude
When things get tough, it can be hard to stay optimistic about what lies ahead. But when you notice that your attitude is starting to slip, do something that makes you happy.
This could mean spending time with a friend or going on a hike to take in some fresh air. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember that one-day things will become easier.
-Read a motivational book occasionally, so you can stay motivated
-Spend time with people who inspire you. If there are some friends that complain about their lives all the time, try spending less time with them so you can be around people who will motivate and inspire you
-Empower yourself by taking on small tasks that require quick thinking or problem-solving. For example, if you feel stuck while writing a paper, take a break and try outlining the rest of it to get your thoughts flowing.
-If you’re feeling down on yourself about something you did in the past, forgive yourself and move on with your life.
6) Get enough sleep
It can be easy to lose track of time when you start working on a big project and suddenly realize that it’s 2:00 am and you haven’t slept in over 28 hours.
This is when it becomes important to start prioritizing sleep; otherwise, you’ll end up feeling groggy and inefficient the next day.
Make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night so your mind can rest and de-stress.
If you struggle to fall asleep, meditation is a great way to relax so you can drift off quickly at night.
You could also try taking a bath or using a hot water bottle as a makeshift heating pad to ease the tension in your muscles and help you feel drowsy.
-Avoid consuming caffeine too close before bedtime because it’ll keep you awake
-Try writing in a journal every night to help get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper.
The best way to maintain a healthy lifestyle is by having an organized day.
Whether you have a morning routine, evening routine, or both, the key is to make sure all your tasks are completed in order and on time.
By taking care of everything before it becomes too overwhelming, you’ll be able to take back control over your life and enjoy more downtime with friends and family.
