Time Saving Tips For A Healthy Lifestyle
Living a healthy lifestyle is important, but it can be challenging when you have a busy schedule. Between work, family, and other obligations, finding the time to exercise, cook healthy meals, and practice self-care can be a struggle. So it is more important to prioritize a few areas to make the most of your health and fitness.
Make a Schedule
One of the best ways to save time and stay on track with your healthy habits is to make a schedule. Schedule your workouts, meal prep time, and self-care activities in advance to ensure that you have enough time for everything. Start on Sunday night and look at your week. What is coming up that is non-negotiable? for many it'll be work, family obligations like games for kids, practices, etc. Get these on the calendar. From there schedule workouts at specific times of the day. Remember, you don't need a full 60-90 minutes to get the job done, 20-30 minutes will be plenty.
Cook in Bulk
Cooking in bulk is a great way to save time during the week. When you have some free time, cook a large batch of a healthy recipe and store it in the fridge or freezer for later. This will help you avoid the temptation to order takeout or eat unhealthy convenience foods when you're short on time. Personally, I like to cook up meat for my lunches ahead of time. It could be the night before as I grill up that nigthts dinner or on a Sunday before the week starts. Look at your schedule that you made in step 1 and see what works best for you. The middle of the day can be busiest for me so having chicken or steak cooked ahead of time makes life much easier.
Use Time-Saving Kitchen Gadgets
Investing in time-saving kitchen gadgets can make a big difference in your healthy lifestyle. Consider purchasing a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or air fryer to make meal prep and cooking easier and more efficient. Also a blender can be your best friend for a quick protein shake between calls, zooms, or before you head out for the kids soccer practice.
Incorporate Movement into Your Daily Routine
Finding time to exercise can be a challenge, but it's essential for a healthy lifestyle. You wont be perfect all of the time so look to maximize time outside of the gym with extra movement. Look for things such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or going for a walk during your lunch break or after work. I personally try to bookend my days with walk. A couple miles in the morning and then a couple more to end the day.
Practice Mindfulness
Taking a few minutes each day to practice mindfulness can help you stay focused and reduce stress. Try meditating, practicing yoga, or simply taking a few deep breaths to help you feel more centered and calm. This Wim Hof breathing exercise is one that I have personally enjoyed over the years and is only 10 minutes.
Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential for a healthy lifestyle, but it can be a challenge when you're busy. Make sleep a priority by creating a relaxing bedtime routine and sticking to a consistent sleep schedule. Consider putting the phone up an hour before bed to give your brain a rest. Practice presence by listening to your breathing as you try to fall asleep or focusing on different parts of your body. This can help to minimize that wandering mind before bed time.
Takeaway
Not having a lot of time is not a good excuse. Few are busier than Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, The Rock or whoever. Regardless of what you think of these people they create the time to get the important stuff done. As you can see from the steps above you don't have to be ultra wealthy, have maids, to be successful. You just need a little structure, a plan, and manage your sleep and energy to take the next step in your life and health. Let these thing focus and guide you and you can tweak them along the way.
