If you’re like most people, you mentally equate “fitness” with a long stint at the gym or a session of pounding payment outside.
But in the modern world, few of us have time for that kind of effort. Professionals are working more than ever, with 33% of workers claiming to feel “burned out.” With our heavy workloads, knowing how to stay fit and healthy can feel like an impossible task.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to add more health to your everyday life—as long as you add in some simple habits and best practices. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Drink More Water
You know you should be drinking more water to improve your overall health and even mental focus, but it’s hard to put this advice into practice with your busy schedule.
To make sure you drink more, make sure to tote around a water bottle that marks off incremental measurements according to your intake goal (about 3.7 litres for men and 2.7 litres for women). You may also want to try an app that helps you remember to drink more water.
2. Plan Ahead
It’s easy to reach for an unhealthy meal or snack if you haven’t planned out your day. Try opting for a Meal Prep Sunday to organize and prepare your meals and the snacks you’ll carry around for the entire week. Even an hour or two can help you find ways to add more healthy foods to your diet.
Alternatively, make things easier on yourself with a full menu of healthy meals delivered to your door—with no wasted time.
3. Spread Out Workouts
Sometimes, it isn’t possible to exercise for a long period every day of the week. When that’s the case, staying fit is about snatching up little moments to fit in smaller workouts.
Do squats while you’re waiting for water to boil, or do pushups during a commercial break, for example. Make it a habit to take the stairs, take time for some active play with your kids, and increase your step count by walking to a nearby errand instead of driving.
4. Get More Sleep
When it comes to staying healthy, this is the number one thing you can do for yourself. With today’s workloads, most of us get less sleep than we need.
This is an issue for countless reasons, but it’s a particular problem if you’re trying to eat right. Fatigue raises our cortisol levels, which can lead to overeating and weight gain—so make sure to get your eight hours!
Learn How to Stay Fit and Healthy
There’s no right or wrong method when it comes to how to stay fit and healthy. In the end, it’s a lifestyle choice: every day, you must choose to find ways to add time for health to your busy schedule. Even when fitness seems impossible, work to capture the little moments that let you make the most of your health!
When time is an issue, learn how we can help you bring balance to your life by taking control of your health journey.