When you have a busy schedule, it can be hard to keep up a routine that includes fitness. At the end of the day, you may feel overwhelmed. It’s just so hard to find time!
It’s okay, we get it. Let’s take a look at 7 simple and easy ways you can stay fit and healthy, even with a busy schedule.
Park Far Away
If you’re cooped up in an office all day, park really far away. Whether you’re going to the office or running errands, parking far away is a great way to squeeze in some physical activity. As the weeks go by, you’ll notice that your time to get to and from your car decreases.
When we exercise, we sweat, our blood flows, and our heart pumps. Park far away from the entrance to get in a mini-workout without going out of your way to do a dedicated workout. The extra steps may not seem like they matter, but something is always better than nothing.
Get Regular Rest
Right now, you may be thinking, “Regular rest? Impossible!” But regular rest is crucial to every human being — especially for those of us who have busy schedules! When you have a busy schedule, sleep is probably the first thing to get neglected.
However, you need to sleep to function. Your battery needs to recharge, just like everything else.
Not getting enough sleep has negative impacts on both physical and mental health. Lack of rest can lead to chronic illnesses like kidney disease, heart disease, depression, obesity, and more.
Even if you can’t get in an entire 7 to 9 hours of sleep during the night, try to take naps during the day. No matter how busy your schedule is, do your best to get the required amount of sleep within a 24 hour period. It’s important!
Drink Water
Carry a water bottle with you everywhere you go and sip constantly throughout the day! A lack of proper hydration will cause your mind and body to slow down, which then decreases productivity. If you’re not fully functional and your productivity is decreasing, then that busy day won’t actually get anything done. Don’t be busy in vain; stay hydrated!
Enjoy Wellness Activities
If you try to be productive at all hours of the day, burnout is inevitable. Find wellness activities that will work best for you to find that healthy work-life balance. Try to select activities that don’t feel forced and will fit into your schedule.
You might enjoy walking, reading, baking, or even video chatting with friends. Make time to enjoy wellness activities every day.
Be Mindful of What You Consume
Be mindful of what you consume. No, we’re not talking about food.
Take time to filter and heavily consider the social media content you go through throughout your day. You shouldn’t come home after a stressful and busy day just to be engulfed in waves of content that don’t make you feel good. If you find yourself comparing yourself to others or feeling negative because of what you’re seeing online, unplug and unfollow!
Watch Your Diet
When you’re on the go, fast food and unhealthy options are readily available. However, these sodium-rich foods are known to affect your mental health and your daily functionality.
Even with a busy schedule, do your best to watch your diet. The food you consume daily contributes to your productivity. Enjoy healthy snacks and meals with organic ingredients and travel with your water bottle.
If you’re not practicing healthy habits in your life with a busy schedule, you’ll end up wasting a lot of time. The work that you can do while you’re healthy will always trump the work you do when you’re just running on fumes.
Create a Routine
Even with a busy schedule, you need to create a routine that includes health and wellness. Your routine should be realistic and functional. We know that you may not be able to head to the gym for an hour every day. But can you go maybe once or twice?
Try exercising for 15 minutes at some point every day at the same time. Increase your 15 minutes by 5 minutes every week. Slowly work in physical activity into your busy day. Eventually, the routine will stick. We promise that both your physical and mental health will thank you!
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Author bio:
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and world of fitness.
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