When questioned, many people will respond that they wish to lead a healthy lifestyle. However, when it comes to reality, that’s an entirely different story. Why, then, do so many people’s health aspirations fall short? The reason typically for busy professionals is they don’t have enough time.
Struggling to balance work, family, and social obligations can be taxing. Making time for yourself to live a happy and healthy lifestyle can thus seem nearly impossible. Put this way, the last thing on your mind if you’re juggling a hectic schedule is probably staying healthy. It can be simple to neglect your needs when you have commitments and deadlines to meet.
It is to note that adding more to your already packed schedule doesn’t always equate to being “healthier.” So instead, try incorporating healthy practices into your current ones rather than adding more to your already busy schedule. In simpler words, adjustment and substitution are the only practical options.
That said, here are some things you can do if you’re seeking practical tips to try and improve your health while still managing a busy schedule:
1. Pay attention to your mental health
Let’s face it; there is a close relationship between the human mind and body.
Being overworked and excessively busy might cause stress levels to increase. Additionally, this may lead to more serious mental health issues. Patients with severe mental illness are more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes, and their immune systems may occasionally deteriorate.
Believe it or not, neglecting your mental health also makes you more tired and less likely to engage in activities, thus lowering your productivity.
So if you think your mental health is deteriorating, a better idea is to seek professional help. Unsure of where to look for help? Visit www.vistapineshealth.com and get the best treatment you need. The best thing about this treatment center is that the professionals create personalized treatment regimens for patients to enable them to lead healthy lives.
2. Squeeze in time to move your body
Picture this: you just finished your work and feel worn out. All you want to do is to get to your home, settle on your comfy couch, watch your favorite show and cuddle with your pet, right? You are not alone. Most people find their energy drained after a busy day, and exercise seems to be the last thing on their minds. However, moving your body is vital to stay healthy and living longer.
However, exercise must be convenient for you to fit into your hectic schedule. You might not have time to drive across town to a gym or attend that 60-minute exercise session. So it would be best if you had something easy.
And it’s okay if you don’t have time for a workout or extensive activity. Throughout the day, you may still find time to walk about and exercise.
For example, when you wake up, perform jumping jacks; after lunch, take a walk; and just before night, perform pushups and situps. Or, when seated in the chair, you can rotate your legs clockwise and counterclockwise if you have sedentary work. To encourage blood circulation, take the stairs rather than the regular elevator.
These are merely a few examples of things you can do daily and stay fit.
3. Keep yourself hydrated
It is simple to forget to hydrate yourself when busy, but this is a huge mistake. Water is essential for the body’s normal functioning. Your body and mind begin to slow down with just 2% less water, which reduces productivity. Harvard Health recommends that adults who are typically healthy have four to six cups of water per day.
You should not, however, consume all of your daily water intake at once. Instead, ensure that you are consuming water gradually and in tiny amounts. Chug water or drink it rapidly; it will likely prefer to pass right past you rather than hydrate you as effectively as it would if you took your time.
Moreover, avoid consuming lots of alcohol or sugary drinks. Remember that sugary beverages can cause weight gain and inflammation, raising your risk of contracting diseases like diabetes. Additionally, men and women should each only have one or two drinks per day of alcohol.
4. Plan your meals
It might be challenging to find the time to prepare and consume healthy meals every day, but when you prepare your meals in advance, it can be enjoyable and simple to keep your body fed for the whole workweek.
Plan time on your days off to prepare two to three different lunches that will last you the entire week. Making your meals ahead can save you time because you won’t waste time deciding what to eat, only to choose fast food or skip the meal entirely. Meal planning can not only help you eat better foods and save you time, but it can also help many people save money.
Consider some full, wholesome meals you can prepare quickly to get you through the week. For example, you won’t get bored eating the same thing every day if you choose to make pasta, salads, or wraps because they are all quick and healthy meals that you can prepare in different ways!
Furthermore, you might include a protein smoothie if you know you will have a hectic day, so you won’t feel hungry later.
5. Enjoy good quality sleep
When we think of “keeping in shape,” we frequently think just of eating healthy foods and exercising, but the truth is that other factors are also involved.
Sleep is frequently the first thing to suffer when you have a packed schedule, which is detrimental to your health. Your quality of sleep affects your capacity to operate while you are awake. In addition, you have a higher risk of developing chronic illnesses, including stroke, obesity, depression, kidney problems, and cardiovascular disease, when you don’t get enough sleep. Lack of sleep has also been linked to an increased risk of injury and can negatively affect your mental health.
Experts recommend individuals should get approximately 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. So, ensure you get some beauty rest and pay attention to scheduling it in your hectic routine.
Sometimes it can be challenging to get a decent night’s sleep, especially if you are constantly busy and stressed out. However, just because getting the sleep you require isn’t always simple doesn’t imply that it isn’t crucial. For example, you may assist in improving your sleeping habits and, eventually, the quality of your sleep by practicing a few things, such as limiting your screen time before bed and ensuring that your bedroom is quiet, cold, and dark.
Conclusion
When it comes to staying healthy, note that there is no one right answer. It all relies on you, your daily routines, and the changes you’d like to make.
Because healthy living is so personal, be mindful that the list below is not all-inclusive nor a set of recommendations that must be adhered to precisely. Instead, you can test out various strategies to determine which works best for your schedule and makes you feel best.
