Are You Busy? Here's How To Stay Healthy

When you have a crazy-busy schedule, finding time to focus on your health can be hard. It can lead to a cycle of eating poorly, getting little exercise and feeling sluggish. Your health is important, so don’t let a busy schedule stop you from caring for yourself. 

How to stay healthy when you're busy

Try slowly introducing some of these habits into your routine for a healthier, more productive you! 

Plan and prep your meals 

Take the guesswork out of your mid-week meals by spending some time preparing meals on the weekend. By allocating a bit of time to chop, mix and cook for future meals, you reduce the time needed to make lunches or dinners throughout the week. If you often run out of time to get something for lunch, preparing it the night before means you’ll have something on hand when your tummy rumbles.  

Squeeze in a HIIT session 

HIIT (or High-Intensity Interval Training) workouts can be a great option for busy people. You can get your sweat on and burn calories quickly by following an interval of high-intensity activity (such as sprinting) and rest periods. If your time is limited, HIIT can be a great way to squeeze effective workouts into the time you do have.

Have healthy snacks on hand 

Rather than snacking on biscuits or chips between tasks, try to pack healthy snacks to fuel your body. If you have room in the office fridge, try keeping a stash of baby carrots to snack on with a bit of hummus. Have a jar with some nuts (such as almonds or pistachios) in your desk drawer or bag to nibble on. That way, you’re less likely to be tempted by snacks that are high in saturated fat or sugar.

Schedule your workouts 

One thing most busy people have in common is making use of a calendar or to-do list. They help you stay on top of appointments and deadlines. So why not use them to make your health a priority? Make appointments for your workouts! Seeing that listing in your calendar reminds you to get to a workout, and regular exercise may also help you to manage stress. 

Choose quality over quantity 

When you’re busy, you need your body and mind to be performing at their best. Fuel your body with nutrient-dense foods by choosing healthy meals and snacks. Try to avoid pre-packaged, convenience meals as these can be full of preservatives and high in salt or sugar. Fresh and whole foods can help keep your energy up when you need it.  

When you are caught up in a busy lifestyle, it can be hard to prioritise your health. But remember that making room for healthy activities is an investment in your future and in your happiness.