Tired of making excuses to not work out?
It can be difficult to maintain a busy schedule, especially working 9-5, having a family to take care of, or being in school. You want to make sure everyone has been taken care of, including yourself! Here are some tips for people who work full-time, stay-at-home full-time, or just want to change their lifestyle.
Prep your meals – this is beneficial because it really resists the urge to make a trip for food. Popular times to prep your meals for the week are Sunday or Monday evenings. You can package veggies in one container, put fruit in another, and meat/protein in another. Then, each night, you can take some from each container and you’re ready for the next day.
If you don’t have time to cook either of those nights, packing some sort of lunch and snacks for the next day is helpful. Whether it’s a quick sandwich, crackers, apples, veggies, or nuts, having healthy alternatives will keep you from making bad decisions throughout the day. It will likely make you feel less hungry and more awake.
Find ways to walk – it can especially difficult to find time to walk when you have a desk job. However, there are ways to incorporate walking throughout the day. For example, take a longer route to the office kitchen or, instead of sending someone an email, walk over to their desk and chat with them. As long it does not have a negative impact on your productivity, it works very well and can make a big difference in your overall steps for the day. Considering taking a walk during lunch, whether it’s a few laps around the building or a few blocks down the road.
Set your schedule – try thinking of working out as a scheduled meeting. You wouldn’t just skip a meeting, right? Make exercising an appointment with yourself. Over time, it will become something you really look forward to, rather than something that feels like a chore.
Plan to take a 15 minute walk right after dinner, and 15 minutes in the morning. 30 minutes of walking everyday makes a huge difference!
Hopefully these tips are helpful! While finding time to eat healthy and exercise is difficult, with the right mindset it is completely manageable. For me, what helps most is being prepared. As long as I have healthy food around me, I will not be tempted to make bad choices.
Good luck!