As far as 'miracle cures' go, simply living a healthy lifestyle is definitely one of them. But with more of us working stressful jobs that involve sitting at a desk all day, we often neglect our health for the sake of our career. We all know the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, but here's just a few to refresh your memory:
- reduces stress
- boosts self-confidence
- improved quality of sleep
- lowers blood pressure
- you feel better!
But how do you stay on top of keeping fit and healthy when you have a hectic lifestyle? This is something most career women struggle with, as we're often just too busy to hit the gym for two hours a day or cook a meal from scratch. It's too easy to fall into bad habits and rely on instant dinners every night, even though we know that they're no good for us. Some bad habits are okay, and we can't be perfect - but there's a few good habits we can pick up along the way too!
Swap out unhealthy snacks for healthy alternatives. In an article published by UK medical insurance provider AXA PPP healthcare, it was found that 1 in 5 of us are 'obsessed with diets' and losing weight, which leads to unrealistic expectations of keeping healthy. Remember, you don't need to change everything at once and completely overhaul your diet. It's much better to make one small change at a time because that way, you're more likely to stick with it. For example, if you've been drinking five cans of soda every day for the past few years, you're going to be accustomed to thinking that you need it, because that's just what you drink. But think of it this way (and I'm not trying to scare you) - you're literally pouring huge quantities of liquid sugar into your body! Pick up a bottle of water instead and try to drink it over the course of the day, then increase it from there. You can still have soda, but think of it as a treat or a reward for a hard day's work. The same goes for food - there's so many healthy and natural alternatives to sugary treats, and they're usually a lot cheaper too.
Find a form of exercise that's right for you. If you can't stand lifting weights or don't enjoy running, then why do it? You're not going to enjoy it and you're much more likely to make excuses to not do it. Remember, there's more to exercise than the usual running and gym routines, so if you haven't found something you enjoy, don't give up. Try out new classes with a friend, turn your chores into fitness, play with your kids, walk to work instead of taking the car...there's literally hundreds of things you can do that don't involve the gym. It's all about making fitness part of your routine, so you're exercising without even knowing it.
Plan ahead. You've just finished work and you know you need to pick up something for dinner on the way home. You're tired, so you figure you'll just grab a ready-made meal instead of choose a recipe to cook. Yup, we all do it. But put some time aside, maybe at the weekend, and pick a few things to cook this week and buy the ingredients when you're at the supermarket. That way, everything is there for you when you're home, and you're ready to go.
Staying healthy doesn't need to be difficult and you don't need to make radical changes. A few small changes here and there, like including more healthy foods into your diet and taking up some low intensity exercise is usually all it takes to make keeping healthy part of your daily routine.
Abbi Gabasa is the Managing Editor of MsCareerGirl.com and owner of UpraisedLiving.com. Having the background of a Marketing and Public Relations Manager with years of professional experience in various industries has given her an insightful perspective on careers, lifestyles, relationships, and attitudes which she humorously applies in helping people through her writing. Abbi is a training life coach, and an advocate of children's charities, women empowerment, optimistic thinking, and slow Sundays. A self-confessed Jane of all trades, she hopes to help girls all over the world find their calling and pursue their passions.