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Some time between having a baby at the end of February and moving across the country two weeks ago, living a healthy lifestyle became less of a priority. I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve adopted more than a few unhealthy habits these past few months.
For example, I rely on caffeine to boost my energy levels and drink more coffee than water each day. Also, when I’m exhausted and stressed, I crave sugar and carbohydrates — and generally lack the willpower to resist. Then I feel guilty for devouring all those chips/cookies/candy and fall into a shame spiral.
And finding time to go to the gym? Forget it. I haven’t had a proper workout since the third trimester of my pregnancy.
Moving back to New Jersey has inspired a sort of “fresh start” attitude, though. I’m finally feeling motivated to jump back on the get-healthy bandwagon. However, I’m still strapped for time and still really tired (thanks to my middle-of-the-night rendezvous with Asa), so I’ve been brainstorming shortcuts to good health to incorporate into my day.
Wanna get healthy with me?
Here are a few tips to get you started:
If you can’t get a full night’s sleep… Take a nap.
When the house is finally quiet and your hands are free to fold the laundry or catch up on work, it can be hard to give yourself permission to nap. But you’re more functional and more productive when you’re well rested, so schedule a quick snooze when you’ve had too little sleep. A short 10-to-20-minute power nap will help you feel more alert, while a 90-minute nap can actually increase creativity and improve your memory.
If you can’t workout at the gym… Run around the house.
It’s easy to incorporate at least a little bit of physical activity into your day when you’re the parent of a toddler or preschooler. Just chasing your kid(s) around the house can feel like a cardio workout! If you have a baby, you can still get your heart pumping by carrying him or her up and down the stairs. Bonus: You’ll also help tone your rear and strengthen your arms.
Have a four-legged fur-baby? Take a fast-paced stroll around the block with your dog twice a day or run after the ball with him when you play fetch in the backyard.
If you can’t eat the recommended 9 servings of fruits and vegetables… Add a supplement.
After hearing my dad tout the health and digestive benefits of powdered greens, I decided try supplementing my smoothies with Aloha’s Blend Box of Daily Good Greens. Each packet of dried green juice offers 2 servings of fruits and veggies plus whole-food Vitamin D to boost your immune system, hydrate, energize, and cleanse. Adding a pouch of original blend to my go-to smoothie — ice, a banana, frozen berries, Greek yogurt, and coconut water — is such a simple way to load up on nutrients and minerals.
Need a little nutritional support? Sign up for a free trial of Daily Good Greens and get a blend box with samples of all three flavors — original, chocolate, and berry. I tend to prefer berry smoothies, but the chocolate flavor would be delicious in a smoothie with a banana, peanut butter, and milk, don’t you think? Try it for 14 days, and if you like it, you can auto-enroll in Aloha’s monthly service.
If you can’t take a vacation… Listen to music.
It’s just as important to care for your mental health as it is your physical health. Music has the ability to improve your mood by making it harder for your mind to wander. When you’re in the present moment, you’re able to work more efficiently, think more creatively, and focus more intently. So plug in your headphones and zone out (or zone in?) to your favorite album.
How do you stay healthy when life is hectic? Any tips on committing to good-for-you habits?
Do you notice the taste of the powder when you mix it in a smoothie (beyond the cocoa or berry flavoring)?
It hardly altered the flavor of my smoothie, but you can taste it a little bit — though it’s honestly not bad at all. Not sure how it would taste simply mixed with water. I don’t know if I’m brave enough to drink anything that green straight up!