It starts off well. There’s a grocery list, a vague plan, and even some good intentions floating around. You have ideas, you have plans, like improving your gut health, keeping hydrated (with just water, of course), and the list goes on and on. But then Monday hits like a freight train. Work is wild, the to-do list is multiplying, and the fridge is just that thing you open to stare blankly into at 8 pm while wondering if ice cream counts as dinner (or any other junk food you’ve got in the house).
Well, trying to stay healthy when your life is full-speed chaos isn’t easy. For some, it can be harder than for others (like for parents or those working two jobs). But at the same time, this doesn’t always need to be impossible either, even if it does actually feel impossible. For the most part, it’s not about being perfect, eating kale three times a day, or spending your entire weekend prepping quinoa bowls.
Rather, it’s about knowing what to do to make staying on track feel like less of a full-time job.
Start With Those Effortless Tiny Wins
Okay, so it’s best to just go ahead and start with this one. Essentially, there’s no need to overhaul everything overnight. Instead, just start small and build from there. Swapping the sugar-loaded latte for a coffee with a splash of oat milk? That counts. Grabbing a handful of nuts instead of crisps from the vending machine? Well, that also counts. The more your choices fit into your actual lifestyle, the more likely they’ll stick.
But overall, it’s not about guilt-tripping yourself into some wellness influencer routine. Just see it like this; it’s about making decisions that feel doable even when you’re running on four hours of sleep and one brain cell.
Don’t Rely On Willpower When You’re Starving
Well, here’s something else you need to think about: when time is short, convenience wins. Well, yeah, that’s actually pretty obvious. Now sure, there’s that temptation to buy something from the petrol shop, maybe go to the fast food chain down the street, or even get delivery. Sure, that’s normal and yeah, that’s like super convenient when you’re hungry and just not in the mood to cook. But even so, if you’re only thinking about food once you’re already starving, it’s always going to be damage control.
So, this is where a bit of low-effort planning makes a difference. So, you’re going to want to think of it like setting up future-you to not spiral into a hangry snack attack (or binge eating). This is what a lot of people do, so yeah, it does help to already have some go-to options.
It doesn’t need to be anything complicated either, just some things like that are ready or can easily be read, like great tasting meal replacement shakes, some mixed nuts for snacks, bags of snack carrots, or even some freezer meals (ideally made by you) that you can quickly put in the microwave.
Hydration Deserves More Attention Than It Gets
It’s easy to forget how much staying hydrated affects absolutely everything, yep, from energy levels to mood to how well your brain’s functioning during that 3 pm slump. And no, coffee doesn’t count. When you’re constantly on the move, having water nearby isn’t always top of mind, but it makes a massive difference. If you want a reusable water bottle, well, go for it, same goes for a Stanley cup. But really, it just helps to get something.
Make Healthy The Default
Well, this one should be easy enough, right? It’s much easier to stay on track when your environment does some of the work for you. It shouldn’t be some big decision; it’s about getting to the point where you don’t really need to put much thought into health-related decisions. For example, keep a water bottle in your bag, stock your car or desk drawer with decent snacks, and load up your fridge with things that don’t need cooking to be edible. Basically, eliminate the hurdles between you and a semi-reasonable food choice.
Easy, right? Well, when it’s all there in front of you, the healthy option becomes the easiest one to grab. Meaning, there’s no guilt, no mental gymnastics, just default choices that don’t derail your day.
Know That Being Busy Isn’t A Free Pass To Feel Terrible
You might have seen it on TikTok, personally know people, or seen it on shows and wherever else, but being busy gets romanticised, but no one talks about how awful it can feel when your body’s not keeping up. The low energy, brain fog, bloating, caffeine crashes, well, it’s all connected to what goes in. You know that phrase “you are what you eat”, well, it does tie in.
Overall, eating well doesn’t have to be a diet, or a punishment, or a whole new personality. It’s just how you keep yourself functioning when everything else is full-on. You’re not going to nail it every day. Some days, it’s going to be a biscuit (which is fine in moderation), but if you’ve got a few good habits in place, those off days won’t throw everything off course.
Routines Matter More Than Motivation
Believe it or not, but motivation has a habit of disappearing right when you need it most. Long day? Well, in that case, the motivation’s gone. Feeling stressed? Well, it’s gone too. Overslept and already behind? Yep, it’s definitely gone. So this is exactly where routine picks up the slack. When your go-to habits are set up to work in your real life, you don’t need to feel super inspired every morning to make good choices.
Honestly, it can be as simple as eating the same easy breakfast most days, keeping a stocked snack drawer, or having a go-to shop order that won’t wreck your energy. Basically, the more your routine runs on autopilot, the easier it is to stay consistent without thinking about it too much.
Stress Is Part Of Life
Now, this one is a little harsh, but to put it bluntly, stress is just a part of life, so your habits need to align with it. It’s true, high-stress weeks are when health habits tend to fall apart. That’s also when you need them the most. But the key is having a few non-negotiables that help you feel human without asking too much. It can be small, like a short walk, eating something green, having a proper lunch, just some things like that.
Thanks for stopping by!
Magda
xoxo