Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a lot of work for most of the youth in this generation. Nothing really comes easy, and one person often has to work two to three jobs at a time. There's also the issue of family commitments for some, and social obligations and personal interests can leave little to no time for self-care and getting enough rest. However, prioritizing one’s health should be crucial, not only for physical well-being but also for a person’s mental strength, resilience, and overall quality of life. Fortunately, with some strategic planning and mindful habits, it is possible to stay healthy even amid a dauntingly busy schedule. Here are some of my go-to tips for staying healthy despite having a busy work schedule.
- Getting Enough Sleep: I always make sure to get as much sleep as I can. I make sure to keep my phones and other electronics out at least thirty minutes before bedtime. Although scientists suggest getting seven to nine hours of sleep, for most of us, getting that is next to impossible, so I try as much as I can to get at least 5 hours of sleep at night and keep my lights dim or keep the lights out completely.
- Eating Right: Just because everything is expensive does not mean I won’t eat right. As much as I can, I try to eat balanced diets at every meal, and I also try to turn away from processed food as much as I used to consume it before. I do not eat bread, noodles, spaghetti, and the like, and I replaced them with whole grains, legumes, and vegetables such as rice, beans, potatoes, yam, plantain, etc. I keep away from junk as much as possible because I don’t get filled up anyway, and it is expensive and damaging to my health.
- Exercising: No matter how tired I get in a day, I make sure to exercise. I do not have a gym membership, but I work out in my room with the little that I have, and when I don’t exercise in my room, I go for a walk in the neighborhood or simply walk from the bus stop to my house instead of taking a bike. I skip the rope at least 200 times a day, I do stretches, and the little cardio that I can do that requires no use of equipment. I really enjoy exercising, and I always feel good after each session.
- Staying Socially Active: Everybody is connected on the internet one way or another. I talk to my parents on the phone almost every day, and it feels refreshing hearing them pray for me as I set out every day to work. I have a connection of friends that we chat with every day. I also joined a book club, and I involve myself in a lot of charity work. Helping others just has its way of improving one’s mood.
Setting Realistic Goals: One of my biggest challenges in maintaining a healthy lifestyle has to be the way I choose to handle pressure. I found out through multiple trials and errors that the key is simply to stop setting unrealistic health goals and just focus on small, attainable changes. For instance, rather than committing to a strict diet or a rigorous exercise plan, I aim to incorporate one new healthy habit each week. This could be as simple as drinking an extra glass of water a day or adding a vegetable to each meal.
This approach not only makes it easier to stick with changes but has also helped me build confidence and motivation over time. I always celebrate my progress, no matter how small, and if I forget, my network of friends always makes it a thing to remind me.Meditation: I just discovered yoga and meditation. I take deep breaths, and I practice short moments of reflection, and doing that has significantly reduced my stress level and improved my focus on lots of things. I set aside a few minutes each day to practice mindfulness. This could be in the form of morning meditation, a mindful walk, or simply taking a few deep breaths before a meeting.
Moreover, incorporating mindfulness into everyday activities has also been beneficial for me. For instance, when eating, I focus on the flavors and textures of my food instead of multitasking. This not only enhances the eating experience but also helps me with portion control.
I use some apps for keeping track of my everyday life. Listed below are some of them:
- Calm-Mindfulness
- Bend-Stretching and Yoga
- Lose Belly Fat App- Exercising
In everything, I try to always be consistent with taking my health and well-being seriously, because effort without consistency equals zero results.
This is my entry for the Ladies of Hive Community Contest