Despite the fact that we have increasing work choices, life still seems to get busier. We have flexible working patterns, and many people are turning to freelancing. However, most people you talk to seem to be working more hours and have less time to spare. The nine to five job with an hour’s lunch break is a thing of the past.
When life becomes one big to-do list, it’s easy to lose sight of your health, happiness, and wellbeing. The schedule rules and there can be no deviations. When life is so busy, what can you put in place to stay healthy and happy?
Physically
Your health should be your bottom line. It makes sense. You have to get this right before anything else will follow. If you’re unfit, unwell, and unhappy you’re less likely to function at your best. Start with the absolute basics and ask yourself whether you’re properly hydrated. A high percentage of people don’t drink enough water each day. Adults should aim for 1,500 – 2,000mL/day. To save on bottled water, consider asking your boss to install water filters. They can also be installed in your home.
Review your diet. One of the many downsides of a busy life is that we’re often too tired to cook or prepare food. So we reach for unhealthy processed options that spike our blood sugar, and the cycle continues. Putting the right nutrients into your body far outweighs the extra time the food takes to prepare. And of course, there are options to assist in this area. For example, home delivery services that provide ingredients and recipe cards each week. All you have to do is make the meals. Typically preparation times are less than thirty minutes.
Take packed lunches to work rather than grabbing a sandwich on the go. Again, you can control exactly what goes into it. Bento boxes are great a idea and not just for children.
Exercise is a big part of achieving a healthy body but finding the time can be challenging. The little and often approach is useful when you have a busy lifestyle.
Use a fitness app to record your activity
Take the stairs instead of the lift, or perhaps combine the two
Get off the bus one stop earlier than usual and walk the rest of the way
Walk instead of taking the car
If you have a desk job, stand up, stretch and walk around every hour
Plan several sessions of 10-minute yoga stretches instead of planning a full hour
Take your full lunch break and use part of it to go for a walk in the fresh air
Mentally/Emotionally
Do you feel tired for most of the time? Are you irritable and on edge? Do you constantly feel anxious and rushed? What’s the point of flexible working if you’re feeling like this? There has to be a balance. The first step is to review your workload. If you’re constantly working overtime, there’s a problem, and you need to speak to your boss. Explain the situation clearly and calmly. Be prepared to let him/her know what you will accept and what is too much. For example, if you stay late two nights a week, the rest of the week you should leave on time. If you agree to stay late, stipulate how late and make sure you keep to it.
Meditation is a great way to clear your mind, reboot, and refresh. You can achieve great benefits from just ten minutes each day. If you feel you don’t have time to meditate, that’s a good indication that you should be doing it.
Being constantly busy is a slog. It’s a mental drain as well as a physical one. So it’s important to have other things going on in your life. Find out what fires your soul. What’s your passion in life? Work it out and do it. Over and over again.
Work patterns may not be changing anytime soon. But you can adjust your attitude to work and put strategies in place to stay healthy and happy.