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Sustainable Healthy Habits for Busy People (and a free goal setting guide)

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle. With our busy schedules, we often don’t have the time or energy to make nutrition and fitness a priority. But what if there were ways to fit healthy habits into our already busy lives? Let’s explore how we can develop sustainable healthy habits in spite of our chaotic lifestyles.

Cover of goal setting guide

Start Right by Setting Realistic Goals

When it comes to developing habits, it’s important to start small and make incremental changes. For example, instead of setting out to “eat healthier” or “exercise more,” pick one actionable goal that you can work towards each week. It could be something like swapping out soda for water or walking around the block after dinner. These small goals will add up over time and help you develop sustainable healthy habits without feeling overwhelmed.   Check out my goal setting guide with everything you need to set goals that you’ll want to meet. You can get the guide HERE.  

Food Choices Matter

Having good nutrition habits is foundational to health.  But we often think that the only way to eat healthily is by following restrictive diets.  I’m here to tell you, this isn’t true! Instead, create some healthy eating habits – like eating slowly and mindfully.  Learn what 80% full feels like.  Making conscious food choices is much more important than following any diet. Focus on adding nutrient-dense foods into your meals. Think vegetables, fruits, whole grains and proteins that are as close to their natural form as possible like fish, legumes, and nuts. This way you can have your cake (or cookie) and eat it too without giving up all of your favorite things!

Fitting Fitness Into Your Day

The idea that one has to dedicate hours at the gym in order to be healthy is completely outdated. I often find that this is the area where cliengts are very “all or nothing.”  If you can’t get to the gym for an hour, then nevermind.  Throwing away that mindset and setting smaller, more achievable goals is the way to go (and keep going).  You can fit physical activity into your day wherever you are! Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work; do some yoga while watching TV; take a walk during lunch; or even join an online workout group with friends so you can stay motivated together! You don’t need an expensive gym membership or expensive gear – what matters most is finding something that works for YOU.

Make Time For Self-Care

Self-care isn’t just face masks and bubble baths – it’s also making sure you get enough sleep and managing stress levels. Establishing a routine of going to bed at the same time each night helps create balance in your life. Additionally, try meditating for five minutes every day or practicing mindfulness as these activities have been shown reduce anxiety and help cope with stress better. Remember that taking care of yourself should always come first!

Developing sustainable healthy habits doesn’t mean sacrificing all the things you enjoy – it’s about finding balance in life by making conscious decisions about food choices, physical activity and self-care routines that work best for YOU! Remember small steps lead to big changes.