As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that habits (good and bad) can truly influence people’s lifestyles. Being intentional and consistent in my daily routine has resulted in a ton of balance and consistency in life.
As life gets busier and busier by the day, I do my best to stick to the routines below that uplift my mental, physical and emotional well-being.
7 Habits That Boost my Energy and Improve my Well-being
Keeping an organized schedule. Before each Monday I make time to review my schedule and plan out my week as best as possible: workouts, meals for the week, work commitments, activities and more are all scheduled. Kurt and I usually go through our schedules to make sure we’re both on the same page and have time to arrange for coverage, such as childcare, if necessary.
Hold early workouts. I feel my best when I’m able to wake up early and workout. Right now I enjoy incorporating cardio and strength training into my workout routine. Getting a workout in early helps me feel less foggy and more prepared to start my day.
Meal Prep. I’d love to make curated meals each night, but that’s just not something I can do at this stage of life. When possible, I’ll make time on Saturday or Sunday to make 2-3 dishes for the first half of the week. These are usually meals I can freeze (e.g. lasagna, chicken cutlets, soup, etc.) so I’ll make double batches, freeze have, and defrost & cook some later. This strategy helps maximize my time and keeps our grocery bills low.
Meditate. Spending a few minutes to meditate helps me gather myself. I use the Calm app to provide me with guided meditations which helps reduce my stress levels, keeps me focused during the day, and allows me to kick negative feelings to the curb.
Consider the positives. Every morning I also like to think about three or more things to be grateful for. Pausing and reflecting on the blessings I have comes in handy when dealing with stressful people or stressful situations each day.
Spend less time on social media. I started noticing that my mood dipped the more time I scrolled on my social feeds. I also didn’t like how a few minutes of scrolling turned into hours of wasted time in my day. Now I limit the amount of time I’m on social media and use that time to catch up on the news or beneficial activities.
Focus on being healthy. Do I want to look really fit and super lean? Of course. Are there days I dream about getting back into my college weight? Absolutely! But, I realize that with my current goals and lifestyle, that might not be an attainable goal for now.
Instead, I focus on how I feel. By focusing on my energy levels, flexibility and overall fitness, I feel better and enjoy being in my own skin. I also realize that I can have everything I want, just not at the same time. Juggling a full-time job, running a home, taking care of a toddler and other priorities are constantly shifting.