Tafrija Issue 02 Issue_02_Tafrija_2018 | Page 5

05 Squeeze these 6 steps in your busy schedule for a healthier living. We understand that sometimes your schedule can get into the way of living a healthy life. In this issue we tackle a few tips on how you can squeeze healthy habits into your super busy schedule. Believe it or not it is actually possible to be both the busiest and the healthiest version of yourself. With nutrition, fitness and wellness in mind, including these few changes can have a great impact on your mind and body, and it is absolutely worth it in the end. Iron up: Did you know that you can ge t fatigue and even depression by not eating enough iron in your diet? You can fill up on iron whilst keeping your energies high by chowing down on oatmeal, lentils, and lean meats. Also, Iron boosts muscle strength, making it that much easier to get through your busy day. Be careful about your snacking: On the hectic days, it can feel like you have absolutely no time to sit down and enjoy a full meal. So what do you opt to do instead? Snack on a handful of trail mix here, a bag of pretzels between meetings, and various other nibbles before calling it a day. Be careful with your snacking because even though it doesn’t feel like you’re eating as much, with the all-day snacks you often end up consuming more calories. Snacking doesn’t keep you full for long, making you constantly want to eat more. Loading up on high-protein meals will fill you up and keep you satisfied for a few hours. Sneak in some exercise: You probably have to sit for hours on the computer, for a majority of your day. Add that to sitting down for dinner and driving to and from work. This means you are seated for about 75 percent of your average workday. Maybe you can sneak in some exercise by taking the stairs or even parking slightly further away from your destination, and taking a walk from there. Spice up your gym routine: So, your busy schedule allows you to make it to the gym. However, you feel bored with your workouts and are suddenly skeptical about regularly going to the gym. Here’s what you should do... Keep things interesting by trying different classes and workouts in general. For instance, try a spinning class instead of the usual treadmill jog or even challenge yourself with pilates and give a slight break to the weights. Signing up for a class will actually help keep you accountable! Master quick stress reducers: Stress can have an insanely negative impact on your health, and for reasons best known to self, many people do neglect addressing the issue. Instead of turning to unhealthy outlets, perhaps you should master some super-quick stress reducers like breathing exercises, sipping green tea, doing a few quick stretches, or taking a break and taking a stroll around the block. Take a vacation. “I wish I could, but I just don’t have the time,” is the excuse we use far too often. But taking a vacation and getting much-deserved time off will help you be healthier, happier, and more productive. No matter how jam-packed your schedule seems, consider booking some down time, even if it’s a three-day weekend away, on a local trip. 5 April 2018