5 Health Hacks for Busy Professionals

For busy professionals who are used to juggling different activities along with a hectic full-time job, staying fit can be a challenge. This is essentially due to a lack of consistency in sticking to a good fitness and diet plan. Here are some smart suggestions on how you can stay healthy even when you are busy.

5 Diet and Fitness Tips for Busy People

Integrate Activity into Your Everyday Life

Vigorous exercise is important. However, if your hectic schedule leaves you with no time to hit the gym, you can try integrating some activity in the course of the day for increasing your productivity and staying fit.

• Take a walk when you are conversing on the phone.
• Instead of the lift, take the stairs.
• Take short breaks and step away from workstation.
• Workouts at home, such as sit-ups, push-ups, crunches, lunges and squats, keep you in shape.

Eat Healthy and On Time

Foods which are low in nutritional value and have too many calories can pose serious health problems, including weight gain, cardiovascular problems and diabetes. It is important to stick to a healthy diet and a strict routine.

• Instead of starchy foods, choose wholegrain variants which contain more fibre, and keep you feeling full.
• Feel like snacking in the middle of the day? Stock up on nuts and seeds or citrus fruits that are known to cure fatigue and stimulate alertness.
• To keep your energy up and your metabolism on overdrive, eat breakfast and smaller meals throughout the day, rather than 3 big meals.
• Have sufficient liquids through the day to avoid dehydration.
• Avoid processed or packaged foods that contain too much sugar. Excess sugar has been linked to energy spikes followed by a crash, while too much salt can lead to high blood pressure and an increased risk of strokes and heart disease.

Sleep is Important

Finding it difficult to get a good night’s sleep? Sleep deprivation can lead to fatigue, confusion, memory lapses and irritability.

To get a restful sleep:

• Create a sleep schedule and stick to it. Reading a book, listening to relaxing music, or taking a warm shower can help in relaxing your body.
• Avoid watching TV or surfing on your mobile as this can interfere with your sleep.
• Pay attention to what you eat and drink. Going to bed hungry or stuffing yourself too much can cause discomfort and keep you awake.

Focus on Deep Breathing

When you are trying to juggle multiple things at a time, you are bound to be stressed. Five to ten minutes of deep breathing can help in relaxing you and reducing anxiety.

You can also close your eyes and focus on relaxing and tensing each muscle group while taking deep, slow breaths. The best part about this is that you can do it any time, at home, workplace or even on the road.

Watch Your Posture

Good posture is not just great for your back and neck, but also allows you to breathe properly and increases concentration and thinking ability. To improve your posture:

• Get a good quality office chair, one with firm and dense cushioning and back support.
• Instead of resting your weight on a particular foot, plant both feet flat on the floor.
• Set a reminder to check your posture. This can be in the form of a post-it note, an alarm on your phone or an email reminder.

These health hacks will ensure that you stay afloat even with your long to-do list. If you too have some amazing health tips for busy people, then do share them with us in the comments below!