The Healthiest Things to Do with Time You Don’t Have

Write that thought down

Are you lying awake thinking about unfinished tasks? Jot a reminder down, which gives you permission not to think about it constantly. Getting quality sleep is a key ingredient of healthy living.

Just do it… or don’t do it

If you’re tired of staring at an item on your to-do list, consider budgeting a few minutes to attempt to get it done. Mobile phones make it easier to do things when it’s convenient for you – and peace of mind is very good for you!

If you can’t get it done in 10 minutes, can’t delegate it, and can’t make time for it, you may need to wait until you have more time, ask for more time, or let the deadline pass and see if the problem solves itself.

Pick one and only one

Pick one healthy habit you’d like to have. Maybe you’d like to avoid overeating under stress. Identify an alternative behavior that you’d like to use instead  – let’s say, playing with a fidget spinner!

Now, what’s the very next step that would help you build this new habit? Maybe you need to buy one spinner for work and another for home. Taking that first step sets you up to be successful.

Retreat to the peace you can find

The more you can do to quickly reduce stress, the better. Stress is often indirectly responsible for poor health, contributing to high blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance, and inflammatory markers such as high C-reactive protein (CRP) and elevated LDL levels.

If you’ve only got 10 minutes, fill it with what gives you peace of mind. Not every minute needs to be productive. Eating your lunch quietly on a park bench, or listening to music between appointments can still your mind and clear it of distractions that raise stress hormones and blood pressure.

Keep your “me time” inviolable

Book “me time” on your calendar. Think of it just as you would a doctor’s appointment – since after all, it is in fact about your health.

Mark your personal commitments in a way that won’t allow others to attempt to recommit the time elsewhere. In ten years, nobody’s going to remember that you stayed late to work on the McGruder Report, but you and your son will remember that you rarely came to his soccer games.

Look for stress-busting solutions

Stress is a double-barreled problem. It’s bad for your health and happiness, and it crowds out the energy and enthusiasm that help you acquire healthier habits.

Take a minute and jot down 3 – 5 of of the things in your life that cause you the most stress.

Now, brainstorm a few actions you could take to reduce those stresses.

Is your immediate reaction “You’re kidding, right? I can’t do anything about this stuff!”

If so, that’s a sign that it’s probably time to tap into outside expertise, like one of our health and wellness coaches.

There’s almost always a way to reduce stress, whether it’s caused by your job, a tough family situation, money worries or something else.

You don’t have to figure it out on your own!