7 Habits for Healthy Living that Take Less than 10 Minutes

This post was created in partnership with Hyperbiotics. You can find their products at Target and #followyourgut to better digestive health and improved immunity

I like to think, in general, that I have a fairly healthy lifestyle.

But then I have a baby and I’m eating cookies for breakfast and spending most waking hours sitting on the couch.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working hard to get back into healthy habits now that Tally is sleeping better and I feel a little more able to control my schedule.

But . . . guys, it’s pretty crazy having four children and juggling the rest of my responsibilities, so getting up early to go for a run or making perfectly balanced meals just isn’t always going to happen.

I also tend to be one of those people who misses a morning workout or eats half the pint of ice cream straight of the freezer before lunch, and then I’m like “eh, might as well just give up until tomorrow.”

This time, I’ve been trying to think less about not goofing up or feeling like any less-than-stellar choices ruin the day and more about just making as many good choices on a daily basis as possible.

And the easier it is to make those good choices, the better.

Here are seven things that takes less than ten minutes (and sometimes more like 30 seconds or 2 minutes) that make a big difference for me:

easy healthy habits

1. Stock up on healthy and easy snacks that you enjoy eating. I have resisted this kind of thing for so long because . . . I hate spending extra money at the grocery store. But when there is either no healthy snacks you actually want to eat or every healthy snack requires a bunch of effort to prepare, you can imagine why a cookie from the freezer ends up winning most of the time. I’ve started buying bags of beef jerky, and I keep a big stock of date bars in the pantry. Just having them there makes me feel like I have fun options, even if I don’t end up eating them every single day.
2. Take a probiotic. I’d actually never taken probiotics until recently, but when I cut out all the yogurt in my diet (please let me be able to eat it again soon!), I figured it was time to replace the live cultures in that with something else. I’ve been taking Hyperbiotics, which are super affordable (you can buy them at Target) and are non-GMO and don’t have any lactose, sugar, gluten, or artificial colors or flavors. Plus, they have a time-released delivery so they slowly release over an 8-10 hour period. I’ve been taking the Pro-Moms version since it’s specifically designed for pregnant women or nursing moms. It helps with full nutrient absorption and helps produce essential B vitamins. My girls have been taking the Pro-Kids one, which is a tiny little pearl tablet (it’s the smallest one on the market) and I love that it’s sugar-free. Plus neither of them need to be refrigerated, so I can just keep them in the cupboard with the other vitamins. You can lear more about Hyperbiotics full line-up of products for everyone in your family here.
3. Get ready for bed early. For me, sleep is one of the keys to any sort of healthy living. And I have that problem where once I get too tired, I feel too tired to actually get ready for bed. So now, when the girls are in bed, I take two minutes to take out my contacts, brush my teeth, and wash my face. And. . . maybe put on my pajamas while I’m at it. Then when I’m tired, I can go straight to bed. Which means I’m much less likely to turn off my alarm and skip my run in the morning. And I’m not so tired the next day that I have to eat constantly to give me any sort of energy.
4. Keep a water bottle on hand. Between the rising temperatures and nursing, I need a LOT of water. I got one of those insulated water bottles a few weeks ago on my Pampers trip, and I love having water that stays cold for hours and hours. Now I’m that person who takes it with me in the car and keeps it on my desk and I feel like it’s been really helpful to keep my milk supply up even as I’ve started running again.
5. Find a very short workout. I’ve been doing the Couch to 5K program and I’m really enjoying it (more than I’ve ever liked running, actually. Probably because right now any time to be alone is like precious diamonds) but I can’t make it happen ever day. So I have a seven minute workout app I use on the days where I’m homebound or just don’t have the time to leave for thirty minutes. The girls love doing it with me and I can do it first thing in the morning or before I go to bed and feel like I’m getting at least some movement in.
6. Wash your produce as soon as you get home from the grocery store. I love that not only does this help me eat more produce, but it also means I don’t throw away nearly as much because, surprise! We actually eat it. It’s not like it takes all that long to wash a handful of strawberries, but just skipping that extra step when I want something to eat NOW is so much more convenient for me.
7. Walk around the block. It makes a huge difference in my mental state to get any sort of exercise, even if it’s just five minutes to the end of the street and then back again. Getting a little fresh air, a minute to clear my head and move my legs, plus a couple of minutes alone (unless I take all the girls with me, which happens too), and I feel like a new person.

Any other secrets for making a busy life a little healthier in just a few minutes?

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Probiotics support many facets of overall health when taken regularly as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Hyperbiotics, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #HealthiestDaysAhead  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV