Everybody wants to be active, healthy, and feel great every day. So, you bookmark healthy recipes, go grocery shopping for healthy ingredients like quinoa, and start exercising regularly. But then something unusual happens; you are overloaded with a large work task, you find yourself looking after your children (or parents), or you spend the entire day running errands Then you might wonder to yourself, “How can I eat nutritious meals throughout the day, exercise, meditate, manage my job life, and care for my kids and parents while being active and healthy, right?” This is one of the most frequently asked questions by my clients, who want to remain healthy but are unable to do so due to a lack of domestic support. Whatever the cause, life frequently leaves us with little time (or energy!) to stay healthy, and without any domestic help, it becomes an impossible mission.
But believe me, it is not difficult to manage our lives without a maid if you follow these five strategies to survive which have helped me to manage my professional, family, and social life.
Pre-plan your next day
If the time it takes to research recipes, plan what you’ll eat for a week, and do grocery shopping is what’s limiting you from eating healthy meals, then there’s an easy solution: pre-planning your meals. It not only ensures that you receive all your nutritious meals throughout the day, but it also reduces stress and inconvenience, which is especially important when there is no domestic help. This should include soaking some nuts and seeds and keeping a fruit ready for the morning.
Make the most of your weekends
Take some time to wind down and relax over the weekend. You should start preparing your meals for the next week. I know it seems exhausting and not something you’d want to do on a weekend, but remember, food is fuel, and that’s why planning what you need to eat to remain energised is as important as resting. So, start creating your meal preparations, have batters ready, and plan out all your evening munchies to avoid any unwanted food accidents.
Use one meal as a double meal
In theory, eating the same thing every day seems like a wise choice. You won’t have to worry about rushing to the store every week for recipe ingredients. You may develop good eating habits without the burden of figuring out what to eat by having the same meal or snack every day. There’s no doubt that eating the same meal twice a day would undoubtedly save you time, but things might become quite monotonous and boring quickly. However, to make them less boring, you switch up the protein and other components every day or every week. Making even minor adjustments to your go-to meals can have a significant impact. But remember to make sure that your meals are well-balanced and packed with nutrient-dense foods like veggies.
An organised Kitchen is where the magic begins
Make sure the kitchen is set up so that everything is accessible and you know where everything is. Your day will be less chaotic if your kitchen is more disciplined and organized. To avoid reaching for unhealthy food anytime you are hungry, keep healthy meals at eye level and unhealthy foods stored inside your shelf. When it comes to fresh foods, follow the “First Come, First Out” rule. This strategy involves identifying everything that enters the kitchen and rotating everything so that the oldest products are always at the front of a shelf. You’ll use the oldest goods first and avoid spoilage by keeping them at the front.
Don’t forget to schedule some “ME” time
Some “me” time is necessary for keeping sanity. After the kids have gone to bed, you can generally have some “me” time. That’s when you catch up with yourself instead of the world around you. Oh, and one other ability for living without a maid is the ability to multi-task at a fast speed, which is why having some “me” time to declutter and wind down is vital. Filling your time with various activities can be delightful, but it can also be psychologically and physically taxing. Instead, schedule time for yourself so you may recharge your batteries using whichever method you find relaxing. This could include anything that helps you relax, like journaling, meditation, or even some kind of movement for 15-20 minutes a day. This will ensure higher physical, mental, and emotional energy to get you through the other things on your to-do list.
Lavleen Kaur is a Head Nutritionist and Founder of Diet Insight, a nutrition and wellness clinic.