Self Care Routine – How to Stay Healthy & Fit

Nov 12, 2020 | Fitness, Health, Video

A lot of people ask me how I have so much energy and how I stay so fit. If getting healthy is at the top of your to-do list, keep on reading! I'm going to share some of my best tips. 

Jordan flexing her muscles after working out, from Fun Cheap or Free

I'm always thinking about my goals, and health is at the top! I do have some tricks up my sleeve to stay healthy mentally, physically, and emotionally! Many people will vow to exercise more, drink more water, meditate, or eat healthier foods — often while making New Year's resolutions to get healthy.

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The reality? Most end up throwing in the towel after a month or two. One of the biggest reasons why it’s SO hard to follow through with a healthier lifestyle is because most people don’t make a plan. Remember this: You only get one body, so invest in it! Here are a few things you can do to stay on track!

Are you ready? Click to watch below or keep on scrolling to learn my top tips for how I stay healthy! Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for new videos every Thursday!

Watch the video online HERE, or click and watch below:

Pretty simple, right? It's so important to take care of yourself and getting healthy really doesn't have to be hard! So, ready for a little recap?

GETTING HEALTHY STARTS WITH FINDING YOUR WHY

Woman feeling good after getting healthy, from Fun Cheap or Free

One of the first lessons I teach in my Budget Boot Camp is the importance of knowing your why. Setting a new goal generally means changing some part of your life or routine, and change is HARD! Knowing your why can help you stay motivated and keep your eye on the prize. Grab my block schedule productivity planner or my free block schedule printables, (or use a goal-setting app) and write it down. Seriously, go ahead! I’ll wait. 

Pro Tip: Get rid of the clothes that don't fit! Not only is it not motivating to your goals, but it's also bad for your mental health. Get what fits now that you like, and celebrate when you hit your weight loss with new, smaller clothes.

SET GOALS

As you’re jotting down your why, get ready to document your goals, too. It helps to break your overall goal down into small, manageable steps along the way. If your goal is to get healthy, what does that mean for you? Maybe it means being more active, eating less processed food, getting more sleep, reducing stress, etc. 

Whatever the case may be, create specific, attainable steps you can take to get there. For example, let’s say your goal is to exercise three times per week. Start small and work up to it! Your goals may look something like this:

  • This month, I will work out at least once per week.
  • Next month, I will work out at least twice per week.
  • The next month, I will work out three times per week.

See! Doesn’t working your way up to a bigger goal seem so much more doable? Don’t set yourself up to fail from the start. Work on making small changes, celebrate those wins and use the momentum to keep going. Other goals I like to track include:

  • Take vitamins every day
  • Drink more water
  • Move body daily
  • Get to bed by 11pm

You can also use goal-setting apps on your phone!

Pro Tip: I am loving care/of vitamin packets! They're so easy to use! I just took a short, fun quiz, and they send me vitamins tailored to my needs, whether it's to get more sleep, have more energy, or even hair health! Use code “JP50” at checkout to save 50% on your first order!

Ready to discover another habit that will change your life? Let’s talk about food!

DON'T RESTRICT YOUR EATING

I have tried so many different types of diets. When I tell myself “no sugar” all I do all day long is obsess about the sugar. It makes the problem worse, and then I go crazy.

Instead, I find a healthy balance by telling myself I can eat whatever I want, so long as it's before 9 pm. I have an alarm on my phone that tells me when it's time to be done for the day.

PLAN YOUR MEALS AHEAD OF TIME

Weekly meal planner on a counter, from Fun Cheap or Free

You guys! If you’re not meal planning, you should be. Meal planning isn’t just good for your checkbook; it’s good for your waistline, too! How many times have you panicked at 5:00 when you realized you had nothing to cook for dinner? Or how many times have you driven through a fast-food window on the way home from soccer practice because it was all you had time for? Trust us; we get it. We’ve all had those days. But there’s a better way!

This is where meal planning comes in. Pick a day to spend 10-20 minutes sitting down with your calendar and planning out a full week of dinners. If you have days where you won’t be home or need something low maintenance, pull out the slow cooker!

If you have a quiet day with extra time, try to make a double batch of dinner that night, one to eat now and one to freeze for later. Your future self will thank you. Keep track of your meal plan in your Productivity Planner, on these free printable meal planning sheets, on a notepad, or on a whiteboard and keep it where you can see it.

While we’re on the topic of food, let’s talk about another roadblock to healthy living. Snacks!

CARRY SNACKS WITH YOU

So, you know how we said planning is key for mealtimes? The same is true for being on the go! It is SO much easier to resist the temptation of that drive-thru window or the vending machine when you have a great snack already handy. We like to keep healthy non-perishable snacks in the car, so we always have something on hand when we need it! 

Looking for a little inspiration? Try one of these healthy, easy grab-and-go snacks:

If you need more grab-and-go ideas, you'll love this post about road trip food! Speaking of trips, let's get moving!

MAKE TIME TO MOVE

Mom and kid exercising, from Fun Cheap or Free

Raise your hand if you picture the gym when you hear the word exercise. When we think about working out, we tend to envision a long run or an hour spent in the gym. But let’s keep things real. Logging an hour of exercise and making the drive to and from the gym every day just isn’t realistic for everyone. 

I like to keep it simple around here! If you have 12 minutes to spend on a workout, 12 minutes is much better than none. If you can be more consistent by fitting in your workouts at home, we say go for it! Try doing interval training workouts using simple tools like resistance bands, hand weights, and an exercise ball. Don’t forget to use your body weight, too! There’s no gym membership fee required, so you don't have any excuses.

One final bit of advice: put your workouts on the schedule! Make it intentional! Time management is the key to achieving just about any goal, and workouts are no different. Implement our block scheduling system, and put your exercise in one of those blocks! Trust me. This system works and it will Change. Your. Life. Seriously!

Hate to feel the burn? There are other ways to move intentionally and still get exercise:

  • Walk your dog
  • Park farther from the store
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator
  • Play with your kids outside

Pro Tip: Set out your workout clothes the night before. Then put them on the first thing every morning, so the decision has been made to work out. Make sure those clothes are comfy and fun so you look forward to putting them on.

PRIORITIZING SLEEP IS KEY TO GETTING HEALTHY

Raise your hand if you get 7-8 hours of sleep every night. (crickets…) Yeah, that’s what I thought!

A lack of sleep can stunt your overall energy, making you less likely to exercise. It increases hunger, which makes you more likely to overeat or turn to unhealthy snacks. It also compromises your immune system, contributes to brain fog, and has a major impact on mood. So, if you only prioritize one new healthy habit in the year ahead, focus on getting better sleep! Here are our tips:

  • Schedule in Rest – If you're not taking the time to schedule in the things that are important, you're going to burn yourself out. Add this to your block schedule!
  • Create a Nighttime Routine – Do your kids have a bedtime routine? All the baby sleep experts will tell you that setting a routine and sticking to it will help queue your baby’s brain for sleep. The same logic applies to adults, too! Pick out your clothes for the next day, wash your face, journal, or read in bed, then turn off those lights! If you can, avoid screen time at least 30-minutes before bed. Check out our hacks for creating a nighttime routine that will make your next day run more smoothly. 
  • Set a Bed Time – Have you ever been four episodes deep in your favorite show and then looked at the clock and realized it was already after midnight? Eek! To curb that bad habit, we set a bedtime of 11:00, and at 10:00 every night, an alarm on our phone goes off and we go upstairs and start getting ready for bed. Game-changer!
  • Keep Your Room Dark & Cool – Set the stage for good sleep and create an environment that’s relaxing! If you don’t have blackout curtains, buy a good eye mask.

If all else fails, try taking melatonin about 30-minutes before bedtime. It’s a natural, non-addictive supplement that helps set your circadian rhythm and promote more restful sleep. Sweet dreams!

MAKE TIME FOR SELF-CARE

Woman reading a book, from Fun Cheap or Free

Stop feeling guilty about taking time for YOU! If you want to take the best care of others, you have to take care of yourself first. Set aside a few minutes each day to do something that brings you joy or helps you feel refreshed. Read, take a walk, soak in the tub, listen to your favorite music. 

Setting aside time for yourself is no selfish! It makes you happier and healthier, which in turn makes everyone around you happier, too. And you don’t have to spend a fortune on a spa day to get in some self-care time. We’ve got dozens of self-care ideas that are cheap and guaranteed to boost your productivity. 

DRINKING MORE WATER MAKES GETTING HEALTHY EASIER

Okay, one last tip! If getting healthy in the new year is your goal, then you NEED to drink more water. Drinking enough water boosts your energy level, prevents you from overeating, and helps keep your skin looking clear and youthful. So, if you find it tough to get those 64 ounces in each day, here are a few quick tips:

  • Stock up on Carbonated Flavored Water – It almosts tastes like soda and it totally counts towards your water intake!
  • Keep Ice on Hand – I love cold drinks, so I want them to stay the right temperature because then those drinks taste better.
  • Carry a Water Bottle – We like to fill up a reusable water bottle and take it on the go. We highly recommend buying a pretty one in your favorite pattern. It makes drinking water more fun! If you're like me and need to keep your drink as cold as possible, then use my favorite cold cups! You won't be sorry.
  • Log Your Intake – Use the health app on your phone to track how much water you’re drinking! Everyone loves a little competition right? Super motivating!
  • Drink a Glass When You Wake Up – Instead of reaching for a tea, coffee, or soda, down a glass of water first thing in the morning. You’ll feel better. Guaranteed! 

One more thing! If you want to encourage your kids to drink more water, too, grab a fruit infuser pitcher and let them help you make a big batch of fruit infused water. Not only is it yummy and refreshing, but it’s also super fun.

GET HEALTHY!

So there you have it! That's what I do to stay sane, active, have energy, and feel my best!

So, help a sister out! Drop a comment below and let me know how you’re planning to get healthier. Let’s keep each other motivated, okay?

Image with text that reads "help yourself get healthy right now" from Fun Cheap or Free

Looking for more hacks that will help you rock the new year?

We’re rooting for you! 

Jordan Page Signature from Fun Cheap or Free

4 Comments

  1. Michelle Henry

    I agree that sleep is SO important. Thanks for adding that to the list!

    Reply
  2. Heather B

    Carrying healthy snacks is definitely so important for me, too. If I don’t I will eat whatever is in sight when the hangry hits ?

    Reply
  3. Katie

    Great ideas! I was wondering, as a busy entrepreneur and mom what time do you go to bed and what time do you wake up? If I stayed up until 11pm most nights I’d be dead, but I’m up between 5:30-6am. Sometimes I feel like I want to be able to function better on less sleep, so that I can maximize hours in the day (i.e – stay up later to get more stuff done after the kids go to bed instead of crashing).

    Reply
    • Fun Cheap or Free

      Less sleep isn’t always better! Your body needs sleep to stay healthy and charged. If you go too many nights running on a small amount of sleep, you’ll start to feel rundown and won’t function as well. Try to focus more on setting up a block schedule (learn about that block schedule HERE if you have no clue what I’m talking about!) and making your day work for you!

      Reply

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