Fall meetings and events – here we come! At Redstone, we absolutely thrive during this time of year: all hands on deck, running back-to-back meetings and events, and having the opportunity to get out there and interact face-to-face with our clients.
When you’re on the go for days on end, it can be easy to lose focus on health and well being. Today’s post is all about listening to your body, making healthy choices, and introducing (or reminding yourself to continue) some healthy habits that go a long way toward your overall energy level when you’re short on time this fall.
Focus more on food. Meal planning should be easy for project and meeting planners… shouldn’t it? Sometimes, the last thing on our minds is our next meal and where it’ll come from, until we’re starving and ordering from the closest takeout location. If you don’t think you’ll have time to cook very often this fall, buy lots of healthy snacks now to keep at home, at work, in your bag, etc. Things like nuts, dried fruit, and even a bit of dark chocolate can be stored in advance to have on hand when hunger strikes, and are a better alternative to high carb foods and sugary snacks that will lead to an energy crash or feeling sluggish.
Don’t skip breakfast. It is all too common for people with a jam-packed schedule to hit the ground running in the morning and forget the most important meal of the day. Skipping breakfast can lead to over-eating later in the day and impacting how your body feels in a negative way. You can keep it simple and still make wise choices: choose options like eggs, oats, yogurt, and whole fruit over muffins and pastries to leave you feeling satisfied for longer – with more energy for long days on site!
Water. It is common knowledge that we need to be more mindful (and usually, increase) our water consumption; but, at busy times, you’re probably consuming a higher volume of other beverages, which might actually mean you need to be drinking even MORE water. Many other beverages act as a diuretic (coffee, soda pop, alcohol, etc.), which suggests that you may need to increase the rate at which you’re rehydrating your body, since dehydration can leave you feeling drained and fatigued.
Exercise. Setting aside two hours to get to and from the gym and a worthwhile workout can seem impossible at this time of year. Try to avoid the “all or nothing” mentality – just because you can’t have a full session at the gym doesn’t mean you can’t fit in anything at all. There are other benefits to exercise that you may not think about, like kick-starting your metabolism for the day, releasing more endorphins, giving your racing mind a rest, or helping you sleep better at night. Try incorporating exercise in other ways: can you bike to work a few times a week, take a short walk midday, or practice yoga before bed when you might otherwise be unwinding with Netflix or a book? It could also mean being willing to substitute one of your other routines with a new class or practice instead, just for these busy months. Making a habit of continuing exercise (even if light) habitually will contribute to your overall energy.
Don’t believe us? Try monitoring your water intake for a day or two, and then challenge yourself to increase it. Next time you feel unfocused at your desk, go for a walk. Tell us about your results – and good luck to everyone going into the fall meetings and events season!