It can be very difficult to keep on top of your health when you’re busy. Here are some realistic ways you can still try and incorporate healthy decisions into your hectic life.

Eat Smarter and Better. Plan Meals Ahead of Time.

It can be very daunting to eat healthy, especially because it comes loaded with the association that you need a lot of time or money in order to do so. However, there are ways around this. For instance, it is very easy to meal prep, perhaps on a Sunday or whenever your least busy day is, for the entire week. This way, you can control exactly what you are taking in and skip out on the fast food.

It will also relieve some stress from days when you are really busy knowing exactly where and what your next meal is.

Stay Hydrated.

Drinking enough water–8 cups or more a day–yields numerous benefits for the body and mind. It prevents cramps when exercising, aids weight loss, boosts energy, flushes out toxins from the body, helps the immune system, and more. It can also serve as a natural aid to headaches and other ailments.

Staying hydrated also will give you a natural boost of energy. This will cut down your need to consume less healthy drinks, such as energy drinks, coffee, juice, or carbonated beverages like soda.

Schedule in Time for Fitness.

Building in time to exercise is critical to your health and happiness, as it releases endorphins. Even if this is just making time for a quick walk, doing some stretches during your lunch break, or joining some sort of class or activity group after work, exercise is critical to your health.

Find a Way to Relieve Stress.

Finding a way to relieve stress and decompress is significant in itself, and also has significant health benefits and will allow you to function best in all your other activities. Do this whatever way works for you. For some, this may be waking up a couple minutes early to fit in ten-fifteen minutes of meditation. For others, this could be writing, or painting, or finding a creative outlet. This could also involve just making a little extra time for simple self-care, such as taking an extra long shower, setting up a nice bath, making time to do your favorite past times or spend extra time outdoors. Your mind is just as important as your body when it comes to health.