1 . Quick and easy breakfast
Something that requires very little thought or preparation in the morning.
Here’s an idea – prepare overnight oats in the evening and just add my toppings in the morning. You can even prepare a batch for the week and keep it in the fridge – even better – single serves in jars to take to work, sweet!
If smoothies are your thing, put all your ingredients together the night before and place in the fridge, in the morning all you need to do is blend and off you go!
2. Bring snacks!
When it comes to afternoon sugar cravings, you’re always going to make more nourishing and conscious choices when you’re prepared, in other words, poor planning leads to impulse – particularly if you’re looking for a distraction from work!
Why not prepare a batch of snacks on a Sunday, to take with you each day. Try making bliss balls, or a batch of naturally sweetened muffins or cookies. For me, its always nice to have something to look forward to snacking on when 3pm strikes.
Didn’t get time to whip up something? Grab some fruit to have on hand and some nuts to snack on, these can stay at your desk!
I have a few bliss ball recipes to try..
3. How much coffee is too much?
Is coffee a daily ‘habit’ for you? Or you find yourself DEPENDING on coffee? Then it’s possibly something to pay attention to. I’m not saying restrict immediately; first, become aware of your habit, how many you are having per day and how coffee makes you feel.
Ask yourself, why the need? Is it because you are low in energy? Do you need it to focus? Does it feel like your day cannot begin until you have had your fix?
Here’s a tip: If you feel a craving coming on, get yourself a glass of water first and reassess. There are so many other options than coffee, get yourself a tea you like the sound of, Green Tea is a good place to start, a little caffeine and way more benefits (it contains L-Theanine which helps to calm you and reduce anxious thoughts).
Maybe it’s just the break you needed, or your body asking for hydration.
4. Drink Water:
Keeping hydrated improves energy levels, mental clarity, glowing skin and reducing cravings, so it’s good place to start.
Take 5 big gulps of water when you wake up in the morning to kickstart your bod, the water helps to flush out overnight toxins and also helps you to wake up properly. I keep a water bottle next to my bed, ready for the morning.
Work on increasing your intake and aim for 2-3 litres of water per day. Drink most of this earlier in your day, try to avoid drinking too much water in the evening as waking up to pee will disrupt your sleep.
5. Sleep is important:
If you struggle with getting to sleep and feel tired but wired, look at your current habits around bed time, how stress or overthinking might be affecting you and ways to get prepared for bedtime.
Reduce screen time and do what you need to do to organised for the following morning, wind down time and evening rituals like a warm shower.
6. Keep consistent
My approach to sustainable health and happiness is small steps to realistic goals. Rather than a “diet starts Monday approach”, or a “health kick,” break it down into small practical actions, week by week.
Bite size changes, taking consistent action and gentle accountability from someone to support you, if a recipe for feeling your best self – what we all want right?
Originally published at www.juliafrances.co.nz