If you're anything like us, health and fitness can easily slip out of focus in the chaos of life.
Attending a gym class or waking up at the crack of dawn to go for a run can feel... challenging.
But, as it so happens, healthy living doesn't necessarily require such a labour-intensive approach.
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So, we spoke to 19 women to learn their tried and tested life hacks for living a healthier life - without all the extra effort.
Here are the micro-habits they swear by to bring a little more light to their day:
"If I want to walk or train early, I must put out my ENTIRE outfit the night before. Otherwise, it's not going to happen. It makes it so much easier when I'm in a daze to just chuck it all on, skull some coffee, and run out the door." - Charlie.
"I'll rest on my back and elevate my feet on the wall for five minutes when I start to feel a little anxious, while focusing on my breath. It’s a quick and easy fix for me! Not as easy and glamorous to do at an office though..." - Cleo.
"I sign up for my gym classes at the start of the week so I have them booked into my day well in advance." - Julia.
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"I go the gym in the afternoons. So if my outfit allows, I wear my sports bra to work. It means in my head I am 'halfway dressed' and ready to go when I clock off. Such a small step, but it's such a mindset hack." - Gem.
"Owning a Fitbit has made me walk more often. Seeing how many steps I do a day really encourages me to get up and move." - Michelle.
"I started doing pilates once a week to help build my core strength and have found it helps immensely with my regular workouts and day-to-day life." - Bern.
"I have a rule which is if I have time, I walk there. Whether that's to the office, to the gym, or to meet a friend, I try to do this as much as possible. It's not only a great way to get my steps up (something I'm a little obsessed with) and save money, but it also puts me in a great mood." - Charlie.
"We got two puppies this year which means we’ve had to start going on a walk every morning. It’s been an easy habit to get in to because I know that even if I can’t be bothered, I have to. And I’m always happier when I’ve been for our morning walk." - Nic.
"I struggle to drink enough water during the day. It sounds silly, but someone once told me that I should just take one or two swigs of water every time I look at the bottle on my desk. It's a surprisingly simple and manageable way to remember, as it often catches my eye!" - Ali.
"I get off the bus one stop earlier in the mornings. No matter what I do for the rest of the day, I’ve at least done a 20 to 25 minute walk." - Meth.
"I listen to The Quicky podcast in the morning and do a workout with my 'gym in the box' (a few pieces of equipment which are stored in a blanket box in my bedroom.) It's a good start to the day!" - Cindy.
"Instead of a big water bottle, I only have a small glass of water with me at my desk during the workday. That way I have to get up many times to refill it, breaking up long stretches of sitting." - Katherine.
"I listen to a 20 minute meditation every night when I get into bed. It winds me down, makes me clear my mind, and puts me to sleep really quickly!" - Kate.
"I go for a swim every morning before work. It started as a lockdown habit to keep my head above water (pun intended) but I quickly fell out of the habit after Sydney opened up. Fast forward to this week, a huge week at work for me, and I’m back to it. This photo is from 7am this morning, a quick dip before suiting up in the change rooms and getting on the express bus into the city." - Lizzie.
"I have a smoothie for breakfast which ensures I have three or four fruit and veggie hits. I usually include spinach, kale, mixed berries, banana, Greek yogurt and coconut water. Love it!" - Rebecca.
"I stand on one leg while I brush my teeth, or when I'm talking to someone at work to help improve my balance." - Sophie.
"I have a carrot in my lunchbox and snack on it on the drive home from work. It stops the pre dinner snacking and I don’t overeat later." - Tanya.
"Taking the stairs at work. I'm on the fifth floor so I only do it once (down and up) when I go to get my coffee. I've noticed a difference with fitness in that I'm not out of breath anymore." - Asten.
"Our work team (four of us) stop on the hour and do 10 sit-ups, 10 squats and 10 arm exercises. We are all working from home so it’s a great way to check in with the team and it takes less than a minute." - Diane
Feature Image: Getty.
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