Hey Friends! How’s it goin?
Welcome to the new design of Diary of an ExSloth!
After the responses to the rename/rebrand post I last month I decided to stick with the current name but do an overhaul of the blog. I’m pretty excited about all the changes I’ve made so far and the stuff that’s left to come. I’ve still got some work to do to make everything look the way I want, but I couldn’t wait another second to share it with you 😀
And, as always, I’d love your input on the changes. Anyway, onto the good stuff:
Being busy and eating healthy
It’s that time again…exam time. Usually exam season is a blur of caffeine and junk food filled all nighters. This year my exam schedule is pretty spaced out, so I’ve been avoiding the bad habits. But I know that many aren’t faring as well.
To be honest, students aren’t the only ones who fall victim to that kind of diet when they’re crunched for time. When I was working last Fall I fell into the trap of grabbing whatever was convenient when I was busy, especially for breakfast and snacks. And we all know that convenience doesn’t always align with healthy 😕
Whether you’re a student taking midnight study breaks at the vending machine, a professional grabbing breakfast to go at McDonalds or a SAHM reaching for that bag of chips during nap-time, I’ve got news for you: There’s a healthier way to stay fueled and energized when you’re busy and on the go.
4 Ways to Avoid Unhealthy Eating When you’re Busy
1. Eat Breakfast
Your body will thank you for starting off your day with a proper breakfast. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy like eggs Benedict or pancakes. Think smoothies, oatmeal, whole grain toast or bagels with peanut butter. You can prep all of those in under 5 minutes and not take too much time away from your busy schedule.
And if you’re down for pre-planning, you can make things like muffins or egg cups the night or weekend before so you can just grab and go.
2. Plan Meals & Snacks
If you eat regularly, you’re a lot less likely to end up at the nearest fast food joint when hunger gets the best of you. Your meals don’t have to be anything fancy, just nutritious. Make sure you have healthy ingredients on hand to whip up something simple, like pasta or sandwiches. And if you’re a planner, you can prep meals that just need to be reheated.
Along the same lines, stocking up on healthy snacks will help you avoid the vending machines when you get the munchies. A chocolate bar or bag of chips might satisfy you for a few minutes but balanced snacks like apples + PB, dates + almonds or veggies + hummus will keep you energized for the long haul.
3. Limit your caffeine
I know, I know. It seems counter productive to stay away from caffeine when you’re pulling an all nighter but hear me out. Yes caffeine can give you an immediate energy boost but the effects are very short term. If you drink too much coffee or energy drinks, eventually you’ll start to feel jittery, restless and irritable which isn’t a great trade-off in my books.
Stay away from the energy drinks altogether and try to limit your intake to 2 cups of coffee a day. If you need more try caffeinated teas. They tend to have less caffeine than coffee and you’ll sneak in some antioxidants as well.
4. Stay Hydrated with Water
Did you know that dehydration can make you feel sluggish, light-headed and tired?
Picture this: You’re studying and not drinking enough water so you’re dehydrated. That makes you feel tired so you reach for the pot of coffee for a little energy. But coffee is a diuretic so it makes you dehydrated and eventually even more tired. So you reach for the coffee pot again. 😯
It’s a viscous, viscous cycle that can be avoided by drinking more water. Aim for half your weight in ounces of water everyday to avoid the symptoms of dehydration. And try to stay away from sugar filled sodas and juices. All you’re doing with those is filling up on empty calories.
What about you?
How do you eat healthy when you’re busy with exams or life in general?
Any thoughts, suggestions or comments about the new design?
Share in the comments below!
I don’t skip breakfast ever, but I *am* guilty of going overboard with coffee when I am stressed or feeling sluggish! Great post.
Lora recently posted…Self-Love to #PassLove: 5 ways to love yourself today
Thanks Lora glad you liked it 🙂
This is my first time visiting your site, so I can’t really compare to the old design, but I love your new design! It’s so fresh and clean! One suggestion…bigger header?! Your title gets sort of lost at the top! But really, that’s just a small suggestion.
Thanks for stopping by Tara! And that’s a great suggestion. I was actually worried about it before but I wasn’t sure if I was just being too nit picky or not haha
I’ll work on a bigger logo ASAP cuz it’s kinda important that people see it 😉
Thanks again!
Absolutely love the clarity that now inspires feelings of peace and tranquillity. The new signature is also very appealing to me. Of course your mother has to be a brilliant and discerning woman to have dubbed you with such a beautiful name to start with!! 😀 (wink! wink!)
haha Mummy you crack me up. And peace and tranquility were what I was going for so yay me! LOL
Tip number 2 is the number 1 way I am able to fuel myself in a healthy way when busy. I absolutely HAVE to plan ahead and batch cook/meal prep once a week if I’m going to stand a chance. I always go for convenience foods, so it’s crucial that I make my own “convenience” foods ahead of time so I can make healthy choices the easy choice, ya know?
Ashleigh @ Passion for Life, Love, and Health recently posted…Taffy Plus Size Activewear Review
‘Making your own convenience foods’ is an awesome way to put meal prep. I don’t do as much prep as I should cuz it’s so tiring but even a little goes a long way to avoiding unhealthy convenience food traps.
This is my first time on your site but the design looks great! I’m debating a major overhaul of my own site, so I can appreciate the aesthetics here. Best of luck with the rest of the “renovation.” 🙂 Your tips are helpful and super easy to remember. As a coffee addict, I’ve made it my mission to cut back to 1 cup of coffee in the morning, max 2 on the weekends, with no coffee past 1pm. Imagine, I used to drink at least 3-4 cups a day, sometimes more on the weekends. Crazy, huh? Amazing site and post Giselle!
Maribel recently posted…Thankful Thursday: Anger Isn’t Always Bad
Thanks Maribel!
I used to be a caffeine addict, coca-cola not coffee, but I know exactly where you’re coming from. Making that change to scale down is hard but so worth it!
I’m terrible about eating healthy when I’m busy! Sometimes I usually don’t eat enough, and certainly not enough good foods. My husband and I have started meal planning, which really helps. Between the two of us, we try to cook at least 2-3 meals a week, and then have plenty of leftovers. I try to cut up some veggies at the beginning of the week so I can snack on those and I’m a huge fan of green smoothies! Since I can’t have dairy at the moment, it has forced me to eat healthier, since I can’t snack on most pastries on the go, which is frustrating but good since I have a massive sweet tooth!
Bev recently posted…Walking the trapeze of life
Bev, you’re preaching to the choir about having a sweet tooth! I’ve had to find creative ways to get in all the servings of fruits, veggies & other good stuff I need and still make room for some yummy baked goods without bursting. Meal prep made it so much easier keep track of what I was eating and get in all the stuff I need and not just what I want.
Oh, and green smoothies are the bomb! lol
There are some great ideas here for healthy living, like drinking plenty of water…so easy, but missed by so many! I love healthy snacks as well. Thanks for sharing!
Jodee Weiland recently posted…Awesome Green Smoothie with Spinach, Asparagus, and Fruit
Glad you like it Jodee 😀