10 Quick (and Probably Surprising) Health Hacks I Use to Stay Healthy
We’re all pretty familiar with the idea that eating more whole foods and fewer processed snacks will positively impact our health. The “knowing” is the easy part. What’s not so easy is actually making it happen while balancing family life, chaotic schedules, weird meal timing, etc.
That being said, here are ten simple habits and choices I make regularly to facilitate a whole-foods, health-conscious lifestyle with minimal effort.
I hard boil 5-10 eggs for the week. On Sunday, I bring a pot of water to a boil and drop in the eggs for eleven minutes. I eat one or two each weekday for a snack. Eggs are one of nature’s multivitamins, and they contain the fat and protein you need to stay satisfied and balance your blood sugar.
I use the crock pot. My new favorite crock pot discovery is throwing bone-in chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and whatever seasoning I like–nothing else!--and letting them slow cook while I’m at work for 6-8 hours on low. The meat is so tender, juicy, and falls off the bone. Meat cooked quickly at high temperatures is so much more dry and flavorless. Letting the chicken marinate in its own juices makes it extra delicious. Try it out. Home cooking doesn’t need to take forever.
I bought a huge water bottle. I’m lazy. I’ll admit it. And I don’t like to refill my water bottle throughout the day. If I bring a small one to work, it’s very likely that I’ll finish it by 10AM and never refill it again. My 46-oz Yeti has been a game-changer. I fill it to the brim every morning, add my favorite LMNT electrolytes, and I’m hydrated all work-day long.
I don’t buy snacks I don’t want to eat. This tip is so simple and seemingly obvious, but it’s made a huge difference in my health. As I’ve mentioned many times, I have very little self control. If there’s a pie in the fridge, I’m eating three pieces a day until it’s gone. Moderation has never been my thing, and if you can relate, make life easier for yourself. Give up the mental battle and physical repercussions of having unhealthy, hyper-palatable snacks in your house.
I keep veggies out of my fridge drawers. There is tremendous research on how much we are influenced by what is near us, and even more importantly, in plain sight. When we shove the fruit and veggies in drawers, we’re much less likely to grab a few carrot sticks or slice a pepper. I now keep my meats, cheeses, and nut butters in the drawers, and my produce is on full display! This helps me waste less food and consume my veggies more often.
I buy protein in bulk. For over three years, Mike and I have received a monthly box of meat from Butcher box. We can customize it each month, and it is so helpful to always have a high-quality protein option on hand. You can try Butcher Box at a discount here. We actually also just invested in a chest freezer for our basement so that we can stock up on meat even more when it’s on sale. I’m trying to find affordable food however I can these days! (I also buy my favorite protein powder in bulk to save money and ensure I never run out. Protein-dense smoothies are my morning jam, and you can get bundled discounts on all flavors of the protein HERE, plus an extra $5 off when you use code KARA at checkout).
I autoship seasonal shelf-stable goods. I’ve talked a lot about how awesome Thrive Market is for online grocery shopping. For years, I’ve had an autoshipped box of shelf-stable goods. I do switch certain things out seasonally, (for example, more crushed tomatoes during chili season) but most of my items are the same all year round and I love that so much of my shopping–between Butcher Box and Thrive Market–is automated. The less on my to-do list, the less time I spend at the grocery store, and the more time I can focus on cooking, exercising, or doing what I enjoy!
I keep my blender in a cabinet that reaches an outlet. I know this seems silly, but I hate having too many appliances on my kitchen countertop. I also hate lugging my big blender in and out of a cabinet each morning to make my breakfast smoothie. A few years ago I rearranged all my cabinets so that I could fit my blender in a cabinet that was close to an outlet. Now, every morning, I just open the cabinet door, pull out the blender cord, plug it in, and blend! It makes smoothie time easier, which makes me 100 times more likely to make a smoothie each day.
I always have a paper book on my nightstand. That book is the last thing I look at each day. Blue light from phones, tablets, and TVs suppresses the release of melatonin– the sleep hormone. Without enough melatonin, you may find yourself struggling to sleep, or your sleep quality is suppressed. Sometimes we don’t even know how good our sleep can be when we’re used to falling asleep while scrolling social media. The other problem with social media use or reading the news before bed is that it dramatically spikes cortisol in our body, even if we don’t notice it. This also impacts sleep quality. Replace your screen habit with a magazine or book you’re excited about.
I invested in warm mittens. Hear me out on this one. In my opinion, winter stinks. It’s cold and dark, and I’m far less motivated to get outside during the winter months. However, time in nature, particularly if you can stack it with movement, is incredibly beneficial to your health. Investing in warm mittens (and a puffy winter coat) has made all the difference in my willingness to venture out into the chilly darkness with my pup. Is there a piece of winter gear that would make you more likely to take a walk each day during this season? If so, I encourage you to make the investment!
I hope that some of these tips either resonated with you or sparked a different idea that would support your health!
XO,
Kara
