When is the Best Time to Take Back Control of Your Health?
Are you struggling to find the best time for getting back on the wagon? Taking back control of your health?
I’m willing to bet you've tried setting some post-holiday goals or resolutions, but it’s hard to squeeze in time for eating healthy and moving your body with everything else you have to do.
And when you can finally carve out an hour here or there, it only makes you feel more defeated because, let’s face it, an hour isn’t enough to meal-plan, grocery shop, meal-prep, and run to the gym.
Don't worry! You’re not alone.
One of the biggest challenges people face is finding the balance between their everyday “life” activities (kids, work, house upkeep, social life, etc) and addressing or maintaining their health.
It’s hard to stay motivated to take back your healthy habits when you’re literally squeezing in a half hour here and there to find time for yourself but can never really be “all-in.”
Speaking from experience, taking your health back so you can be the energetic person you want to be takes planning, preparation, and TIME.
So how – and when – can you find enough time for focusing on your health? Well, first - choose one place to start. I often suggest to my clients to start with what they eat. Eating more healthy foods and less sugar immediately gives a bump to your energy levels and clarity of thinking (meaning you also make better choices in all areas of life - wink, wink). One of the best ways to set yourself up for success in eating more healthily is to meal plan and meal prep - especially for your on-the-go meals and snacks!
But then the question becomes…. When will you do this? And, when is the best time to do this? Should you do it first thing in the morning? Lunchtime? Later in the day?
Keep reading for the pros and cons of each...
Best Time for Planning Your Meals: Do Mornings Have an Edge?
Sometimes you have to be the early bird.
If early mornings are when you feel most productive, block out time for planning your meals and snacks first thing in the AM.
Scheduling how you will eat healthy today before everything (and everyone) else has 3 big benefits:
Benefit #1 – You’ll start your day off, giving yourself a chance for inevitable success with a meal and snack plan already in the bag, so you’ll feel accomplished and motivated to tackle anything that comes your way!
Benefit #2 – You won’t spend the day stressing about what you’re going to eat and when because it’s already done! (This also means you have a plan when those hunger pains strike - and you don’t grab whatever junk food is hanging around, calling your name… Instead, you can confidently grab the snack you packed in the morning.)
Benefit #3 - Prepping your own meals and snacks early in the morning helps you structure your day and establish a routine. (Which takes away moments of stress and uncertainty throughout the day.)
If you’re not naturally an early riser, a morning schedule can be hard to adopt.
But if you stick with it, over time you can actually shift your patterns so you’re more alert in the morning and it simply becomes part of what you do…
Plus, “research suggests that people who wake up early tend to go to bed earlier and enjoy longer, better quality sleep.” [10 Reasons to Get Up Early, Healthline]
Another reason to plan your meals and snacks in the morning?
It’s one less thing to think about throughout the day. You’ll be packing healthy foods and plenty of water - that will provide the energy you need to make even more great choices throughout the day - with no sugar rushes and crashes!
Need help planning your on-the-go meals for the day?
You may be interested in my FREE “7 Solutions to Sugar Cravings” Cheat Sheet. These tips will help you plan meals and snacks so that you avoid that darn sugar rush throughout the day.
Click here to download your FREE Cheat Sheet now!
Best Time for Planning Your Meals: Afternoons can work, too!
If mornings are an absolute hard pass, tackling how you will eat healthy in the early afternoon can work, too.
You just have to actually schedule the time into your schedule. We all know how easy it is to procrastinate, right?
For example, if you schedule time for meal planning and prep between 4-5pm every day, make sure you get your other “busy” tasks out of the way in the morning.
Don’t let those other tasks distract you or linger on! It’s too easy to get pulled into the “I just need to do one more thing first…” rut.
It may help to link your meal planning and prep to another activity that already happens each afternoon, like once the kids get their school bags unpacked and settle in for an hour, you could get your meal planning and prep done before dinner! That can actually help shift your body clock and help you adjust to planning your healthy meals and snacks at that time.
On the plus side, it’ll likely be easy to stay consistent with your new meal planning routine in the afternoon. Most people are more physically energetic and alert at that time.
Best Time for Planning Your Meals: Nighttime has its perks, too!
If this is your “go” time, more power to you!
Personally, I’m ready for pjs and a good book after 7pm... For many people, this is when they have more energy.
Scheduling your meal planning and prep after everything quiets down means you’ll have fewer distractions and an easier time focusing.
This is especially true if you have a family to care for and it’s only possible to dig in after your kids are asleep. I get it!
It’s also easier to focus and get things done for a larger portion of the week in one session when no one else is around… This might help you to put aside less time total throughout the week…
So if you’re “buzzing” at night bursting with energy and focus, go for it.
Who needs to binge-watch Netflix? Be productive and get your meal planning and prep done! Set yourself up to kick butt throughout the week and take back control over your health and energy!
And if you’re not naturally a night owl but nighttime is the only time you have to plan for healthy meals and snacks, here are some tips to stay productive:
Tip #1 – Take a break before you start. Do something fun to energize yourself - dance around to your favorite playlist, play fetch with the dog, send a couple of funny memes to your girlfriends!
Tip #2 – Set a time limit. Whether it’s 20 minutes or an hour - give yourself a set amount of time to get as much done as possible, then remember to take some time to start powering down before bed. As long as you’re set up for success for tomorrow - you’ve done a great job!
Tip #3 - Reward yourself for a job well done. Take a nice hot shower, read a book, snuggle with your partner, watch that show you’ve been wanting to start!
There’s no one-size-fits-all!
Ultimately, the best time for meal planning and prep is whenever you’re most productive. And by that, I mean: motivated, focused, and ready to do the small amount of work that will help you take back control of your health and boost your energy!
Remember, an hour here or there is great. But when it comes time to really focus and get things done, you need more than an hour.
When you’re juggling taking back your health with other “life” tasks and responsibilities, you have to have a plan. You have to create new habits - and the easiest way to do that, is to link the new with the old. Whether you’re meal planning and prepping in the morning, afternoon, or evening - take a habit you already consistently do and add to it. Before you know it, preparing your healthy meals and snacks will just become part of your daily routine.
Remember, the hardest part is starting. Take the first step - plan for tomorrow. One day at a time.
If you’re unsure how to start planning meals and snacks so that you avoid that darn sugar rush throughout the day, I created a FREE “7 Solutions to Sugar Cravings” Cheatsheet to get you started!
It has everything you need to pack easy, healthy snacks for your day that will taste good, fill you up, and keep you satiated. No more sugar roller coasters that lead to grabbing snacks that drain your energy! Taking back your health can be easier than you think - and the time to do it is NOW!
Click here to download your FREE “7 Solutions to Sugar Cravings” cheatsheet now.
