These days making time to care for yourself can slip on the priority list before you even realize it. But here’s some good news for you – caring for your own wellness doesn’t need to require a ton of effort. Right now, you might not have time to devote an hour to exercise or your favorite self-care routine every day, but there are ways to pack more wellness into your day without disrupting your normal routine.

It’s all about making the most of the time you have and developing good wellness habits that will carry you through the day. Here are a few suggestions for how to squeeze a little more wellness into your day.

Make Use of Your Lunch Break

Do you find yourself mindlessly eating lunch at your desk or using the few minutes you have while the kids are eating lunch to run around and get a few things done around the house? Stop that nonsense right now and use that time as a midday break to take care of yourself. Step away from the desk to eat your lunch and don’t focus on work at all. Go outside and get some fresh air, even if it’s for 15 minutes. Listen to some music and drown out the noise and distractions around you. Do a little yoga or stretching, even if you have to do it in the middle of the kitchen floor.

A few minutes in the middle of the day devoted to your own wellness is exactly what you need to recharge and refocus.

 Get Some Fresh Air

A lot of us are stuck inside all day either working or taking care of home tasks. It’s important for both your physical and mental health to make at least a little bit of time to get some fresh air each day. Running errands doesn’t count.

Getting outside, even when the weather isn’t exactly the best, helps you recharge. Fresh air is also a nice break from indoor stuffy air. There’s also the fact that a little Vitamin D from the sun is a great thing – for both your immunity and your mood. Just remember to not overdo it, and always use sunscreen if you’re going to be out for more than 15 minutes.

Not sure how to work in some outdoor time into your daily schedule? Try waking up 15 minutes early and taking a brisk walk around the block or sit outside and enjoy your morning coffee. Take advantage of breaks at work to get some fresh air or take 20 minutes at the end of the workday to spend some time outside before you start tending to dinner and other evening necessities.

Stand Tall

Posture is important for your health and your emotional wellbeing, so stop slouching and stand tall. When you slouch, you’re creating pressure in all the wrong places along your spine and stressing the muscles that have to work harder to support you. A habit of slouching while you sleep can leave you a sore neck or back, and possibly lead to more serious back issues. Sitting straight also helps keep extra pressure off internal organs, like your lungs and digestive system.

Keep that good posture while you’re walking around too. You’ll more effectively bring oxygen into your lungs but paying attention to your posture is also good for your self-esteem. It’s one of those little things that seems insignificant but can work wonders for your own outlook and how others see you was well.

Cook at Home

At the end of a long day, the last thing you want to do is worry about dinner – which can lead to takeout or a run through a drive though. Even if you’re trying to be healthy when ordering in, it’s difficult to control exactly what you’re nourishing your body with. Many restaurant and fast food meals are loaded with more calories, fats, sugars, and preservatives than you may realize – and they can be void of adequate nutrition.

It’s amazing how many of us are walking around, consuming more food from eating establishments than we do from our own kitchens. Making a goal of eating more home-cooked meals is good for your health and budget. In addition, there’s a connection between the nutritional quality of the food you eat and emotional health. Plus, you get the chance to connect. Meals should be a time to unwind and enjoy the people in your life.

Get Enough Zzzzs

Finally, make sleep a priority. Getting an adequate amount of sleep (which for most people is 7-9 hours a night) is important for your health. Your body is hard at work repairing itself while you’re sleeping, and not clocking enough hours of slumber can lead to health issues. Sleep is important for your immune system, and your body absolutely needs it to fight diseases – which explains why fatigue is such an issue when you’re feeling under the weather.

Making Yourself a Priority

It’s so easy to fall into a trap where you put everyone in front of yourself. There’s some age-old advice here that rings true. You can’t take care of everyone else if you don’t take care of yourself. Make self-care and wellness a priority in your life. Look for small ways to take the wellness factor of your daily activities up a couple notches and make time to pamper yourself, too. Trust me, you’re worth it.

"Compromised Immune System;Fatigue " "Diet/Nutrition;Fitness;Healthy Choices;Healthy Relationships;Self-care;Sleep Habits;Stress Management "