I am no stranger to forming a few healthy habits, getting in a solid routine, and then falling off of the boat after a few weeks due to a plethora of reasons (past offenders being seasonal depression, falling in love with a new Netflix show that monopolizes far too much of my time, entering into busy season at work—the list goes on). When I first started prioritizing health and wellness tips and would find myself off track after a few days, weeks, or months of staying on top of things, I’d often find myself discouraged AF, which made returning to healthier patterns feel out of reach.
I’ve fallen out of a routine and gotten back into the swing of things enough times to know that, while it can feel impossible or intimidating, health and wellness are always there for the taking if you just give her the old college try and start small. Instead of focusing on big changes right out of the gate, I like to focus on what I can do today to make myself healthier for tomorrow. One day becomes two days, two days becomes a week, and before I know it, I’m back and better than ever. Whether you’re looking to get back on track or simply set yourself up for a better week, these are 10 foolproof ways to feel healthier by tomorrow:
1. Move your body
If there’s one tried-and-true way to get you out of a slump, get those endorphins pumping, and launch yourself back into a routine, it’s most definitely taking some time to move your body. I’m not talking about sprinting a marathon or squatting your way to a PR. Start small and slow, see how you feel, and take it from there.
When it comes to getting back on track and staying in my routine, I love using obé Fitness. On the days where I’m getting back in the swing of things, I like to take things light with a Detox Yoga Flow class to help me reconnect my mind and my body or a Pilates class that, I can say from experience, will literally make me feel more toned by tomorrow. On my best days when I’m trying to keep momentum, I love harder-hitting classes like an hour-long Power Hour that’s guaranteed to make me sweat or Cardio Boxing when I’m really trying to get my heart rate up. And because obé offers a variety of class lengths, I can truly tailor my activity to my schedule and can even find 10 minutes to move on my busiest days.
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2. Go grocery shopping and stock your fridge full of healthier options that you love
It’s a lot harder to make healthy nutritional choices when you wander on over to your fridge and find that it’s quite sparse with the exception of a few half-empty hot sauce bottles, expired yogurt that you need to toss STAT, and a singular packet of shredded cheese that doesn’t serve as a nutrient-dense snack or meal on its own. But when your fridge is packed with healthier options that you love, mindful snacking and creating meals packed with protein, micronutrients, fiber, and all of the good stuff will help you have more energy, feel fuller for longer, and make reaching for non-nutritious options a little less tempting.
And while we’re on the topic, if you’re like me, probably stray away from the toxic trait of getting into a health kick and adding a bunch of wellness-guru-glorified foods that I have high hopes I’ll like but realistically won’t (I’m looking at you, arugula). If you hate kale, don’t add kale to your grocery cart. Instead, opt for healthier options that you already know and love to set yourself up for success and to make healthy eating something that you actually look forward to.
3. Practice meditation
Listen, I’m no meditation expert. Cut to scenes of me sitting cross-legged, eyes closed on my living room floor, mind wandering to the time that I said “shake a tower” instead of “take a shower” in a meeting with my colleagues. But as your resident non-expert meditation-dabbler, I can confidently say that even attempting to meditate helps me clear my mind of my ruminating negative thoughts, calms me, and makes me feel like I can tackle just about anything.
I find that my meditation practices are most successful when I opt for guided meditations as opposed to winging it and doing it on my own (I’ll get there one day!). My coworker swears by obé’s P.M. Breathwork class, and for me, it was honestly a gateway course into their entire meditation section. I love how they take the guesswork out of something that feels totally out of my league, and I know that the time I’m spending will be more intentional and less of a self-guided journey that’ll inevitably lead to me daydreaming of what I’m eating for dinner tonight.
4. Get back on your hydration game
When I’m trying to feel healthier by tomorrow, one of the easiest and most immediate things that I do first is pour myself a hefty glass of water in an effort to get back on my hydration game. Staying hydrated is definitely a challenge for me (my toxic trait is thinking that drinking any liquid—including coffee and tea—suffices when, in reality, my choices in beverages quite literally dehydrate me).
Up to 60 percent of the human body is made of water, so we can help over half of our body to function by simply staying hydrated. It’s simple, it’s effective, and getting back on track with one of the most basic of nutrients can help to set you up for success for a better tomorrow.
5. Prepare a nutrient-dense meal
Listen: I love pizza, pasta, and chicken nuggets as much as the next person. And while I never shame myself for eating foods that bring me joy, I can’t deny that after I eat them, I don’t always feel the greatest. Time and time again, I prioritize immediate gratification of high-sodium, carb-heavy, mouth-watering meals, feel good when I’m eating them, and within a few minutes, sink into the woes of feeling sluggish, bloated, and ready to slip into a food coma.
The key for me is to prioritize meals that are healthy and also taste delicious. For so long, I heard “nutrient-dense meals” and thought “green, leafy salad.” That’s great for people who love salad. But I can say with 100% honesty that I have never craved a salad. I’ve definitely tolerated salad, but craved? Mmm, not so much. And that’s OK! Instead, I’ve realigned my mindset to hear “nutrient-dense meal” and let my mind wander to soups, power bowls, chicken and veggies, chickpea noodles, salmon, and a bunch of other nutrient-dense foods that aren’t super bitter. Finding healthy recipes that I love has made making healthier food choices a lot more enticing.
6. Set goals for tomorrow and for the rest of your week
For me, setting goals is easy. Sticking to them is another story. And part of the reason that I find myself falling short of my long-term goals is that, in all honesty, I don’t prioritize the smaller-scale goals that are crucial to staying accountable and making the long-term goals stick, especially when I’m talking about goals in the realm of health and wellness.
It’s the short-term, manageable goals that help us achieve consistency and gain confidence, and in the spirit of feeling better by tomorrow, putting pen to paper and jotting down goals that I can achieve right now are absolutely key. Whether it’s meal prepping veggies for the week, drinking more water, or meditating, tackling smaller and more attainable goals is the secret to developing and maintaining better routines and will set you up for success when it comes to crushing your long-term goals.
7. Meal prep a healthy breakfast for tomorrow
Part of being better tomorrow is setting yourself up for a better tomorrow, and meal prepping is one of the best ways to get a head start on making healthy choices more mindless. A lot of times, I find myself feeling great and wanting to make healthy choices, but other factors like lack of time, lack of motivation to cook, and cravings get in the way. Whenever I have healthy meals meal prepped and ready to roll, the barriers to eating healthy are lessened and I’m less likely to fall into the last minute “get fast food delivered” trap.
When it comes to meal prepping, pre-planning your breakfasts can be a great place to start. Prepping breakfast ahead of time is such a great hack for starting off your day with a bang, even if you prioritize the snooze button tomorrow.
8. Take time for yourself to reset and recharge
Unplugging and taking time for yourself are crucial when it comes to setting yourself up for a better tomorrow. In a busy world of competing demands and maintaining relationships, taking those peaceful moments to rest and recharge can feel few and far in between. Finding an activity that relaxes you isn’t indulgent—it’s necessary, especially when it comes to managing stress levels and, in turn, lowering blood pressure, improving digestion, improving concentration and mood, and having a positive effect on energy levels.
So find something that fills up your cup and do it. In the name of having a healthier tomorrow, intentionally relax with an episode of RHONY, a snuggle sesh with your pup, a chat with a friend, a warm bath, or a dance party to your favorite song. The world is your oyster.
9. Stretch before bed
We all know the importance of stretching before and after our workouts, and whether or not knowing is enough of a motivator to actually do it doesn’t minimize the fact that stretching is an important component of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Even on the days when working out isn’t an option or if sweating doesn’t align with your shower schedule (truly the ultimate activity deterrent), this is your sign to not skip the stretch.
In the interest of relieving tension, counteracting the effects of sitting all day, and improving the overall health of the body, take 10 minutes of your evening to stretch. And doing a specific before-sleep stretch like this from obé Fitness is a perfect way to move your body in a way that’ll help you relieve tension and wind down.
10. Get a full night of rest
If there’s one tried-and-true way to set yourself up for a healthy tomorrow, it’s to hit the sheets early and to avoid any and all temptation to scroll on TikTok into the late hours of the night (we’ve all been there and paid the price the next day). If you want to take your sleep hygiene to the next level, consider downloading an app that’ll help you wind down, fall asleep, or track your sleep activity (our editors love SleepCycle!). If you’re looking to take on tomorrow with higher energy levels, a better mood, and improved concentration levels, go to bed early and aim for seven to nine hours per night.
This post contains a sponsored mention of obé, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
