There’s nothing quite like a never-ending to-do list to get in the way of your healthy eating goals. No matter how good your intentions (or meal plan), when your schedule is jam-packed, finding even 15 spare minutes to throw together something nutritious can be tricky – especially when less healthy options are readily available.
It’s a conundrum television personality Tess Daly knows all too well. Between balancing work and family life, the 57-year-old Wellwoman ambassador says healthy living can become ‘another thing on the list’.
And she’s not alone. According to new research from Wellwoman, more than 57% of women say a lack of uninterrupted time makes it harder to maintain healthy routines such as eating well, being active and sleeping well, while almost one in four (24%) get less than one hour of uninterrupted time a day.
The phrase uninterrupted time is key. The research also found that, for many women, downtime doesn’t necessarily mean switching off. Six in 10 (62%) remain mentally ‘on call’ even when physically resting, while 61% feel guilty if they don’t respond to someone quickly.
So, what can you do if a lack of downtime is making healthy habits – including eating well – difficult to maintain?
Tess Daly’s simple healthy habits
For Daly, it all starts with keeping things simple.
‘I think preparation really helps,’ she tells Women’s Health. ‘When I know I’ve got a busy day, I try to make sure I’ve eaten a proper breakfast or lunch rather than getting to the point where I’m absolutely starving and just grabbing whatever is there. I also try to look at nutrition as part of my everyday routine – I eat as well and as healthily as I can, and taking my Wellwoman every day is part of that for me too.’
She continues: ‘I don’t think looking after yourself needs to be complicated. For me, it’s those little things you do consistently – eating well, staying hydrated and making sure you’re supporting your nutritional needs.’
Daly also tries to keep healthy snacks close by for those moments when hunger strikes but there’s no time to prepare a meal.
Looking after her health as a whole is something she’s become more conscious of over the years. Rather than focusing on one specific area, she prefers to take a more holistic approach.
That’s why, when she’s preparing for a demanding day, she sticks to the basics: eating a good breakfast, drinking plenty of water and taking her supplements.
‘For me, it’s having a routine,’ she explains. ‘I think that’s what I’ve learned about wellbeing generally: it doesn’t have to mean making huge changes. It’s the small things you do consistently that can make a difference.’
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