10 Must-Try Healthy Lifestyle Habits for Busy Women – Create The Life That You Desire

These 10 healthy lifestyle habits are specifically designed for busy women helping to support you along your journey of thriving into the person you desire to be, finally stepping into your full potential and creating a life that inspires you and feels worth living.



Key takeouts

  • Living a healthy lifestyle is a holistic approach, but most importantly, it is a choice and the choice is yours to make.
  • The 5 key elements that build a healthy lifestyle are sleep, movement, nutrition, stress management and a positive attitude towards life.
  • The benefits of a healthy lifestyle are boosted energy, improved mental clarity and focus, reduced risk of chronic diseases, improved mental and emotional health, better sleep quality, boosted self-esteem, etc.
  • Your daily habits form your reality and by incorporating healthy lifestyle habits into your daily routines you can create a lifestyle that improves your physical, mental and emotional well-being overall.
  • In this blog post, we look at 10 healthy habits for women with a busy lifestyle. All 10 healthy habits for women will support you along your journey of thriving into the person you desire to be and help you to create a life that inspires you and feels worth living.

Life is never straightforward, it comes with its ups and downs and there are always times when life takes over and we struggle to keep up with the pace.

To ‘save’ time, we skip the post-work gym session, eat our lunch at the desk, pick up takeaway for dinner on the way home to make our lives easier, etc.

We think we ‘save’ time, but in reality, what happens is that we cut back on ourselves, and over time, this can start to show in our physical mental and emotional well-being.

One can have the best intentions to live a healthy lifestyle, but when life gets busy we tend to switch on autopilot to keep up with the pace. Actions turn into reactions, lacking intention and focus.

Living a healthy lifestyle is a holistic approach, we will look at the key pillars that build a healthy lifestyle later, but first and foremost, living a healthy lifestyle is a choice and the choice is yours to make.

Today we will look at 10 healthy lifestyle habits specifically designed for busy women. All 10 healthy habits for women can easily be integrated into your daily routines, supporting you to create the life you desire for yourself and thrive into the person you desire to be.

woman running up the stairs outside in the morning in sports apparel 10 healthy lifestyle habits for busy women

Why is living a healthy lifestyle important?

A healthy lifestyle is the basis for a vibrant and fulfilling life. It impacts not only your physical but also your mental and emotional well-being.

Why prioritizing a healthy lifestyle is important:

  • Boosts energy
  • Improved mental clarity and focus
  • Reduced risk of chronic diseases
  • Improved mood and emotional health
  • Better sleep quality
  • Fosters healthy relationships
  • Increases longevity
  • Boosted self-esteem

By making small, yet consistent changes and incorporating healthy habits into your daily routines you can enjoy a more energetic, focused and joyful life that not only allows you to feel better but also supports you to build the life that you desire for yourself.

picture showing woman wearing red jumper holding half an orange in front of each eye healthy lifestyle habits for busy women
Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash

Key elements of a healthy lifestyle

Below are the 5 key elements that build the foundation of a healthy lifestyle:

  • Sleep
  • Movement
  • Nutrition
  • Balance/stress management
  • Positive attitude toward life

All these elements are interconnected and if one is out of balance, it will impact the other elements.

If the imbalance continues for a longer period, it is likely to cause an overwhelm. This overwhelm can result in physical health decline, mental health issues, reduced productivity, unhealthy coping strategies (e.g. overeating, substance abuse, etc.), loss of enjoyment, etc.

image showing woman sitting on grass stretching dressed in black sports gear healthy lifestyle habits
Photo by LyfeFuel on Unsplash

10 Healthy lifestyle habits for busy women

Here we go my friends 🖤, below are 10 healthy habits for women who live a busy life.

All healthy lifestyle habits you can easily integrate into your daily routines supporting you to create the life that you desire for yourself and thrive into the person you desire to be.

As always on this blog, we will keep it practical and efficient. Hence, I decided to give you an emotional hook, (Why), as well as suggestions on ‘How to start’ this healthy lifestyle habit.

1. Eat with the seasons

Why? Eating with the seasons reconnects you with the natural cycle. Seasonal food is typically harvested at peak ripeness, which means it’s often fresher and more nutrient-dense compared to out-of-season products. By eating seasonal food, you get a healthier, tastier product and support local farmers. In addition, you save money as local foods tend to be cheaper as they do not need to be imported from overseas.


Examples of how to start:

  • Ditch the supermarket and head to the local farmers’ market instead
  • Download a seasonal food chart to understand what is in season
  • Get curious about your food, learn where it comes from, how it’s grown, etc.
  • Get inspired by new seasonal recipes

2. Start a regular exercise routine

Why? Movement is one of the core pillars that build a healthy lifestyle. Movement strengthens the body, boosts energy, helps to sleep better, and releases endorphins and more endorphins mean more happiness. In addition to this, movement helps to boost the immune system, reducing the risk of infections and illnesses.


Examples of how to start:

  • Rather than doing an exercise that burns the most calories, pick an exercise that you like doing
  • Block the time for your workout sessions in your diary
  • Don’t compromise on your workout times
  • Keep the same day and time every week so that you create a healthy habit over time
  • Focus on the benefits that regular movement brought into your life

Tip: 5 Benefits of Yoga in the Morning – Special: 3-Day Morning Yoga Challenge.

3. Stay hydrated

Why? Did you know that 60% of the human body is made up of water? Staying hydrated is crucial for numerous bodily functions. Drinking enough water keeps your brain sharp, aids digestion, boosts energy levels, regulates body temperature, hydrates your skin, and helps detoxify your body. Additionally, water is essential for transporting important nutrients throughout your system.


Examples of how to start:

  • Drink a glass of water as soon as you get up to kickstart your metabolism
  • Keep a reusable water bottle on you all day long and keep it filled up
  • Infuse your water with flavour e.g. lemon, peppermint, cucumber, etc.
  • Eat water-rich foods such as cucumbers, watermelon, oranges, strawberries, leafy greens, soups, etc.
  • Use a water-tracking app or set alarms on your phone to remind you to drink water at regular intervals throughout the day

4. Develop a consistent sleeping routine

Why? Sleep is one of the key pillars of living a healthy lifestyle, essential for both physical and mental well-being. A good night’s sleep enhances productivity, strengthens the immune system, and maintains your energy levels throughout the day. Moreover, quality sleep keeps you in a positive mood, making it easier to stick to other healthy lifestyle habits.


Examples of how to start:  

  • Establish a consistent sleep schedule: go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, weekends included
  • Create a relaxing bedtime routine
  • Limit exposure to screens before going to bed
  • Optimize your sleep environment; keep your bedroom cool, quiet and dark. Invest in a comfortable mattress, get the right pillow that best supports your sleep, consider blackout curtains, etc.

picture showing woman with long brown hair in bed sleeping healthy lifestyle habits
Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash

5. Start a morning routine

Why? Establishing a morning routine can impact your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can help you start each day with intention, promotes consistency by creating a structure, helps to reduce stress and boost your productivity, it gives you additional time that you can use for self-care activities or to reflect on your day ahead helping you to focus on your priorities and set a positive tone for the day ahead.


Examples of how to start:

  • Define your goal: what you would like to achieve with your morning routine
  • Start small, and gradually expand your morning routine over time
  • Wake up at the same time every day, also at the weekends
  • Include activities that energize you
  • Prepare the night before to set yourself up for a successful start to the day

6. Digital Detox

Why? Treat yourself to some quality time and do a digital detox. A digital detox improves mental health, enhances sleep quality, boosts productivity, promotes physical well-being, and strengthens personal relationships by reducing screen time and encouraging more meaningful, offline interactions and activities.


Examples of how to start:

  • Set clear goals for your digital detox and define what you are looking to get out of this experience e.g. reduce stress levels, reconnect with yourself, be more present, etc.
  • Establish boundaries with technology and set specific times during the day when you will avoid using digital devices, such as before bed, during your morning routine, etc.
  • Plan some fun offline activities that you know you will enjoy
  • Gradually make your digital detox more regularly

picture showing close up of women working on laptop and checking her phone 7 ways to overcome procrastination limit distractions
Photo by Firmbee.com on Unsplash

7. Meal prep

Why? Meal prepping offers a double win: it helps you maintain a healthier, more balanced diet by encouraging mindful eating and saves you money in the process. Plus, it pairs perfectly with eating seasonally, allowing you to make the most of fresh, nutrient-dense ingredients.


Examples of how to start:

  • Plan your meals for the week, work out how many meals, snacks, etc. you need
  • Choose recipes with overlapping ingredients as well as ingredients that are easy to store and keep in the fridge
  • Invest in quality storage containers
  • Prep in batches and set aside a specific time slot for your meal prep e.g. Sunday afternoon

4 glass containers filled with food 10 healthy lifestyle habits for busy women meal prep
Photo by S’well on Unsplash

8. Do quarterly check-ins

Why? Quarterly check-ins are a powerful tool for maintaining a healthy lifestyle as quarterly check-ins help you track your progress toward your health and wellness goals over time. Whether it’s fitness, nutrition, mental health, or work-life balance, these check-ins provide an opportunity to reflect on what’s working and what needs improvement.

Quarterly check-in journal prompts – examples:

  • What accomplishments am I most proud of from the past three months?
  • What challenges did I face, and how did I handle these challenges?
  • What habits or routines have been most beneficial to my physical and emotional well-being?
  • Are there any toxic habits that I need to let go of?
  • What areas of my life feel out of balance, and how can I address them?
  • What goals do I want to set for the next quarter, and why are they important to me?
  • How can I better support my physical, mental, and emotional health in the next quarter?

Examples of how to start:

  • Schedule your quarterly check-ins in advance
  • Create a ritual around your check-ins e.g. going to your favourite coffee shop, using a special journal, burning some incents, etc.
  • Set clear objectives for each quarterly check-in
  • Create a checklist template that includes all areas that you would like to review
  • Find an accountability partner e.g. a friend, mentor, life coach, etc.

open journal with empty pages placed on wooden table coffee mug in mint green and some flowers as decoration shadow work journal prompts journal
Photo by Susan Weber on Unsplash

9. Make self-care activities a priority

Why? Self-care is anything you do for yourself to contribute to your physical, mental and spiritual well-being. When we practise self-care we are mindful of our needs. If you are looking to live a healthier lifestyle, self-care is an important part of this. The benefits of self-care are reduced stress levels, improved physical and mental health, improved work-life balance, boosted self-esteem, improved relationships, increased productivity, etc.


Examples of how to start:

  • Start small – everything that you do for yourself will pay off; know that already 5 or 10 minutes each day can make a huge difference to the rest of your day and your physical and mental well-being
  • Schedule it in your diary – be pragmatic about it and schedule the time for your self-care practices in your diary
  • Set boundaries – switch off your phone, don’t compromise on your me-time, commit to yourself
  • Leverage your routines – leverage your existing routines e.g. morning routine, evening routine, Sunday routine, etc., and make your self-care practices part of your existing routines

10. Start a gratitude journal

Why? A gratitude journal is like a personal diary where you regularly record things/events, etc. you are thankful for. A gratitude journal aims to focus your attention on the positive aspects of life, helping you foster a more positive mindset and create more joy, happiness and abundance in your life long-term. The top 5 benefits of a regular gratitude practice are improved mental health, enhanced physical health, improved relationships, higher self-esteem and living more in the present moment.


Examples of how to start:

  • Treat yourself to a new journal
  • Set a specific time each day for your gratitude practice e.g. before you go to bed
  • Work with gratitude journal prompts to help you get started
  • Reflect on different areas of your life such as relationships, health, career, personal growth, etc. to keep your gratitude journaling diverse and avoid repetition
  • Revisit and reflect on past entries

cup of coffee next to open journal 10 healthy lifestyle habits for busy women gratitude journal
Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash

Tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle

Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits consistently can be challenging, especially when life gets busy, but with the right strategies in place, you can make these habits stick. No doubt.

Below are a few tips to help you establish healthy lifestyle habits in your daily routines:

  • Commit to your well-being – this is the most important, commit to yourself and your well-being; keep in mind that you are the most important asset that you have
  • Start small – begin with small, manageable changes rather than changing everything at the same time; focus on one healthy habit at a time e.g. drinking more water, establishing a regular exercise schedule, etc. and take it from there
  • Pair new healthy lifestyle habits with existing healthy lifestyle habits – if you already have an existing healthy habit, it is easier to stack a new healthy habit on the already existing one e.g. if you have a morning routine, think about incorporating regular exercise into your morning routine
  • Monitor your progress – be honest with yourself and hold yourself accountable by tracking your progress; this way you can also identify any changes you might have to make moving forward that support your new healthy habit in a better way

Keep in mind that living a healthy lifestyle is a choice and the choice is yours to make, every single day.

You are looking to include a regular yoga practice into your daily routine? You are in the right place. I am a certified yoga teacher and I would love to support you along your journey. Check out my current offerings and make sure to sign up for my newsletter to get all the latest yoga tips, workshop updates and retreat dates directly to your inbox.

Stay wild,

Nicolle

Featured Image: Photo by Peter Conlan on Unsplash

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24 Comments

    1. I could not agree more, a morning routine is a real game-changer!!! Thanks so much for leaving a comment, Sofyah 😉

    1. Thanks so much for stopping by, Lani and leaving a comment, much appreciated.
      Yes, takes a bit of time to create a habit….but step by step 😉

  1. I love these! I also really appreciate how to break each point down with why and how to start. It makes big changes manageable and not overwhelming. I definitely need to start meal prepping! Thank you for sharing such valuable insight!

    1. Hi Meghan 😉
      Thanks so much for your comment! Love the meal prepping, can be so much fun and has such a huge effect too!!!

  2. This was a great read. I love the way you itemized each point and how self-care resonated in many of the steps. Using these steps that you have outlined will help me plan for not only physical well-being but for mental well being. I can’t wait to start. Thank you for sharing.

    1. Awww so happy to hear that you enjoyed the read!
      Thanks so much for your comment, Amy, very much appreciated 😉

    1. You are so right, it really is!
      High 5 for the journey 😉
      Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment, very much appreciated!

    1. Thanks so much for your comment, Katie! I learned a lot about food with seasonal eating, really like it and super interesting 😉

  3. Love these ideas especially the laugh more often section. I find if I just laugh (for real) at some time during the day, it goes a lot better.

    1. A good laugh changes the whole atmosphere, doesn’t it?!!
      Makes life much easier and more fun ;-))
      Thanks for your comment, Jessica!!

  4. Such great tips! I especially liked the digital detox, I don’t think it’s emphasised enough how important it is, so thank you for the reminder

    1. It makes such a difference and I am getting more and more into it myself. It feels really good to have a break every now and then.
      Thanks so much for your comment, Leena 😉

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