5 Tips To Stick With a Healthy Lifestyle When Your Schedule Changes [Guest Post]

One of my favorite things about blogging is connecting with bloggers from across the world, learning from them and supporting them. After 5 years of blogging, it’s still one of my favorite things but also the thing that surprised me most. Today, I’m excited to bring you all a great post from one of my newer blogging buddies, Kristen from Why Girls Are Weird. Her story is amazing and I think you’re all going to love what she has to say, but first, let’s meet her…

How long have you been blogging/when did you begin blogging? 

I began blogging with Why Girls Are Weird in 2007 but I’ve been around the blog world since 2002. A long time!

What inspired you to start blogging? 

Originally I found this girl who was keeping an online diary, and I found it so intriguing! The idea of putting your words online and anyone being able to find them just seemed so interesting. I’ve kept diaries all my life so it felt natural to move with the times and start a diary online.

What are the main topics you blog about? 

I call myself a lifestyle blogger – my blog is about my life, my marriage, the books I read, things that make me happy, my dogs (and foster dogs!), and pretty much everything in between.

What is one random or fun thing about you? 

I almost always have at least 4 dogs (or 5) in my home at one time – 3 of my own and typically 1 or 2 foster dogs too! There is never a dull moment around here!

Hi all, Krysten from Why Girls Are Weird here! Thanks so much to Katie for having me today!

Recently I made a huge change to my life and switched jobs. At the beginning of this year I was happily plodding along, working as a waitress and kind of set in my ways. I had a set schedule, coworkers who looked out for me, and it was easy. At the beginning of the year I also decided to start being healthy and this fit in pretty well with my schedule. I had enough time to workout pretty much every day of the week if I wanted to. It was easy to eat healthy because I could order healthy options at work, which meant only having to worry about making my own healthy food on my off days.

Then everything changed.

Getting a new job is best for me in the long run. I’ve been there about a month and I’m so much happier than I was when waitressing. Unfortunately, this change up came with a price. It’s much harder for me to find exercise time and healthy eating options with my new schedule. I knew before I even had my first day that I needed a plan. So I sat down and figured out how I was going to fit my healthy lifestyle into my new gig.

• Schedule. Just like scheduling my blog, once a week I sit down and figure out where my workouts are going to fit in. My schedule changes week to week so sitting down and scheduling my workouts in helps to keep my accountable. I never have to wonder when I’ll fit a workout in.

• Meal plan. And like I schedule my workouts, I plan out my weekly meals. Once again this helps to keep me accountable and I don’t have to worry so much about what I’m going to eat when. This is also a huge help when grocery shopping!

• Switch it up. When I schedule my workouts I try to switch up the kind of workout I’m going to do. Run one day (I try to plan this around the weather). Jillian Michaels the next. Throw in some workout on a day I work a really long shift. This way I’m not bored and I look forward to my workouts!

• Find support. When I worked in the restaurant my coworkers were big support for me. When I left I made sure to seek out a couple of friends who were doing the same things as me so that we could check in with each other. Repeat after me: ACCOUNTABILITY!

• Don’t stress. Don’t get too stressed out if you miss a day or your new coworkers bring brownies for your first day (true story, it would have been rude not to have a brownie). Change is good and sometimes you have to roll with it. And when you get home do some yoga, it’s good for your soul and great for de-stressing!

A job change can be stressful, exciting, and full of lots of change. Just remember to stay on track, try to go with the flow, and remember that exercise makes you feel GOOD! Stick with it and develop new habits. And don’t forget, it’s all about balance.