February is the shortest month of the year, with only 28 days and 29 days on a leap year. If you’re like us, you’re thinking, “a normal month is barely long enough to get everything done and now we have a few days less?!” Don’t stress!
With less days, tackling your to-do list may seem daunting (more daunting than normal). So, we’re sharing tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the shortest month of the year.
Stay Healthy
To be able to conquer the month, it’s important that you stay healthy. That means eating right, getting enough exercise and of course, catching plenty of zzz’s.
Eat a Balanced Diet
To make the most of your day, it’s important to give your body the right fuel. Of course, every now and then, it’s great to treat yo’self, but (unfortunately) it’s not healthy to live off cheeseburgers and hotdogs. Make sure you’re eating a balanced meal so that you have the energy you need. A balanced diet includes 6 essential nutrients:
- Protein (eggs, fish, meat)
- Carbohydrates (bread, pasta, whole grains, beans, fruits and veggies)
- Fats (good fats include nuts, seeds, fish, vegetable oils)
- Vitamins (variety of fruits and veggies, vitamin supplements)
- Minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, found naturally in foods)
- Water (drinking water, fruits, vegetables)
Pro Tip: Some foods are especially good for energy, including bananas, fatty fish, sweet potatoes, eggs, and apples.
Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!
We know what you’re thinking (we’re thinking it, too): “Exercise?! I barely have time to shower!” Running and weightlifting are great workouts, but you don’t have to be drenched in sweat to get a little exercise every day. Take 10 minutes of your lunch break to circle the building a few times or get up 10 minutes early and do a little morning yoga.
Most experts say that 30 minutes of physical activity a day is ideal, but even 10 minutes of light exercise can be beneficial, physically and mentally. Some of the benefits of exercise include:
- Helping with weight loss
- Building strong muscles and bones
- Reducing your risk of chronic disease (type 2 diabetes, heart disease, early death)
- Enhancing brain health and memory
- Increasing relaxation and quality of sleep
- Boosting energy levels
Keeping up a regular physical activity schedule, even if it’s just 30 minutes of brisk walking a few times a week can help increase your energy. So, try to carve out a little bit of workout time—this could be the boost you need to check items off your to-do list.
Get Better Rest
We all love to sleep (except for maybe your toddler). Getting a good night’s rest is important to stay healthy. Experts recommend that adults get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night to be at your best.
Probably the most obvious benefit of sleep is that you wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. That’s because when you sleep, your body does important processing, restoring and strengthening. Sleep allows your body to restore chemical balances and is important for forming short- and long-term memories, too. When you don’t get enough sleep, it can cause serious health problems, including memory issues, a weakened immune system, high blood pressure and risk of disease. So, getting enough quality sleep is important to staying healthy.
Prioritize your To-Do List
You’re ambitious (that’s what we love about you). But even you can’t do it all, all the time. With less days and so much to do, prioritize and organize so that you get what’s most important done. Then, if you have extra time, you can attack your less-important to-do list items.
Make the Most of your Sleep
When you’re busy, you may find it hard to get enough sleep at night or have a hard time getting quality sleep when you do rest. You may think that it’s OK to forfeit sleep when you have a lot of other things going on, but it’s not—remember, you need to sleep to stay healthy and have enough energy to get through your to-do list, so make time for it.
Make a Sleep Schedule
Creating a sleep schedule can be helpful if you’re having trouble getting enough sleep. Train yourself to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. While that can be hard, getting on a sleep schedule can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night. It can also help you make the most of your day. By adjusting your sleep schedule so that you wake up earlier (and also go to sleep earlier), you can fit in your suggested 30 minutes of exercise or have some extra time for yoga or meditation in the morning.
Fall Asleep Faster & Sleep Better
Are you one of those people who spends an hour or more staring at the ceiling before they fall asleep? That’s an hour you could have been getting some much-needed rest or spent doing something productive (another item on that never-ending to-do list!). You’re not alone. Try these tips and tricks to help you fall asleep quickly and get better rest every night:
- Try some nighttime yoga, but nothing that gets your blood pumping too much. Remember, you want to wind down, not get fired up.
- Play white noise. It may help you block out outside noise to fall (and stay) asleep.
- Meditate at night, either on your own or with a guide. There are a lot of apps and meditations available free online.
- Drink a cup of tea at night. Certain teas are great for winding down and resting.
- Make sure what you’re eating close to bedtime is not negatively impacting your sleep.
Of course, creating a bedroom sanctuary that you enjoy spending time in is also important for a good night’s sleep. Let Leesa help you get the rest you need. With two (amazing) mattresses, bed bases and sleep accessories, we have everything you need to create your own personal oasis of rest and relaxation.
Make Time for You
While you’re busy conquering your month, don’t forget about self-care. Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of everyone around you. Go to a spin class, get a pedicure or just enjoy 10 minutes of quiet in your favorite coffee shop. Even something as simple as reading a book in bed for a few minutes can be good “you” time.
Get the most from the shortest month of the year (and every month, for that matter) with Leesa. Plus, check out our resource guide for more sleep health and wellness tips.