By Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD 

It’s hard to summarize all of the ways that the global pandemic has impacted life as we knew it. Most of the rippling effects are viewed as negative, but there are silver linings that shouldn’t be overlooked. 

In fact, now might just be an ideal time to focus on your health goals. Working from home, restructuring social events, and getting more time back in your schedule are just a few factors that present opportunities for change. 

Read on to learn how you can capitalize on the new normal to make progress on your goals! 

1 – Take control over what and where you eat, and use extra time to meal plan and cook. 

Parties and social events outside of the home can present obstacles to losing weight and eating healthy. Sometimes healthy foods are not available, and buffet meals make it difficult to build a balanced plate and limit snack foods or desserts. With socializing comes a tendency to indulge or unknowingly lose track of what you eat or drink. 

But now, due to social distancing measures, social events look a lot different. You likely have less commitments on your calendar, and for the ones that are still on the horizon, it may be safer to bring your own food. Take advantage of these new situations to meal plan and cook nutritious meals that you can eat at home or bring to a picnic with friends. With fewer disruptions to your healthy eating plan, you can make significant progress towards your goals. 

2 – Let go of perfectionism, social pressures, and toxic people. 

While it’s difficult to be isolated from loved ones, social distancing from people who add stress or toxicity to your life is a plus. Spending time away from workplace and social settings can help alleviate any pressure to be perfect in the eyes of others. Plus, you can avoid situations that perpetuate unhealthy habits, like happy hours or hangouts with friends who don’t respect your goals of eating healthy or limiting alcohol. 

In the comfort of your own home, you can focus on cooking nutritious meals, trying new exercise routines, and building healthy habits without outside pressures. In the absence of daily interactions with a coworker who made you feel inferior or a friend who held you back, your road to success will be less crowded!  

3 – Immerse yourself in the outdoors. 

If you have more time on your hands, get outdoors! Spending time in nature can be restorative and energizing, especially if you are working towards a specific health goal.  

A simple walk in a park can clear your mind and help you re-establish focus. In addition, more access to the outdoors opens up opportunities to try new styles of exercise. To start, take a short morning walk around your neighborhood before the work day or commit to trying a new running path once a week. Both your physical and mental health will benefit from spending time in nature.  

Note from Healthy For Life Meals: As you take advantage of these unprecedented times to focus on your health goals, it’s also a great time to get started with our fresh, 1200 calorie, 1500 calorie, or 2000 calorie meal plans, delivered to your door! Our menus feature a variety of delicious dishes that require no prep or cooking on your end.  Check out our menus here, and order for next week.