Good Time Management Promotes Weight Loss

When you're goal is weight loss, like any goal, you need to consider building your days around this.  So one key factor to successful weight loss is having good time management.  This is often overlooked, but will be the difference between someone making successful long-term changes and someone who gives up.  Time management is being able to effectively be efficient with your time and how you choose to spend it.  The following are 5 tips on how you can improve your time management with weight loss as your goal.

1. Meal Prep

You've heard it before and we're here to say it again!  Scheduling a time to plan out your week's meals, buy what you need, and prepare them in advance is a game changer.  This tactic will save you time overall and remove the constant decision-making of what to eat throughout the week.

2. Lists Are Your Friend

Everything from grocery lists and to-do lists to meal plans and workout plans lists will save you time.  Lists ensure you accomplish what you set out to do while keeping you from forgetting things that you'll later need to waste time making up for.  Don't be reluctant to use lists.  Know what method works best for you and stick with it.  Pen and paper, on your phone, white marker board, whatever works just make sure you will use it.  If you prefer physical over digital keep it out in the open on your desk or fridge where you'll be sure to see it.  If you prefer using your phone set an alarm to remember to check your lists.  The gratification you will get from checking things off your list will be reward enough.

3.  Combine Activities

Save time by combining what you enjoy with what you have to accomplish.  In this case, working out and eating healthy.  This will create a more enjoyable experience, but also save you time by multitasking in a sense.  Invite friends for a social workout hour, take your family to do something physically active together, or invite your date over to try a new healthy recipe you can cook together.  This will also help build healthy habits into your life and the lives of those around you.

4. Be Consistent

The more consistent you are the easier it'll be to build good habits.  With good habits come time saved.  Habits are things we do automatically and good habits are positive things we do automatically.  If you are consistent in working out, over time you will do it quicker and you will complete it more efficiently.  If you eat healthy regularly you will spend less time debating what you should and shouldn't eat and will automatically avoid the bad and ugly foods that sabotage you.

5. Avoid The Screen

Our phones, TVs, computers, and all have become an integral part of our lives, but there comes a time when they are no more than a distraction.  These distractions can cause tasks that need to be accomplished to last longer than necessary.  When you know you need to get down to it and get something done, turn off the devices.  If what you need to accomplish involves a device, turn off notifications and vow to not navigate away from what's needed for the task at hand.