Many of us are busy professionals with the mile-long to do lists and tackling many things at once.  Multitasking has become not only a highly desired but required skill.  We have an increasing expectation of ourselves that we can keep packing our daily schedule with things to do and expect to excel at everything.  However that kind of pressure is unrealistic and overwhelming, and can actually have a reverse effect of draining your energy.  Studies have shown that focusing on one task at a time is much more energy efficient.  So reading your iPad on the treadmill or sending texts on your cell while banging out work e-mails on your laptop will drain your brain faster than doing each task by itself.

And yet…you have an 8 a.m. meeting and a 8 p.m. dinner reservation, and you have to pick your kids up at soccer practice at 5p.m. — which leaves 6 a.m. as the only hour to squeeze in a sweat session.  So what’s left for us to do?  Whether you’re training for a marathon or your day simply feels like one, these totally fresh lifestyle tweaks will do more for your mojo than a morning cup of coffee ever could.

So how do we find balance in our daily lives, especially if we live with others that depend on us?

Thankfully this is not an all-or-nothing approach.  A few lifestyle and diet shifts can rock your world!

Start with paying attention to what you eat.

Healthy eating will help you get the right balance of vitamins, minerals and macro-nutrients. It will help you feel your best, have plenty of energy, feel more able to focus and it can also help you handle stress better.  Consequently you will be able to accomplish more of your daily to-do’s.  Just keep in mind this journey is not about going on a diet — diets are temporary and don’t work.  Focus instead on eating a variety of whole-foods and you will find it far more satisfying.  Match that with more physical activity, and you will feel well on your path to achieving optimal health and living a balanced life.

Having support from others can be a huge help.  Whether you practice healthy eating habits with family and friends, or work with a health coach, having support will make it easier for you to find what works for your beautiful, unique body and make lasting changes.