Chaos Proof Your Health

22 easy ways to stay well when you're crazy busy

Here's a prediction: Sometime soon, your life will be even more hectic than it is right now. You'll be racing to finish a big project, getting married, helping a close friend in crisis—or worse yet, all of the above, all at the same time. When you have a bazillion and one things to get done, it's natural to let what you usually do to stay healthy slide to the bottom of your list. But that's exactly when your body most needs you to be careful. To help you master the madness without getting sick, SELF asked health experts, along with some of our on-the-go staffers, to share their favorite health shortcuts.

Call it a foot-operated cardio machine OK, it's a flight of stairs. But at least you don't have to pay to use it! A 135-pound woman burns 8 calories per minute walking up stairs. (Weigh more? Bonus! That means you'll burn more.) "Fitness isn't frivolous when you're under stress," says Joan Price, a fitness instructor and author in Sebastopol, California. "Physical activity releases endorphins, which are great for helping you cope when life gets more busy than usual."

use a cleaning service. Your life may becrazy, but your home won't be.

Gulp and go Even if it's your most insane week ever, the new drinkable yogurts leave no excuse for skipping your daily hit of protein, calcium and "good" bacteria from live active cultures, says Molly Kimball, R.D., of the Ochsner Clinic Foundation's Elmwood Fitness Center in New Orleans. Try Dannon Light 'n Fit Smoothies (80 calories, no fat).

Forget the cart and grab a basket (that is, unless you're picking up groceries to feed your family, the in-laws and the neighbors down the street). As you shop, you can do biceps curls, recommends Price. While you're deciding between arugula and radicchio (go for the arugula—it's packed with calcium and magnesium), keep your elbow at your waist and lift the basket until your hand is close to shoulder height. Switch hands frequently.

Empty out that purse! You may still have 47 things to do today, says SELF fitness editor-at-large Elena Rover, but with less weight on your shoulders and less junk to sift through to find your Palm Pilot, you'll feel as though your mental load has been lifted as well. Some mind games are good.

Sip a lot When you have a ton of things on your mind, staying hydrated probably isn't one of them. Yet drinking plenty of water is especially important when you're under pressure, because one of the first symptoms of dehydration is (surprise!) fatigue. Increase your intake by downing a glass before each meal, after you brush your teeth and by stopping for a swig whenever you see a fountain (four quick gulps and you've had about half a glass).

Be a chopaholic Take a few minutes on Sundays to turn healthy veggies into fast food by chopping up a bunch and putting them in see-through containers. That way they'll be within view when you want a quick crunch. When life's a busy blur, it's all too tempting to gobble a candy bar. In fact, a recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that eating high-fat or sugary comfort foods may actually short-circuit stress responses. Thing is, most of those aren't exactly good for you and can leave you feeling sluggish. Surround yourself with healthy, handy foods to keep your energy on track.

Splurge on convenience Can't taketime to pamper yourself with a pedicure? Then put the money you would have spent toward something that can make your life easier, says Paula Derrow, SELF articles director. Have your groceries delivered or use a cleaning service. Your life may be crazy, but your home won't be!

Try the 10-second squat Stand with your back to a chair, feet slightly morethan shoulder-width apart, toes pointed out slightly. Raise your arms in front of you (like a mummy in a horror film), jut your butt over the seat and slooowly bend your knees until you're sitting. (Your knees should never extend beyond your toes.) "This move develops strength in your quads and glutes and burns a few calories at the same time," says fitness coach Jim Labadie of Tampa, Florida. Cop a squat a few times throughout the day when the gym simply isn't an option. How you explain your slowly sinking head to cubiclemates is up to you.