Getting healthier amidst fast-paced modern existence can seem like a monumental challenge. Here are some common reasons people give for not making changes, and some solutions to help you overcome these challenges.

Challenge:    I Don’t Have Enough Time

Solution:  Think about how efficient you are when you’re feeling your best. All of us have had the experience of sitting down to work, and just whizzing through. Now think about the opposite situation. How much do you get done when you’re feeling exhausted and burned out? Half as much? Even less? Plus the quality of your work suffers. What if you could do something to make you work more efficiently all of the time? Then you would have more time for other things like hitting the gym, getting more sleep, cooking a few healthy meals, or getting out and having more fun. But of course, you can do things that will make you more efficient. No, we’re not talking about drinking coffee. We’re talking about adopting a healthier lifestyle.

The time you invest in getting healthier pays off in terms of increased efficiency. Besides, the fact of the matter is that we find time for the things that are really priorities to us. If you accept that living a healthier life will actually result in your being happier and more productive (not to mention living longer), we bet you start finding more time to take care of yourself.

Challenge:  Eating Healthfully and Joining a Gym is too Expensive

Solution:   While it’s true that it is a little easier to get healthy if you can afford to belong to a gym and buy all organic food, everything you really need to live more healthfully is right at your fingertips, regardless of your budget. Running intervals outside is the best exercise in the world. If it’s too cold to go outside, do laps on the stairs, or even run in place for 4 to 6 minute bursts, taking rests in between. Push ups, sit ups, and squats can be done virtually anywhere, and if you invest in a set of adjustable dumbbells (available for under $100) and an exercise ball (around $30) you’ll have all of the equipment you need for a wide variety of whole body workouts.

When it comes to food, most of us spend a high percentage of our food dollars on junk food that takes more out of us than it puts in. Fast food, snack chips, candy, ice cream and pizza are all fine in moderation, but eaten frequently, they erode our health and drain our wallets. Organic produce, organic brown rice, organic beans, organic yogurt, and free range organic eggs are all wonderfully healthy foods that can be had at very reasonable prices. Increasingly all natural and/or organic meats are available at only a fraction above commercial varieties. Alaskan Salmon is also highly affordable, both canned and frozen. But even if you just buy organic bulk beans, bulk whole grains, and veggies, all of which can be had for very little money, and base a number of meals around these wonderfully nutritious foods, you’ll be doing great things for your body.