Your Must-Do Checklist For a Healthy Week

Healthy grocery shopping is only part of the recipe for sustainable healthy-eating success. Once all that food makes its way home, it's got to be put to use! If you're tired of throwing out unused food (and money) week after week, take plenty of time to prep your kitchen for the week to make healthy eating and cooking feel like second nature.

Leave fresh produce out in plain sight, freeze your smoothie bags for a quick and satisfying breakfast, and prep a big container of salad for the easiest packed lunch ever. Taking an hour to prep everything might seem like a pain, but it will make for an easier week.

The number one tip to make sure you work out next week? Pencil in your workouts ahead of time. Scheduling exercise in advance will help you stick to a game plan while still balancing your workload and social calendar. Phone a friend, set up a workout date, and add your planned gym sessions to your calendar; or if you can, pay for a class ahead of time. All these techniques will make you far more likely to stick with the game plan, up your endorphins, and sleep better each night.

Once you've gotten through that pile of dirty laundry, set aside the workout gear you'll need for the upcoming week. Laying out clothes (and cohesive outfits) ahead ahead of time takes stress out of the picture and makes you more likely to stick with the program. Spend some time cleaning out your gym bag to prevent germ issues, refreshing any essentials you may have used up in the locker room, and always toss in an extra pair of "just-in-case" underwear and socks.

Whether it's 20 minutes or an hour, make sure to leave some time for yourself to refresh, reboot, and chill out before your busy week. Move through a relaxing yoga sequence, enjoy a long bath with some aromatherapy candles lit, or simply sit in meditation for a few minutes to reflect on your goals for the week. This little time can make all the difference in your stress levels and how grounded you feel all week long.