Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)

This year I made a commitment to treat my body as the temple God created it to be. That meant working out, eating better, and getting more sleep.

I’ve posted some of my progress on Instagram, which feeds to my Facebook account. I only did it to motivate me to continue, but discovered through online comments and office discussions that I’ve motivated others. What a blessing that is.

The one comment that comes up most often is: how do you find time to work out and prepare food for the week?

Honest answer: I don’t always.

I heavily depend upon my Beachbody coach and the recipes and workout routines they post on our Facebook page for inspiration. But my home and work life are a crazy mess sometimes. I plan my days out, but sometimes the unexpected happens. There are days I have to schedule an appointment early in the morning, which is when I work out. There are days we don’t have groceries in the house that make it easy for me to fill my containers with on-the-go food.

The way I stay focused on my goals is by doing three things: writing my work out into my calendar Monday through Friday, making one-pot items I can use for several meals, and praying.

By adding my workout to my daily calendar, I see it right there in front of me, making it hard to ignore. I’m not great about rescheduling if my morning gets booked, but I do my best not to put anything in that time slot.

I’ve learned to like my slow cooker these days. It allows me to make things like turkey chili, that I can have for lunch several days in a row, reducing the amount of prep time for the week. I also buy pre-cut carrots, grape tomatoes, and berries or grapes to make packing my containers quick and easy.

The most important part of my routine, however, is prayer. Taking a few moments to thank God for the many blessings He has given me–my good health among them–and asking for His help and encouragement so I continue to take care of myself, makes me even more dedicated to carving out the time and creating healthy habits.

What tips can you share that help you to stay focused on your goals?