Sometimes life keeps us so busy that we sacrifice healthy choices for convenience. There's a commercial showing a woman trying to be Supermom with her kids, playing ball, painting a portrait, building a school project, and still providing a "perfect" dinner: ordering in pizza. If this is a rare meal option, no big deal. But too often this "treat" can become a regular indulgence.

So, how can you find a way to work health and convenience and ease into one pretty package? Here are some tips:

Meditate

Yes, I start with this one first because when I mention it in my clinic I often get glazed over looks. No, my patients don't immediately fall into a meditative state. They are often automatically resistant to the idea. The excuses include:

• "I don't have time."
• "I can't meditate. I can't make my mind go blank."
• "I used to meditate, but I stopped and haven't restarted again."

I've used the first 2 excuses myself. In terms of time, can you give yourself 10 minutes in a day? How about 5 minutes? Start short. If you find benefit, you'll likely continue and maybe even do longer bouts. Meditation can have restorative benefits similar to or possibly better than sleep. It has also been shown to be extremely effective in helping with stress management and improving wellness.

Here's a quote I like for those with the second excuse:

"You can't stop the birds from flying back and forth over your head, but you can stop them from nesting in your hair"
--Saint Francis de Saul

Basically that just means that though the thoughts may continually fly through your head, you can acknowledge their presence without allowing yourself to dwell on them. Thinking is normal. Most people don't know where to find their mental "off" switch and some think that they don't even have access to that. There are many techniques that can help you learn this skill of meditation. Did you know how to skate the first time you stepped on ice or read the first book that you opened? Probably not, so go easy on yourself and just keep practicing.

Exercise

Yes, we've all heard it, regular exercise is important to our health. Again, time is a common challenge. Here are some simple exercises you can do when you have 10 minutes or less. Implement a few of these moves into your day:

• While waiting for someone or something, practice this posture-improving pilates exercise that only requires a wall. Check out my blog to learn about it: http://www.activetcm.com/blog/2010/06/18/simple-exercise-1/ or try this similar one: http://www.activetcm.com/blog/2010/07/15/pretend-youre-sitting/
• Take the stairs. Ignore the elevator and the escalator. It doesn't even cost you a gym membership. You will tone your legs and your glutes and get a cardio pump up.
• Walk or bike or rollerblade to work or to complete errands. A side benefit is that you can avoid the cost and challenge finding a parking spot.
• Go outside with your kids and/or friends. Sharing activities helps it feel something other than working out.
• If you don't want to go outside, you could play an active game of Wii or Dance Dance Revolution. I love the latter, just ask some of my friends. :)
• Inside or outside, you could practice a bit of Qi Gong. You hardly need any space. It's suitable for most people, injured or not, young or old and many exercises can even be done from a sitting position. It's relaxing and meditative. I like this video series on You Tube. Click here to see the first video.
• Find a bench or chair and practice some triceps dips for summer-ready arms. For a video demo, click here.
• For more specific 10 minute exercise routines, click here.
• Dance! Have fun! Put on some music and move to it. Who cares how it looks. Just move and enjoy!

Pull your hair. Wait...is that right? Isn't that what you do (at least metaphorically speaking) when you feel stressed? Well actually, gently taking handfuls of hair and pulling the skin away from the scalp will help improve blood circulation and relieve tension. Try it.

If you live in Vancouver, check out this restaurant that my husband and I just tried: The Healthy Noodle House at 2716 West 4th Avenue. Simple fare, but you get to choose what you want and it's healthy. Pick your style of noodle (thick, thin, udon, rice noodle, soba buckwheat), choose your veggies, and if you want, make a meat selection. No oil, no MSG, fresh food, friendly owner.

Be like Samuel Jackson

Sixty one-year-old Samuel L. Jackson relies on acupuncture to keep himself in shape, saying he can't get enough of the practice. "It's one of my favourite things. I get it all the time, like twice a week, for my well being," he told American talk show host Ellen Degeneres. "I just go and get my 'waa' put in place, and get everything moving."