2. Eat Protein at Every Meal. About that protein: It’s a win-win that keeps you satisfied without weighing you down, says Keri Glassman, R.D., founder of Nutritious Life. Another perk: Because it’s digested and metabolized differently from carbs, it helps you steer clear of a food coma, she says. So try to add a little bit into every meal—this could be as simple as adding nuts to your oatmeal or a hard boiled egg to your afternoon crudite, she says. “You’ll avoid feeling lethargic and it’ll keep you from diving head first into the bread basket.” A serious score.

3. Make a Routine and Stick to It. “We, as human beings, have a hard time following a schedule—innately, we just want to do what we want and eat when we want,” says Levine. But forcing yourself to wake up with time to spare and have a smoothie; or going to bed at the same time every night reinforces good behaviors. And that will help calm and rejuvenate your day, she says. Set up a schedule that helps you be healthy even if it means getting up a little earlier. After all, jolting out of bed to a (snoozed) alarm clock, showering, and running out the door isn’t the best way to start a smooth and successful day.

4. Bring Your Gym Bag to Work. Exercise’s mental boons come as no surprise to the fit: Working out calms us down, wakes us up, and boosts our brainpower. But actually finding time to sneak in a sweat session? That can sometimes seem like a workout in itself. To make sure you choose barbells over post-work beers, bring your workout essentials to the office. “You don’t give yourself the option to take the non-healthy route,” says Levine. Because, let’s admit it, no one gets home, sits on the couch, and says, “Now I want to go to the gym!”

5. Drink Your H2O. Answer truthfully: Are you actually filling up on H2O? If not, it’s time to start. “Your body won’t function as well as it should without being properly hydrated,” says Gassman, who adds that dehydration can make you feel lethargic. Also: We often mistake thirst for hunger (hello, carbs!) and wind up overeating by accident. Just make sure you’re not sipping on sugary juices or sodas: That kind of carb overload will almost certainly mean a crash later on.

6. Embrace Temptation (Every Now and Then). You want to live a healthy lifestyle, but not obsess over it. “It’s OK to indulge in temptation from time to time as long as nothing’s in excess,” says Levin. You have to stay focused on your goals, she says. “But in achieving that, instead of being obsessive, you want to make it into a lifestyle so it doesn’t feel like a chore.” So have the burger—just make sure you’re keeping up your cardio that day. Doctor’s orders.