We all live busy, hectic and demanding lives, countless activities that pull us in so many directions, go here, do this, get that. Between work, school and kids, to some it seems that there just isn’t any time left for staying healthy.
‘No time’ is the most common excuse for not exercising, but a lack of time is not really a valid excuse. You must take time, or make time for fitness and health. Here are some suggestions of creative ways to fit fitness into your busy lifestyle.
// Start Multi-tasking
Find ways to incorporate movement and exercise into your daily activities at home or on the job. Need groceries? Walk to the store, to work, to school. Need to go to the mall? Park on the fringe of the lot and walk, or park on the highest level of any parking garage and use the stairs up and down. Use a voice recorder and make notes, plans, projects, etc. as you walk the dog. Have a treadmill, stationary bike or rowing machine out in the garage? Drag it in front of your television so that you have to be WALKING on it to watch your favorite reality show or whatever it is that you really want to watch.
Fit fitness in at work as well. Stand more often, make it a habit to stand while talking on the phone or answering emails. When walking to the break room or restroom, take the longest route and add a few stair levels to your route. If you need to communicate with a coworker, get up and go talk in person. Take your breaks and your lunch away from your desk.
// Use Your Alarm Clock
If you are a morning person and can function early in the day, set your alarm 20 minutes earlier tomorrow morning and use that extra 20 minutes to exercise. Next week set it 25 minutes earlier and the week after that, set it 30 minutes earlier. It only takes 30 minutes of activity to get your heart beating and your metabolism buzzing! Starting your day with exercise will avoid the excuses and interruptions and delays later in the day – “Oh, I need to finish this and this before I can exercise” and you never do.
// Change Your Thinking
Don’t look at exercise as something that you have to do as much as something you should want to do. Fitness should be viewed as fun time that you enjoy and look forward to. If you don’t look forward to your current workout, then find one that you enjoy and that you would work hard to fit into your schedule, one that you put high on our list of priorities. Stop using the “I don’t have time to exercise” excuse. If you have time to stream movies, socialise online, or play video games, you have time to exercise. Get off the couch and fit fitness into your life!
What is your best tip for fitting fitness in?? – Comment below and let me know, I love hearing from you!
