Finding Time to Exercise
One of the most common barriers to living a healthy lifestyle is not being able to find the time to exercise. You may feel that between a full workday, carting kids around, preparing meals and handling everyday chaos, there is just not enough time in the day to fit in a workout. In addition, after a stressful day, the last thing you may want to do is exercise. In order to combat these negative feelings and get yourself going, the following steps are vital.
The most important step to finding time to exercise is to know your schedule and plan in advance. If you are a morning person and have an hour to spare before heading in to work, a morning workout might be best for you. If you can’t bare the thought of setting that 6 a.m. alarm clock but have more time to yourself after the workday, you may be more inclined to do a night workout. If you are one of the lucky few who have a facility in the workplace and can use your lunch hour to exercise, give it a try. Instead of telling yourself there is no time, spend the effort to make the time. A one-hour workout is only 4 percent of your day. Pencil in exercise just as you would an important meeting. Think of that time as an important meeting with yourself: time to de-stress and do something for just you. You’ve earned this time; take it.
Another step you can take to exercise without even taking time out of your day is to incorporate more movement into your daily routine. There are endless ways to do this, but here are a few examples. During your workday, make it a point to stand up and go for a short walk every few hours. Not only will your legs, neck and back thank you, but you will feel re-energized and focused when you sit back down, making you more productive. You can even set alarm reminders to get up and move. When you are running errands, don’t search for the closest parking spot. Get some extra steps in by parking farther away from the store. Choose the stairs over an escalator or elevator while in the workplace or shopping. Finally, get active with your family or friends. Plan activities that get everyone moving, such as a family walk, bike ride or a friendly basketball game.
Finally, make it fun and find an activity that you love! You are more likely to make time for something if you enjoy it, so choose physical activity that you look forward to. Whether it be going to a group exercise class with your girlfriends or pick-up basketball with the guys, you will be more likely to do it if you enjoy your time exercising. If you are social and need more accountability, recruit a workout buddy. You will enjoy exercise more and be less likely to bail on your workout if you are accountable to someone else.
If you implement these three steps, finding time to exercise will no longer be an issue because it will become a habit. In fact, I can guarantee that after a few weeks of planned exercise and more daily movement, you will wish you started sooner and be on your way to a happier, healthier you.
About the author
Ms. Megan Petriello is an Assistant Vice President, Assistant Team Leader and a Fitness and Wellness Specialist on the Slainte Fitness team at USLI. Ms. Petriello enjoys staying active by teaching HIIT classes, running and strength training. Ms. Petriello gets the most enjoyment from living an active lifestyle, and she is an avid believer in the power of positive thinking!