10 Ways to Fit Exercise into Your Busy Schedule, By: Dave DePew
Most people know the benefits of exercise and yet are still so inactive. To be successful you have to find that time in your day that you think you lack! Notice I said, “The time you think you lack”.
The time we have for exercise is based on how we set our priorities. You must make exercise a priority, but I will start by giving you some helpful tips on how you can get started.
1. Get Moving!
Start by adding a brief walk each day. Exercise doesn’t need to be long in duration to be effective. Even brief frequent bouts of activity have benefit. Start with just 10 minutes a day of something and add an additional 10 minute over time. 20 minute sessions are outstanding for raising the metabolism. Just focus on increasing the exercise intensity and you wont need lots of exercise duration.
2. Start Early!
Start the workout in the morning to get the exercise done and out of the way. If you are a morning person, wake up an extra hour earlier in the morning and get that workout started. Most people I have worked with who decide to exercise in the morning hours are more likely to stick to their program. It just keeps us from getting side tracked each day with all that life can throw at us.
3. Watch the Clock!
Exercise by the clock to use it as a tool for energizing your workday. If you work on the second floor take the steps instead of the elevator. Hey, if you work on the 5th floor take the elevator to the forth floor and walk up. The point is that you can decide to go to the gym or just create ways to workout on your lunch hour, before work or after work. Just set a time and keep it like an appointment. Now some gyms have a little café in them or next to them that makes good lunches that still fit into the clean eating category so lunch is taken care of.
Hey, perhaps you could even do some of your business meetings during a walk. You can brainstorm with your employees while on the treadmill. If you are stuck at your desk keep active as much as you can by setting a wrist watch or palm pilot alarm to remind yourself to get up and go for a walk, stretch, or even keep a light set of dumbbells at your desk to do some exercises.
4. Combo Workout!
Combine Strength and Cardio when short on time. One of the best things people can do to get the most of the time they spend exercising is to combine the aerobic and strength training using full body circuit training. If they don’t like the circuit they could super set going back and forth from one exercise to the next and even add 1 to 3 minutes of cardio at the end of the two exercises before starting another combination of exercises. Be create and you can find all sorts of things to use as exercise.
5. Exercise at Home!
The place you exercise is very important. Proximity is very important to make your program successful. Having just a few pieces of equipment in your home is one way to at the very least to make your exercise accessible. You don’t even need that much. Some light dumbbells, a stability ball and some resistant bands can go a long way.
6. Plan Ahead!
You most not fail to plan or you are planning to fail! Always Plan ahead and have everything you need for your workout with you at all times. Start by having a set of workout clothing, a pair of walking shoes and shower accessories with you in your car at all times to take advantage of every opportunity to exercise.
7. Be Accountable!
Hire a coach to help you stay accountable. We all do better when we are accountable to someone else. A personal trainer can help you with setting up and exercise program, a nutritionist can help you know what your body needs and when it needs it most and a lifestyle coach can help you to implement the life strategies to ultimately be successful in reaching your goals. An experienced fitness professional often wears all these hats. When deciding who to go with look to see how successful they have been with others.
8. Get Outdoors!
I just love living in San Diego. The outdoor Boot Camp classes I run are so much fun! I think everyone should plan outdoor activities and get involved with group activity programs. You could join a walking group, a weekend hiking group, a softball league or even see if your fitness coach has a program like my outdoor fitness Classes.
9. Get in a Group!
Get Involved in Group Activities. Having activities you can get involved in like dance lessons or a variety of classes you can do at your local club like Pilates, yoga or group weight training just help keep you excited about exercise and adds to the accountability.
10. Family Fitness!
Create Family Exercise Activities and do as much physical activity as you can with your family as often as you can. Have you ever just tried to keep up with your child or a nephew while they run around at the park? Next time play hide and seek for an hour and see how much of a workout you get.
Make time for exercise and don't make it out to be something that can't be fun and easy!
