What’s the number one reason people give for not working out? No time! Sometimes finding an hour to go to the gym can seem an insurmountable task for busy people. But working out doesn’t need to take up that much of your time, or be intimidating. Change your attitude and look for easy, fun ways to make exercise an integral part of your fitness plan.
Here are five quick tips to help you find time to work out:
1. Look at your schedule tomorrow and see where you have 10-15 minutes to spare.
Even the busiest person has small chunks of time they can devote to exercise. Start small, just start!
2. If you don’t have time in your current day, get up earlier or go to bed later.
Figure out if you are a morning or evening workout person; you will be more successful if you choose the time of day that works better for you personally. Then, try to pick a time and day and stick with those times. We are all creatures of habit and you will be more likely to stay with the program if you make it a regular activity. This will help you create the habit of exercising. Once your workout is a habit, you’ll never miss a little extra sleep.
3. Break your workout up into several sections: upper body, lower body, and abdominals. Answer some emails then do five minutes of upper body exercises. Return some phone calls then do five minutes of lower body exercises. Go out to an appointment and when you get back, do five minutes of abdominal exercises. You don’t have to exercise all at once; you can split up your workout throughout the day.
4. Get Moving!
You probably already know about parking your car farther away so you walk. Chances are you heard to take the stairs instead of the elevator. But did you know that vigorous chores burn as many calories as some workouts?
Approximate calorie burn for a 150-pound woman (based on 30 minutes of activity):
• Gardening - 162 calories
• Raking - 144 calories
• Cleaning the house - 126 calories
• Playing outside with your kids - 180 calories
• Mowing the lawn by hand - 198 calories
5. Schedule your workout like an appointment.
Your day gets away from you – it happens to everyone. You schedule meetings because they are important to you, so you wouldn’t dream of missing an appointment. If your health is important to you too, schedule exercise in to your day and treat your “workout appointment’ like you do all of your other appointments.
On any given day, how much time do you devote to working out? If you try these tips, you’ll be amazed at just how easy it is to fit exercise in to your day!
Linda Jassmond, certified personal trainer, helps individuals take charge of their minds and bodies to create lifestyle changes that result in healthy eating, weight loss and positive energy. With 24 years of experience in the fitness industry, Linda is dedicated to her clients' success and helps them establish goals and overcome obstacles to achieve the best lives possible. Visit www.FitnessLinda.com for some real-life success stories her clients are proud to share! Contact Linda Jassmond at Linda@FitnessLinda.com.