Regular exercise is a key part of a healthy routine. Not only does it keep you strong and fit, being physically active can improve your brain health, protect against chronic disease, boost your mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and more. One of the biggest obstacles to exercise is finding the time to do it. But no matter how busy life seems, it’s crucial to get your workouts in. Check out 11 ways to find time to exercise.
11 Ways to Find Time to Exercise
1. Schedule Your Workouts
Just like you schedule your meetings, ensure you make time for your workouts by scheduling them. Put them in your calendar and schedule your day around your workouts instead of working exercise into your busy days. You have to prioritize it if it’s something that’s important to you, and this is a helpful way to do that.
2. Wake Up Early
If you truly can’t make time during your days to workout, it may be easiest to exercise first thing in the morning. Wake up before anyone else in your household and head out for a run or for a 5:45am boxing class. Working out first thing in the morning offers an array of benefits from boosting your energy to improving your mood, to getting ahead of your day. Plan breakfast and pack lunches the night before for a smoother morning when you get home.
3. Keep Workout Clothes on You
Whether in your car or in your office or desk, having workout clothes on hand makes it easier to find time to exercise. Maybe you have a lunch meeting that gets cancelled so you can make your midday workout, or you have a burst of energy at the end of the work day and want to go for a run. Waiting until you get home can often lead to laziness and skipping workouts, and having your workout clothes on you allows you to exercise whenever you can!
4. Exercise During Your Kids’ Activities
If your kids are in extracurricular activities like swimming, musical theatre, or hockey, take that time to go for a walk, run, or bike ride. This is the perfect time to get a workout in as your kids are occupied. If they’re getting their sweat on, you might as well get yours on too!
5. Join a Gym That’s Close to You
The more convenient your gym or workout studio, the more likely you’ll be to go. Think about it – are you more likely to skip a workout that’s a five minute walk away or 15 minute drive? Even better if you live in an apartment building that has a gym inside. The biggest exercise hurdle is often finding the time, so the more convenient the better.
6. Do More at Home Workouts
There are so many amazing at home workouts that make it easy to exercise whenever is most convenient for you. From free Youtube workouts, to paid subscription memberships with awesome fitness gurus, you can do almost anything at home. Perhaps you love cycling. Consider investing in a stationary bike and monthly Peloton classes. If you’re more likely to workout at home, do what you need to do to make sure you get your exercise in!
7. Take Advantage of Weekends
Unless your weekends are jam packed, they’re a great time to get your workout on. Do you normally spend a few hours in front of the TV on Sunday morning? Head to a workout class instead. Are your kids often busy with extracurriculars or play dates? Use that time to go for a run or head to your local swimming pool.
8. Move Throughout the Day
Sometimes fitting a workout into your schedule can seem impossible. On weeks like those, sneak fitness into your daily routine. Walk whenever you can, take the stairs instead of the elevator, park your car further away from your office or the store, and consider cycling to work if you can. If you have a dog, try taking them on a longer walk, or do some dumbbell exercises at your desk or while you’re watching TV.
9. Prioritize Shorter Workouts
If the length of your workouts is what’s causing you to skip them, strategize for shorter, more intense workouts. High intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts are one of the best for building strength and burning calories, and you only need about 25 minutes of exercise to stimulate your anabolic and metabolic systems. Check out these HIIT workouts! Even a 15 to 20 minute walk is better than nothing!
10. Quality Sleep
If you’re not getting enough quality sleep, you’re more likely to experience low energy and high fatigue. This makes it less likely for you to get up early to get your workout in, or exercise at any time during the day. Lack of sleep can also hinder your workout performance, so you won’t get the most out of them. Sleep helps promote your body’s recovery, allowing muscle tissues to regenerate. Without adequate sleep, your workouts will falter.
11. Meet a Friend
You’ll be less likely to skip a workout if you’re meeting up with a friend. Whether it’s a yoga class, morning run, or weekend bootcamp, having an accountability partner makes it more likely for you to get your exercise in. It means you’ll be scheduling your workouts ahead of time, and when you know you have someone relying on you, you won’t want to let them down.
If you’ve been finding it difficult to get your workouts in, we hope these tips help get you back on track!
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