How to Make Time for Exercise in Your Life
As we approach the end of January, many people are discovering that it’s hard to make time for exercise. According to an article published in the Daily Telegraph, the most popular New Year’s resolution for 2017 is to exercise more. Whilst very commendable, many people make New Year’s resolutions without really thinking them through. We only get a finite number of hours in a day. So, if you want to exercise more, or do more of anything. You must find the time to do it.
With our fast-paced lives and hectic schedules, it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of taking care of ourselves. When we step back and look at the big picture, it seems obvious that we need to make time for exercise and eat well if we want to feel good. It’s not always that easy to put into practice.
5 ways to make time for exercise so that it fits into your life.
Identify Areas of Lost Time
These days there are many seemingly simple habits that can siphon precious time away from your day. Fitting exercise into these small pockets of regained time can really add up.
Some of the culprits that waste time include checking and responding to emails, watching television or other screen devices, or talking on the phone. If you find these are some of the ways that you seem to spend a lot of time, try making small changes. For example, by only checking emails at specific times of the day, you won’t be tempted to answer every email the moment it comes in. Use this freed-up time to exercise. Even five minutes each day can make a difference.
Learn to Multi-Task
There are simple ways to get exercise while you work. Consider getting an exercise ball and using it as a replacement for your usual desk chair. When you use an exercise ball, your body is constantly shifting to keep balance. You’ll be making use of your abdominal muscles without even realizing it.
Another way to make time for exercise while working is to keep a set of dumbbells near your desk. When you are reading emails, you can do a few bicep curls or other small arm exercises.
Use Visualization
While you won’t burn calories by using visualization techniques, you will find that you can stay focused much easier and make time for exercise won’t be as hard. Spend at least one to two minutes per day visualizing yourself being successful with your fitness goal. Think about how it will feel after you have accomplished the goal you’ve set for yourself. Once you’ve done that, you will find that you will be more motivated to make time for exercise, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
Choose Active Recreation
When you have some downtime, consider doing something active, rather than being sedentary. Some ideas might be to take the children for a walk rather than sitting in front of the computer, or if you want to stay indoors, doing something fun, like dance! Whatever you choose to do, find a way to add motion and activity into your down time so that you are still getting exercise while having fun.
Make It Portable
Even when you are traveling or away from home, there are simple ways to keep fitness in sight. A great way to exercise while traveling is by using resistance bands. These pack easily into any suitcase or bag and they can be used just about anywhere. You may also want to pack a DVD or a video if you can use it in your room. If you are staying in a hotel, try to go for places with a fitness centre or a swimming pool so that you can stay active even while you are away.
In today’s modern age where everyone leads a fast-paced and hectic life, it’s more important than ever to make time for exercise. The UK National Health service recommend a minimum of 150 mins exercise every week. Let us know in the comments below how you fit exercise in to your busy schedule.
You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Till Next Time
Mike Gardner is The Time Doctor
