If you think you’re too busy to exercise, think again. Exercise will add years to your life. It’s been proven. Those additional years will be higher quality. You will be more likely to remain active and independent. Isn’t that what you want? If not, stop reading.
Don’t misunderstand me. I get it. Sometimes 24 hours in a day just doesn’t seem long enough to pack in all the things you need to do AND a good workout too. But you need to do it anyway. AND make sure you’re including enough sleep. Do not sacrifice sleep to fit in your workout.
Whether you want to lose those holiday pounds, build up muscle , or tone up that body, you’ll need to fit in some exercise. You may have to find some creative ways to fit it into your daily schedule, but it is possible.
Here are 5 tips for getting it done…
#1 – Choose Efficient Workouts
To get the most out of your busy schedule, go for efficient workouts. You’ll burn more fat in less time while keeping your metabolism high for hours after exercising. Bodyweight exercises, high intensity interval training (HIIT) and kettlebell training are just some of the efficient exercise options available to you. They can be used to burn fat, build up your muscles, improve your cardiovascular fitness and much more in very little time.
#2 – Focus On What You Like
Make your workout fun by choosing activities that you like. That way you’ll stay committed to exercise even during busy times. If you’re doing something you enjoy, you’ll actually want to exercise and you’ll make the time to work out, no matter how busy you are. If you choose exercises that you don’t enjoy, the opposite will happen and you’ll find yourself constantly making excuses to avoid working out.
#3 – Make Exercise A Family Activity
Is family one of the things keeping you too busy to work out? If that’s the case, turn the time you spend with your family into family workout time. Cycling, hiking and jogging are just some of the many fun outdoor activities you can enjoy together. You’ll get fit, and stay that way while spending quality time with your loved ones. And isn’t that why you want to be around longer?
#4 – Work Out In The Morning
Yes… in the morning. Get up and GET IT DONE!
If you can’t find the time to exercise during the day, or in the evening when you get home from work, make exercise your number one priority by becoming an early riser. You’ll have enough time to engage in an effective workout session if you wake up a few hours before you have to leave for work. Doing exercises first thing in the morning will also help you stay consistent because it will be the first thing you do before any other tasks or obligations come your way.
If you do start exercising in the morning, make sure you don’t sacrifice your sleep. Oops, did I say that already? It must be important! You still need to get at least six hours of quality sleep every night to work out and function effectively. Sleeping for less than this will have a detrimental effect on your work out performance and your much desired results. So DON’T DO IT!
#5 – Work Out During Your Lunch Break
Instead of spending your entire lunch break sitting at your desk, take the opportunity to sneak in a workout. A one hour lunch break gives you plenty of time to go for a walk. Or hit the gym for a fast paced 30 minute workout followed by a shower and a nutritious meal. Not only does a lunchtime workout allow you to fit exercise into your busy routine, but it also has a rejuvenating effect. It will make you much more productive for the rest of the day. Your brain cells will function better. (And you’ll be proud of yourself. That counts!)
Summary
No matter how busy you are, you can always find time to implement at least one of the suggestions in this article, and add exercise to your routine. Choose one that suits your current lifestyle best and start implementing it today.
