Tips for Fitting Exercise Into Your Busy Life

If only there were more hours in a day! Life is busy and oftentimes our exercise program seems to take a back seat to everything else we have going on in our lives. With all the benefits of regular exercise, you really should make time to fit some physical activity into your daily routine at work and at home. Your body and mind will thank you for it.

Here are some tips for helping fit some physical activity into your daily schedule.

Bring a sandwich to work. Instead of spending your time and money going out to buy food, pack a lunch and take it with you on a walk or run. This way you can get some exercise in and eat when you get tired. If you usually eat with coworkers, encourage them to pack a lunch and tag along.

Cut back on coffee breaks. Tomorrow, use a clock or stop watch and add up how much time you spend on breaks. If you cut back on coffee (not to mention the accompanying vending machine snacks), you could use the extra time to walk around the office or climb the steps of your building. Plus, the endorphins from exercise are considered more energizing than most stimulants.

Use exercise as a social event. If you spend a lot of time during your week chatting with one of your friends, encourage him or her to become your workout buddy. Instead of sitting at a diner or a coffee shop to chat, socialize by jogging or going to the gym.

Do some housework. No, your husband/wife did not pay me to put this in here. Cleaning the kitchen, mowing the lawn, tending to the garden, and even dusting are all great ways to get a workout. Housework lets you stretch, works your muscles, and gets your heart pumping, all essential for staying in shape. Put on some upbeat music to make it fun and encourage you to move even faster.

Work out instead of vegging out. If you’re like me, there are one or two television programs you just can’t miss. Just because you’re watching TV doesn’t mean you have to sit on the couch. You can use this time to exercise by doing stretches, sit-ups, or even lifting weights. If you’re really ambitious, you can try aerobics or jogging in place. I like to use a hula hoop during commercials, one of my favorite exercise workouts.

The most important part of any exercise plan is sticking with it. Make a plan and keep it. If you build up slowly, you’ll eventually develop a great exercise program that fits into your busy life.