How to Exercise When You’re Short on Time
Learn 2 simple tricks to fit exercise into your day, whether you’re a busy professional, parent, or student, or generally have a hectic schedule.
One of the most common reasons (barriers, excuses, alibis, etc.) for not exercising, is lack of time. Clients often tell me that they wanted or planned to exercise, but then got too busy or just didn’t have enough time.
Here are two ways to hopefully make exercising seem more attainable, even on your busiest days.
1. Multitask with movement
Multitasking with movement means to look at the tasks or activities you have planned for the day, and then think about how you could combine some sort of movement with them.
For example:
If you have a phone call to make, you might pace back and forth or walk while talking on the phone.
If you plan to watch TV, you could add a few minutes of movement in during a show or commercial break.
If you are going to the store, you might park further away from the entrance and walk a lap around the store before starting to shop.
If you are meeting a friend for coffee, you could walk and talk with your beverages instead of sitting.
If you plan to make a meal or heat up food, you might do a few squats while waiting for your food to cook.
Multitasking is about taking advantage of the time you already have set aside for something else and sneaking in some movement. That way you don’t have to find extra time in an already busy day.
2. Break up your exercise
The second way to make exercising more attainable when you are busy, is to break up an exercise session.
Let’s say you planned to walk for 30 minutes, but it feels like too much. You could actually split that exercise session up into smaller increments.
For example, you could:
Take (2) 15-minute walks.
Take (3) 10-minute walks.
Your total exercise time will still be 30 minutes, but taking shorter walks throughout the day might be a more realistic way to get there.
When it comes to your day, you are the only person who knows what you have planned, what type of movement you could incorporate, or how you might break up an exercise session.
Forget about rigid “rules”
When it comes to exercise, forget about any “rules” you have heard or read about, such as:
The time of day you “should” exercise.
How long you are “supposed” to exercise.
The “best” exercise for weight loss or any other goal.
Instead, think about creating a lifestyle of movement in a way that works for you. Focus on building a habit of choosing to move when you can, instead of building or reinforcing a habit of choosing not to move.
Take a minute to brainstorm a few ways you could incorporate extra movement into your day. Be creative, and know that any and all movement will add up and make a difference.