How to Fit Exercise into a Busy Schedule
One of the most common reasons why some people don’t exercise at all is that they “just couldn’t find the time” to exercise. Having “no time” is a very convenient excuse you can make not to exercise, but you’ll have to pay the price with an unhealthy body prone to disease and injury. Here are some ways that you can maintain a healthy workout routine even if you don’t have hours to spend in a gym.
Set Aside 30 Minutes
Even the busiest people have more idle time than they think they do. No matter how busy you are, you’ll always find some time to relax and a lot of time to exercise. Time-management is very important if you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle despite your hectic schedule.
Half an hour each day is all you need to keep your body fit and trim. While 30 minutes will not give you the well-defined arm muscles and washboard abdominals you’ve always dreamed of, you can still maintain a healthy form to your body:
Cross-training is a form of exercise that combines all parts of a full exercise routine into one easy routine. Remember that cross-training is not a substitute for a gym workout. Cross-training is usually accomplished through an all-in-one exercise machine.
Aerobic and endurance training. If you’re not after a total body workout, but you want to feel fit and trim for the tasks and jobs you have to do, you can try aerobic and endurance routines. They do not take up as much time and effort as a full gym routine, and you can always find 15-20 minutes of time to do simple exercises like leg raises, stretches, or even a brisk jog around the block.
Schedule Your Exercises
Unless you work for an industry or business where you’re on call 24 hours a day for seven days a week, you’ll always have a free day, or some hours every week, to have some exercise. Like you do your tasks at home or at work, you can schedule your exercise routines to maximize every step on your road to peak physical fitness and conditioning.
Find a Free Day
Weekend exercises can help improve your overall physical health. Take some time out for a brisk morning jog, or a few minutes on the treadmill. You can also use exercise time to bond with friends, or spend some time with your family. Here are other ideas you can use to fit exercise with rest and relaxation:
Swimming and beach trips
Hiking and camping trips
Video games that involve physical activity (like dance pads and body sensors)
Maintain a Regular Schedule
Having very little time for exercise is bad enough, but you still need to keep a regular schedule to get the best benefits out of your exercise routines. If you exercise for 15 minutes every day, or for 30 minutes thrice a week, you should maintain that pattern to keep yourself fit, trim, and healthy. Exercise then becomes easy if you have already established a pattern for your workout.
Exercise doesn’t have to take a back seat to everything you do. With these tips and steps, you can keep a fit and active body even if you don’t have much time for a complete gym workout.