“I don’t have time” is the go-to excuse for skipping the gym. We understand that work, family and social commitments make it difficult to incorporate a workout into your everyday life. If your schedule just doesn’t allow for weekly exercise classes, long bike rides or personal training sessions, don’t stress – we’ve put together a few life hacks that will help you make time for physical activity.
When time is of the essence, the easiest strategy is to break down your exercise into short, frequent stints during the day. Even 10 minutes, two to three times a day, can be enough to achieve the significant health benefits of physical activity. Once you’ve broken down your daily workout into easy, achievable time slots, you’ve opened up a world of exercise that doesn’t include an hour of cardio. Here are a few of our favorite low-level fitness hacks:
- Walk whenever you can. Take the stairs, park your car at the farthest end of the office lot, or pace while you’re talking on your cell phone.
- If you watch the news or a specific show, plan a workout that fits precisely into that time slot. It doesn’t need to be intense, but reduce the amount of idle time you spend sitting in front of the television. Sit-ups, jumping jacks, push-ups and lunges are all easy exercises to start with that don’t require equipment.
- Try some deskercise! While working out in your cubicle/office may feel pretty silly, you can actually get decent exercise with just a desk and a chair. We have a list of discreet moves for you to start with, just in case you’re self-conscious about your coworkers.
- Multitask! You’d be surprised at the amount of physical activity you can add to your day by just being conscious of the opportunities. Try doing a few lunges while you cook, or pacing the house while rocking the baby to sleep. Bring the groceries in one bag at a time. Get off the subway one stop earlier and walk home, or wash your car yourself instead of driving it to the gas station.
- Utilize your work breaks! Take 10 minutes a day to walk up and down the stairs, take a stroll around the office building or walk to lunch.
One of the best ways we’ve found ‘extra’ time in our day for exercise is with Timeful, a time assistance app that blends your calendar, to-do list and “habits,” which are defined as good practices you want to develop. Whether it’s working out, reading or studying a foreign language, you’re able to enter those goals and advanced algorithms will suggest the best time to fit them into your schedule. As you use it, Timeful gets to know you and continues to adapt and build a better schedule.
“Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away.” – Charles Caleb Colton
How do YOU incorporate exercise in your busy schedule? Tell us below!
