We live in a crazy world where a 30-hour day is not enough to take care of our responsibilities at home, at work, in the family and our community. Where is the time to exercise?
While there is ample evidence showing the significant benefits of working out, we rarely have the time to make it a priority. But we need to exercise no matter how heavy our workload or busy our lives. If you are wondering how to squeeze some workout time into your already crowded life, here are some tips to help you move more.
Infuse Fitness into Your Work Life
You can increase your workouts by incorporating exercise into your daily routine at work. You can do some aerobic activity by parking farther away from your office entrance so you can walk the rest of the distance to your workplace. You can also turn commuting to a workout by getting off the bus one or two stops away and trek the rest of the way to your office or home. Stair climbing is also a powerful cardio exercise, so try to skip the elevator most of the time, even if it’s for two or three floors. Also, walk the escalator, don’t ride it.
Incorporate Exercise into Home Time
There are many ways to increase your workout at home. You could march or jog in place while your favourite TV show is playing. If you don’t feel like lifting or running, you could walk to the grocery store to pick up some items for your pantry. You can also walk your pooch for a mile or two, and both of you will be glad you did.
If you have kids, you could put your toddler in a stroller and go for a brisk walk in the neighbourhood. School-aged children and preschoolers are fun to play with, and you can make them move more with plays, bike rides, etc. You could also take your kids for a brisk walk in the neighbourhood, especially during the warm summer months.
Focus On the Benefits of Working Out
You can motivate yourself to workout more if you keep your mind on the many benefits of working out. Exercise can help you lose weight, build muscles and increase strength, maintain healthy bones, relieve stress, boost immune function, and promote quality sleep and mood. All these benefits will improve your health and quality of life and help you perform at the highest level. Why would you want to excuse your way out of all these benefits?
Move Whenever You Can
If you are waiting in line for some service, take the opportunity to walk around the place until it gets to your turn. You can go to the mall even when you don’t have the intention of buying anything. Move around, window shop, check out new products. While on the phone, keep moving. When cooking, move about the kitchen. Whatever you do, keep moving.
There are many ways to get more workout out of your life. It could be going out of the office for lunch, taking the family dog for a walk down the street, or ditching the elevator for the stairs. Start looking at your routine, and you will find many opportunities to move more.
