Ways to incorporate exercise into a busy lifestyle
To get anywhere in life, you need to work hard and give it your all. However, at what point can you consider working hard to be a little bit too hard? The simplest answer would be – when you don’t have time to dedicate for your physical health. Taking care of your body and being physically active is a crucial part of everyday life and it can influence your health in significant ways.
“Being busy” shouldn’t be an excuse to neglect your body. After all, you need all that physical activity in order to function properly. There’s no use separating physical and mental health when they’re effectively intertwined. When you’re busy with the kids, with work, and with your own hobbies, it can be hard to find the time for working out, but it’s not an impossible task. Here are some ways you can get your daily dose of healthy workouts without losing too much time out of your jam-packed schedule.
1. Commit to an appointment
Organizing your schedule is a big part of being able to fit exercise into your busy day. If you take the time to set aside an hour or two per week in advance, you can be sure that it won’t take away from anything else you plan on doing.
When it comes to something as regular as working out, sticking to your schedule is crucial. As busy as you might be, nobody works twenty-four seven nonstop. You should take a look at your schedule and find an opening that allows you to get sweaty and exercise without being under pressure. Once you’re sure that you’ve found the right time, commit to it and you are sure to get some positive results.
2. Make it relaxing
One of the biggest hurdles people have when starting to workout is the fact that exercise is tiring. You might skip out on a workout if you’ve had a particularly difficult day or you aren’t in the mood because you’re too stressed to focus. On the other hand, the relaxing aspects of working out don’t kick in until you’ve had your fair share of workouts. Before you can form a routine, how do you let off a little bit of steam?
Instead of starting out with exercises that get you worked up, you can try some more relaxing ways to get your daily dose of healthy movements. Yoga is a staple of modern fitness and athleticism. Those who are too busy to go for a run or hit the gym will often opt for Yoga instead, to keep them relaxed after a long and busy day. It doesn’t take up a lot of your time and you can count on the workout to be satisfying and relaxing as can be. Stretching also releases lots of endorphins which will make you feel brand new and the workout will be a treat. The physical bonuses you get are just the icing on the cake.
3. Play fetch with your dog
Dogs are a near never-ending source of playfulness and physical activity. Their enthusiasm knows no bounds and you can be sure that playing with them is going to give you a workout. When they aren’t lounging around in the sun or barking at passerby, they are probably in the mood for some fetch.
Your little workout buddy will always be happy to oblige your request to play. If you don’t think that the yard is large enough for you to enjoy some quality time with your pooch, try playing with them when you go out for a walk. Even a brisk walk through the park with a chew toy can end up being a fun physical activity.
4. Make use of that lunch break
Lunch breaks are an essential part of the workday. People aren’t machines and they can’t just work eight or nine hours a day without stopping. Fatigue is quick to set in and productivity drops after only a couple of hours of work. Whether you work in a busy office or from the comfort of your own home, you can be sure that a lunch break will do you a lot of good. However, what if you could make that lunch break even more effective, without it having to be a break at all?
Working out during your lunch break has been shown to be a very effective way to get proper rest from work. Even as little as half an hour of light physical activity allows you to feel refreshed and ready to take on some new work challenges. Going out for a run or even walking around the block in the warm sun can really set your mind straight and allow you to relax. If you want some intensity or stretching in your routine, look around and try to find a gym that incorporates “lunch-time” classes for busy people. It’s a great way to get your daily fill of exercise while also not losing out on any productive time.
5. Play sports
When you’re busy at work and at home, you can be sure that your social life will suffer. If you can’t take the time to enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea with one or two of your friends, how will you maintain relationships with everyone else? Add exercise to the equation and you can be sure that you won’t have coffee dates any time soon. However, you can combine these things into one wholesome activity.
Playing sports with your friends is a great way to stay close and have some fun. These sports can take any form. You don’t have to be particularly fit to participate in any of them, so no one should feel left out. Anything from throwing Frisbees to playing golf could be a fun way to spend some time together. You could even go for a swim at the pool and then lounge around in the sun.
6. Switch up your commute
Getting to work can be a real drain on your schedule. The best jobs aren’t always in the area and that’s why a lot of people look elsewhere for job opportunities. Not everyone ends up working close to their own residence, which means that a long commute is inevitable. Getting someplace with the help of your car is relatively fast, but it costs you gas money and precious time that could be spent on a number of other things.
Instead of hitting the road with the help of your car, you should consider riding a bicycle to work. It might seem like an unusual trade, but you would be surprised at the benefits it provides. Not only do you get a hefty workout that will leave you feeling energized right before you get to work, but you also might actually shave some time off of your long commute.
Commutes aren’t just held back by distance, there are also traffic jams to consider. They can last a long while and you can lose time and patience while pointlessly sitting in your car. Taking a ride to work is a much more refreshing and fun experience that will give you the energy you need. Choosing the right one, from the numerous types of bicycles, is all you need to do. In that way you can get around and handle your town.
7. Take a trip to the pool
In today’s busy world, nobody has time to schedule all of their required workouts. It’s hard enough finding the time to work out at all, let alone being able to incorporate every individual muscle group in a day’s workout. Covering all of your bases seems nearly impossible, but it’s a requirement for having a well-balanced body and gaining any kind of muscle mass. If only there were a way to combine all of those necessary physical activities into one short and worthwhile workout. Strangely enough, there is something that you can try – swimming.
Swimming isn’t just for professional athletes, in fact, it’s doable by just about anyone. You don’t have to be Michael Phelps to get the most use out of a public pool. Swimming works out every major muscle group and gives you a perfectly balanced workout no matter what you do. You don’t even have to come up with a workout plan. Stick to your favourite way of swimming and you will get lean and healthy in no time at all. Shake things up with a new style of swimming every once in a while and you’re pretty much guaranteed to get everything that you needed from an hour or hour and a half of swimming.
Conclusion
Hardly anyone exercises as much as they should. It’s a difficult task that requires a bit of your time and dedication. However, anyone that works out regularly knows that it’s an activity that completes your day and leaves you feeling healthier and more fulfilled. If you can’t find the time to work out on your own, try some of these ideas and you’re sure to end up with wonderful results.
Written by Lena Hemsworth
This article is a contribution of Lena Hemsworth
About the author
Lena Hemsworth is a lifestyle blogger, foodie, and lover of a good book. She’s also a strong believer in the written word and positive thoughts.
