It seems like we’re all too busy these days. With jobs demanding overtime (and a recession that ensures people are willing to go the extra mile to keep a steady paycheck), kids that need to be ferried to school, activities, and play dates, and a slew of household related errands to be run (not to mention traffic to contend with), it’s no surprise that most of us can’t find even a minute to squeeze in some much-needed exercise. However, with your
secretary spread reaching a frightening girth and a bout of wheezing arising from any trip up a flight of stairs, you’re beginning to think that maybe it’s time to incorporate at least a minimal workout into your daily routine. Luckily, there are all kinds of ways to get the exercise you need without upsetting your busy schedule. Here are just a few options that can put you on the fast track for better health and fitness while you carry on your demanding lifestyle.
1. Prioritize. Before you try to incorporate any exercise into your schedule, first resolve to make fitness a priority in your life. To this end, figure out the best time of day for a mini-workout (is it at home before you begin your day, during a break at work, or after the kids have gone to bed?). Then pencil it in so you have it set in your mind as a concrete plan. And you’ll probably find that over time, you’re able to squeeze in more than the 10-15 minute block you start with.
2. 2-minute workouts. This sounds great, right? Only two minutes of crunches, squats, or running it place? There’s no way you can say you don’t have time for that! Actually, this is pretty great, with the caveat that you have to do it 6-8 times a day. A busy schedule that has you running around quite a bit could make this routine more difficult, but you simply can’t make the argument that taking 2 minutes here and there is impossible. The trick, again, is to pencil in your two minutes every couple hours or set yourself a reminder.
3. 10-minute workouts. These are better than their 2-minute counterparts, although the idea is much the same. Instead of doing 2 minutes worth of abs, glutes, cardio, and so on, you’ll expand your set to ten minutes (2-3 times a day). Of course, you’ll probably want to write down a slate of exercises to carry out in 1-2 minute intervals since you may hurt yourself if you try to do the same thing for 10 straight minutes. But by talking to your physician or looking online, you can find plenty of variations on the standard fare to incorporate into your routine.
4. Chair exercises. If you work in an office, you don’t need to keep weights handy. Instead, you can sit and work out at the same time by using your own body weight. Leg and arm raises, stretches, twists, and reverse push-ups (plant hands on chair, scoot butt off the edge, and slowly lower and lift your body), can all offer ways to tone muscles and burn a few calories while you take a short break.
5. Walking while working. If you have a lot of phone calls to make, why not switch on your smart phone and take a walk around the block? Use your daily banter as an excuse to get some fresh air and burn calories and you’ll find that your lung and cardiac functions improve as you begin to get fit on the clock. Even better, get the whole family involved by turning off the tube and taking an evening walk down to the park to shoot a few hoops or toss the old pigskin.
Sarah Danielson is a writer for Pick Up Artist where you can find great tips and advice on dating.
