Time management is a frustrating part of managing life and one of the most challenging parts is actually creating a fitness routine.
After all, we have busy schedules, and it’s tough to make time for workouts. Even when we schedule workouts, it can feel challenging to stick to a workout calendar without other things getting in the way. It can also be tough to break through your personal barriers and make fitness a priority.
In this blog, we’ll discuss why it’s so essential to develop a regular exercise schedule and how to make time for workouts when you have no time.
Let’s dive in.
Why A Regular Exercise Schedule Is So Important
Physical activity is most beneficial when it’s part of a healthy routine.
Exercise has many benefits:
- Delivers oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and tissues.
- Promotes more efficient cardiovascular function.
- Helps your heart and lungs function as well as possible.
- Gives you more energy to tackle your daily to-do list.
- Enjoy all the fun things your life offers.
Those benefits are most pronounced, though, when you exercise routinely. It’s tough to reap any of the benefits of exercise if you only do it sporadically. That’s why maintaining a regular exercise schedule matters so much and why it’s so crucial to your overall health.
How Often Should You Exercise?
If you want to develop an exercise routine, start with a goal and work backward from there.
Today, the CDC recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle-strengthening activity each week.
Going beyond 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity offers even more health benefits.
8 Ways to Make Time For Exercise With A Busy Schedule
Do you find yourself struggling to work out with your busy schedule? Here are a few tips that can help:
1. Keep Your Workout Clothes Handy
The easiest way to motivate yourself to work out is to make it as easy as possible.
Keep your workout clothes handy at all times, toting them around in a bag in your car, or investing in a locker at the gym, where you can keep a week’s worth of clothes at a time.
That way, it’s easier to work out wherever you are and however your day has gone.
2. Schedule Workouts And Make An Appointment Just Like Meetings
We all make time for various things: meetings, calls, and appointments. So, why not workouts?
If you’re struggling to fit working out into a busy schedule, try scheduling your workouts like you schedule your meetings.
Put them on your calendar, schedule your day around them, and prioritize them just like you do anything else.
3. Get Fit With Your Family
If you’ve kids or grandkids in activities, why not use their sweat time to get your own?
Take a walk at a local park. Pack your sneakers and do a quick out-and-back from the hockey rink, or pop next door for a yoga class while the youngest heads to ballet.
While it takes some extra energy to plan these activities, it’s a great way to multitask your fitness.
4. Make Sure Your Gym Is Convenient
If you join a gym, make sure it’s as convenient as possible for your life and purposes.
You’re less likely to make it to the gym if it’s an hour out of your way, so it’s essential to find a gym that’s easy to get to and fits in well with your daily schedule.
Bonus points for finding a gym that’s close to your home or work or that offers workout classes that suit your schedule.
5. Make Fitness Social With A Friend Or Small Group
Make your fitness efforts social. Sign up for a class with a friend, get your spouse to join you for a run, or try something new in a small group setting. Small group personal training is a good non-intimidating option because the atmosphere becomes more like a small tribe. Small groups provide more personal support, motivation, and accountability from within the group, as well as from the coach. Not only will you be able to fit more workouts into your daily life, but you’ll have more fun doing it.
6. Make Sure Your Schedule Is Reasonable
You’ll struggle to stick to your workout schedule if it’s too ambitious. For example, if you’re trying to work out seven days a week for four hours a day, it’s likely that the schedule will quickly become too much for you.
With this in mind, be realistic about your ideal workout schedule. Make sure it fits your life, your goals, and your priorities. Bonus points for making it enjoyable!
7. Start Earlier
The days tend to get busier as they go on, and it may be challenging to find time to squeeze in a workout if you leave it until the late afternoon or evening.
With this in mind, consider prioritizing your workout for the morning, when there are fewer distractions and demands on your time.
Not only will you be able to squeeze in a better workout, but you’ll head into your day feeling accomplished and already having checked off a large to-do.
8. Break Up Activity
Instead of going for long, continuous workouts throughout the day, try for small bursts. Go for a 20-minute walk in the morning, then fit in another 20-minute bodyweight workout at lunch. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Consider walking or biking (rather than driving) to work.
Prioritize Your Health And Fitness This Holiday Season
Finding time for fitness can be challenging, especially during the holidays.
Fortunately, you can make time for yourself and prioritize your fitness this holiday season by getting intentional about how you schedule and plan your workouts.
At the end of the day, we all have time to work out, even if it’s just small bursts of physical activity throughout our other daily activities. Utilize these time management tricks to stay in shape!
At Alloy Personal Training, we love to help people realize their fitness goals. We pride ourselves on offering personalized fitness prescriptions in a small group setting. We make fitness accessible and convenient to fit your schedule and help you achieve your fitness goals.
Ready to learn more? Find a location near you today!
