Setting aside time for exercise is important for your mental and physical
health but many of us find it impossible to prioritize fitness over other
commitments. Finding the time for fitness can seem impossible. But it
can be done even if you have a busy life and endless things to do; you
can and should find time for exercise. Here’s how you can fit physical
activity into your everyday life.
How to Get Fit at Home
Make the most of every opportunity you have to be active as part of your
everyday life.
- Make doing the chores a workout. You burn calories when you clean the house
and rake the yard – try to get the tasks done as quickly as possible
for the maximum calorie-burning and muscle-using benefits.
- Don’t sit and vegetate when you watch TV. Do some sit-ups and lunges,
use dumbbells for an upper body workout or do some jumping jacks while
the ad breaks are on.
- Spend time with your family doing active things. You can take a hike together
on a sunny weekend morning, play soccer, go biking, or play in the park
with a ball. If you have a dog, make sure you take it for long walks every day.
- Get up earlier so you have time for fitness before the rest of the family
wakes up. You can fit in a quick run or do an exercise DVD in your living room.
Making Time for Fitness at Work
Work doesn’t have to mean sitting on a chair all day.
- Make your commute into a workout. Bike to work or take the bus then run
home from work. Or park your car a short distance from the office so you
need to walk the extra way to get there.
- Instead of taking a coffee break, get outside for a quick power-walk instead.
- Work out in your lunch hour. This is a great way to stay energized and
focused for the afternoon ahead.
- Take the stairs whenever you can. Walk to colleagues’ desks rather
than emailing or phoning.
More Fitness Tips
- Be social as well as active by meeting friends for a gym session, signing
up for a team sport, or biking and walking with your partner.
- Choose a gym with a crèche or childcare so you can fit in fitness
when you have a young family.