Exercise is worth making time for, but I’ve been there and I know sometimes it’s not likely to happen — at least not on a regular basis. There are hectic, crazy times in life when it’s a struggle to get even the basic things done, or when we could probably find the time but the brain power is lacking due to feeling overwhelmed.
Please don’t let that become an excuse to skip exercise entirely!
Regular exercise does more than get your heart pumping and help you stay at a healthy weight. It’s also essential to help keep your stress levels down, and it helps you sleep better at night, which are both extra important when you’re in a busy or overwhelmed period of life.
When you don’t have time to exercise…
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Use a push mower instead of a ride-on.
- Go for a walk during your lunch hour.
Bonus: Time outdoors can help your mood and boost your productivity, too! - Put the baby in a stroller and stroll during nap time, or anytime!
- Vacuum the house a little more enthusiastically than usual.
- Tackle the weeds in the flower bed.
- Do jumping jacks (or walk briskly) at the sidelines for your child’s game.
- Take your dog for a walk. Try a longer route than usual.
- Do squats and lunges while you’re cooking dinner.
- Bring the grocery bags in one at a time.
- Bounce on the trampoline with the kids.
(Remember: a good belly laugh works those abs!) - Put on some music and dance! Right there, wherever you are.
Fitness doesn’t have to be a chore. If you’re not in a regular routine right now, start by simply adding more activity into your days. Eventually, get more intentional about it, and you’ll begin to see what a change it can bring to your life.
If you’ve fallen out of a regular fitness routine, that’s okay. You can get back into it and if you had the habit once upon a time, it’ll be easier to do it again. Find a friend with similar goals to be accountable with, or try some new fitness activity you’ve never done before to keep it feeling fun.
Take the advice of 87-year-old Claire in my active seniors fitness class: just keep moving!
Owner/Coach. Powered by tea, books, & sunshine. I help people build stronger, more resilient bodies — because fitness isn’t as much about what we do in the gym as what it helps us do beyond the gym.