Trying to get fit while also balancing a busy schedule can be very difficult, but it is possible
Here are some thoughts on how to find the necessary balance
Many people often have the best intentions when it comes to exercise, but there never seems to be enough hours in the day. They start out strong and with great intentions, but quickly fade away after a few weeks.
There could be many things that might be standing in your way, such as a crazy work schedule, family commitments, other hobbies that appeal to you more than the gym, or a busy social life.
Heck, you might just be plain lazy.
However, as you know, exercise is important if you want to get fit and be healthy. Remember, you only get one body, so you want to make sure that you take good care of it.
Fitness is not just about looking or feeling good, it’s also about your long term quality of life. Do you want to just exist, or do you want to live a strong, vibrant life?
Unfortunately, less than 3% of Americans meet the basic qualifications of a healthy lifestyle.
So it is crucial that you figure out strategies of how to get fit and take care of your body while still being able to balance your daily responsibilities. Because, you know, life happens…
Pick a Flexible Workout, But Make Sure It’s One You Enjoy
If you are struggling to find the time to exercise, I recommend picking a workout you can perform almost anywhere. This will help with getting into the habit of training consistently.
This should be an exercise that requires next to no preparation, and not a huge time commitment either. It needs to be something that you don’t loathe, as doing it consistently is going to be extremely difficult if you absolutely hate the thought of doing it.
Some of the best ways to fit this into your lifestyle could be:
- Bodyweight Strength Training
- High Intensity Interval Training
- Bodyweight Circuits
- Shadow Boxing
- Running
There is a workout out there that can fit into your lifestyle. You just have to find it.
Create and Stick to a Schedule
It is important to make time to exercise. If you are in the majority of people who don’t really enjoy training, you won’t do it if you don’t make concrete time for it.
If you have a busy lifestyle, I would suggest that you sit down, identify the perfect time in your day for a workout and put it into your daily schedule.
Once you have identified the best times to exercise, you must ensure you stick to the schedule. Make the commitment small in the beginning and then stick to it until it becomes a habit.
Carve out 10 minutes of your day to train. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first thing you do after getting out of bed, or the last thing you do before your head hits the pillow, just find the time that works for you.
Once this becomes a habit, you will no longer require any willpower to do it, and you can increase the time you spend on your training.
Yes, you might have had a busy day, but you can’t keep making excuses or you will never workout.
Remember, exercise allows your body to produce feel-good endorphins, which can boost your mood and will provide you with more energy to face the day ahead.
Set Goals
Exercise is more than just a physical exercise, as you have to mentally push yourself during every workout. Try to do 1 more rep, do 1 more set, add a few more pounds to the bar, or decrease the time you rest in between your sets
If you want to get up off the couch and start embracing a healthier lifestyle, it might be beneficial to set goals.
Write down where you are right now and where you would like to be in terms of health and fitness.
For example, you could set a target weight, endurance level or the aim of participating in a sports event by the end of the year, such as a marathon or a mud run.
By setting goals, you can mentally prepare yourself to get fit.
Combined with the right nutritional strategies, there will be no stopping you.
Be Consistent
You might not always have time to perform a full workout. As I wrote in a previous post, sometimes perfection is the enemy of good. Overthinking things and trying to be perfect usually sets you up for failure.
The absolutely wrong approach is thinking that if you can’t do a 1 hour workout, then you might as well do nothing.
Ten minutes of exercise is better than no exercise at all.
If you don’t have much time, you can always crank up the intensity level to maximize your performance. Shorten your rest periods to increase the density of your workouts, or superset exercises to get more work done in a shorter amount of time.
You could even use the small time you have to focus on a neglected area of a workout, such as an exercise technique or strength issue.
The Takeaway
Fitness should never be an afterthought, it’s an extremely important aspect of your overall level of health and vitality.
All of the above tips can be a great way to embrace a more active lifestyle and benefit from all the various aspects of exercise, both mental and physical.
So, make time for exercise, set goals and be consistent with your routine.
Your body (and your mind) will thank you for it.
Interested to find out how I can help YOU achieve your fitness and fat loss goals while still living your life? Check out my 28 Day Fat Shredder Program which has helped hundreds of busy parents just like you shed pounds and pounds of ugly, oozing bodyfat while still enjoying the foods and beverage that they love…
