Is it hard to find the time to exercise? Life gets busy. Maybe you are balancing school and work or busy with your kids and other demands. Whatever it is that you have going on it can really be a challenge to find the time to exercise.
One solution I have come up with is changing your daily or weekly routines to add some extra steps or squeeze in a ten minute workout. Doing ten or fifteen minutes here and there can be easier than finding a longer consecutive block of time. Remember that doing something is better than nothing!
At the Office
If you are at the office all day, maybe you can take a walk on your lunch hour. Getting some fresh air, walking outside your office building for even ten minutes is better than nothing. You can also try desk exercises for stretching and strengthening. I recently read an article on webmd that has a ton of ideas to of what you can do at your desk (check out the article here). Taking a break and going for a brisk walk around the office or even doing some stretching at your desk, can be beneficial to both your body and mind.
Running Errands
There are a few things that I do on my errand run to get in a few extra steps. You have heard it before, and I do this every time, park at the end of the parking lot. I do this when I go to the grocery store or mall. Once inside the store or mall I power walk through the aisles. If there is a parking garage, take the stairs, not the elevator. When a department store has an elevator or escalator, I take the escalator and walk up or down it. Just getting your body moving and picking up your pace can help you feel better physically.
At School
Having been a student for a long time, I know what it is like to be busy in class or studying hours on end. Try power walking to your classes and not always taking the shorter route. Another great way to get some exercise if you are at school full-time is to take an exercise class. I did this almost every term, whether it was a yoga class or tennis class. What was great is that it forced me to take a break from cramming the books and get in some cardio.
With Your Kids
If you have really young kids, I suggest doing a short at-home gym workout when they are napping (for example, fifteen minute walk on the treadmill or twenty minute power yoga DVD). Or when they are awake and playing, try doing some sit-ups and push-ups on the floor next to them. While they are amused with a toy or show, do some light weights such as arm curls.
With your toddler, push him or her in a stroller around the neighborhood. When I was a full-time nanny, I would push the little boy in a stroller for his nap-time, and then I just kept on walking. I took care of him four or five days a week and would get in a least an hour walk each day.
I hope that you can use these ideas to find a way to change your routine and get some exercise in without even realizing it!
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Something Is Better Than Nothing
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