We all know that working out and eating right is good for us, but it can be challenging to squeeze fitness into our busy lives. Whether you have a tough work schedule, rigorous academic calendar, or energetic children demanding your time, you may be wondering how you can even find the time to be fit. Since working out is so vital to our wellbeing, however, it is important to find a way to work around life and make it a part of your routine. Here are five time-saving fitness tips to help you get started.
Start small and be consistent.
If you are strapped for time, you should first make small goals. Set your alarm 20 minutes earlier than you would normally wake up and do a short exercise routine. By being consistent with the small things, you can later increase to longer and more intense workouts. Over time you will gain confidence and make working out a healthy habit.
Enjoy the outdoors with others.
Integrating fitness into a social activity like hiking, jogging, or biking can be another way to get fit when on a tight schedule. In this manner, you can make your free time more efficient by having it double as time with friends. You can also go on a family walk after dinner to stay active while also spending time with your spouse and children.
Work out while on the job.
Whether you are at an office or at home with the kids, you can squeeze in a quick routine during your lunch break or during a naptime. You can also try desk yoga anytime you start to feel restless from sitting at your computer for too long. Using a standing desk can also be an option that offsets the many negative effects of sitting still for too long.
Order meal subscriptions.
Busy people often eat out or order fast food due to convenience and time. However, instead of getting calorie-packed takeouts that will make you feel sluggish, hop on board a meal delivery service like Blue Apron or Home Chef. Through this kind of service, you can skip the lines at the grocery store and have perfectly portioned ingredients ready for a fresh home-cooked meal.
Get accountability.
Often when we think we have “no time” to work out, there is something else taking up our time. Social media is a common offender in gobbling up our free time. Having a friend or fitness tracker device that motivates you to be intentional about your goals can help you stay focused. Remember: if you have 30 minutes to look at your news feed, you definitely have 15 minutes to work out.
