A lot of us get so caught up with our day-to-day schedules that making time for exercise is something that we tend to struggle with from time to time. Let’s face it. It can sometimes be difficult to juggle different responsibilities and cope up with the demands of everyday life. So if you’re on the same page like I do and you feel like you don’t have time to exercise and stay in shape, then keep reading this article to help you stay fit despite your jam-packed schedule.
1. Take the stairs
If you’re always taking the elevator instead of using the stairs then it’s about time that you change this bad habit. Opting to use the stairs is a good way to squeeze in some exercise and help improve your heart health.
If your office or classroom is on the 5th floor or located on higher floors then that’s still not an excuse to use the elevator all throughout. You can still climb those steps by taking the elevator and choosing to go down a couple of floors before your designated floor and then using the stairs from there. If you do this every day then you’ll be able to reap the cardiovascular benefits of stair-climbing. But if you’re feeling extra then you can also take multiple up and down stair trips at a moderate pace to boost your adrenaline even more.
2. Park away or get off your destination one stop early
If you own a car and you usually park within office spaces or some nearby parking lots then do yourself a favor and choose the park farther away. If you’re serious about wanting to add physical activity in your daily routine then a 10 or 20-minute walk to the office wouldn’t hurt. However, if you don’t have a car then you can just get off the train, bus stop or subway one stop early during your daily commute. Doing this will also help you get more steps and make you more physically active as you walk your way to your destination.
3. Walk and talk
One of the things that you can do to move your body even though you’re busy is to walk while talking to someone on the phone. You will be able to burn extra calories at the office despite being glued to your phone by doing this. Talking while walking is a nice way to add extra movement that your body will benefit from so do this instead of being glued to your chair.
4. Stretch and exercise while waiting in any line
Sometimes it’s hard not to feel agitated while waiting to get what we need or want, right? Whether it’s waiting for our turn to pay for our groceries or standing in line to order our favorite coffee.. There will be times when we can’t help but get quite annoyed especially if we have to wait longer than usual.Instead of feeling pissed about the whole waiting game, keep your cool and use this time to sneak in some exercise. Before your mood gets ruined, squeeze in a number of stretches, some shoulder rolls, abdominal flexes or even do a few standing calf raises.
Always remember that finding ways to exert movement even for a short period of time is better than nothing at all. Don't mind what other people will think of you because you’re doing it for yourself and not for them anyway.
There’s a saying that “Where there’s a will, there’s a way!” and if you’re really determined to add some form of exercise despite your busy schedule then you’ll definitely find a way to make it happen. The “I don’t have time to workout” remark is a pretty lame excuse to be honest because if you really want to do something, you’re going to find opportunities to move your body regardless of everything that’s going on in your life.