Life can certainly get busy on a day-to-day basis. Going to school full time, working full time, raising a family or taking care of family members.. it can be overwhelming, and leave you feeling tired and defeated by the end of the day. The last thing on your mind may be exercise, but what if I told you that including exercise in your daily routine can help shape your life, and help you feel more energized during the day? Even a small amount of exercise can have a positive impact on your physical and mental health. It is so important to make time for it! These tips will help you incorporate exercise into your daily routine without eating into your free time.
If you are trying out a new exercise, it is extremely important to do it safely to avoid injury. Avoid overworking yourself, and try to start small and work your way up to harder exercises. Consistency is key!
1. Engage in Walking or Cycling
Do you feel like you rarely have the time to engage in a walk, especially if your work or school is far away and you have a long commute? What may help is parking farther away in the parking lot at the office, or take the stairs in school instead of the elevator. This way, adding that extra walk in every day will not impact your time as much. Walking can be an enjoyable way to unwind, and it helps get your body moving at the same time!
2. Exercise on Your Break
It may be unrealistic for some, but exercising on your lunch break is a great fitness hack! Eating should be your prime concern at lunch, but you may be able to split your time into halves and use the first half to walk, jog, or even do some stretching. Engaging in any kind of movement will be beneficial! If you spend most of the work day sitting at a desk, it is important to get up and move your body frequently. It does not always have to be for very long, what is most important to focus on is moving your muscles and body, which then increases your heart rate.
3. Incorporate Exercise into your Daily Routine
There are countless ways that you can incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or getting off the elevator a couple of floors early and take the stairs for the rest of the way. Maybe use the bathroom at the far end of the building instead of the one most convenient and close. You can also take your dog for extended walks to help increase the amount of time that you are active for.
4. Yoga
It is important to find an exercise that you enjoy doing. This helps you relax and it makes it simpler for you to allow time for it. Yoga is a great example because you are able to perform it at home with limited equipment, and it can help wind you down. There are plenty of videos and resources available online that can walk you through yoga routines, no matter your fitness level.
5. Dancing
Dancing is an enjoyable and unchallenging way to exercise! If you are driving to work, dancing in your seat gets you moving and makes your commute that more entertaining. Dancing at home, out with friends, at a wedding is a great way to move your body and increase your heart rate all the while enjoying yourself!
6. Utilizing Physical Education
If you are a student, physical education (P.E.) is an exceptional way to exercise properly and on a regular basis, since it is programmed in your school schedule. You have the chance to enhance your fitness levels, while being educated by a trained fitness professional. This way you can learn how to do certain movements correctly, without risk of injury. The importance of P.E is to push yourself to be more active, and to perform the movements accurately.
7. Taking Advantage of Wait Times
There will be times while we are at home when we are waiting for something like laundry to finish, the water to boil or for dinner to finish cooking in the oven. During these down times, you can take advantage of the moment to perform exercises to help get you moving. Squat in the kitchen while waiting for the pot of water to boil, do calf raises in front of the dryer while waiting for it to finish. Exercising for small periods throughout the day can be an effective way of being active without feeling that you have to execute a lot of your free time to it.
8. Exercise First Thing
If you have a hectic and busy daily routine, a useful way to fit in exercise is to do it in the morning. If you set your alarm for 30 minutes earlier than you normally do, it can give you time to go for a quick walk, jog, or circuit exercise before getting ready for work. By exercising during a time that you would normally be asleep, you can get active without feeling that it is taking any time away.
If you feel like you don’t have time to exercise and take care of yourself, believe me, you are not alone. Life fills up fast and our time is limited. Being mindful of how you spend your time with daily tasks and each step will add up! Soon you will be waking up feeling refreshed, and will feel empowered while seeing your reflection smile back at you.
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