How to Tone-Up on
a Tight Schedule

For many of us, how well we manage our health and fitness is directly related to how well we manage our time.  Time management strategies allow us to focus on the activities that are most important to us, making them a priority in our busy daily schedules.

When it comes to exercise, a lack of time is one of the main reasons people say they don’t get the hour per day of physical activity recommended by The National Academy of Sciences.  Yet, it’s not difficult to take a step back and recognize there are a lot of “time wasters” in our average daily routine . . . whether it’s chatting on the phone, keeping up via social media, or watching television.

If you’re determined to make exercise a priority in your life, start by finding ways to incorporate it into your day.  It’s not always about finding time for an hour-long workout; sometimes the little things you do can add up to produce a big payoff.  For example, try walking to your destination instead of driving, taking the stairs rather than the elevator, or doing several 10-minute bursts of activity throughout the day.

Keep in mind that there are plenty of things you can do in a short period of time that don’t cost any money, such as:

• Try a 10-minute power walk outdoors, or if the weather isn’t ideal, then 10 minutes of marching or stair climbing indoors.
• Follow with 20 leg lunges, 20 push-ups, 20 squats and then repeat this sequence twice (15 minutes).  These exercises work multiple muscle groups so that you are getting the most out of your time.  Best of all, they don’t require specialized equipment because you’re using your own body weight as resistance.
• Spend five minutes stretching (top to bottom).  This will also ease the stress and tension that can accumulate in your muscles.

Once you find the time to exercise, be sure to follow through.  It’s easy to find excuses and put exercise off until later, but then somehow “later” never comes.  Commit to a regular schedule of exercise and physical activity.  You’ll be glad you did!

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