When I first got into health and fitness, I was a full-time Psychology student taking 20+ upper division units a quarter. I also had a 100 hour internship. My days were filled to the brim with papers, studying and classes. I remember so many mornings wanting to sleep through my alarm and skip the whole healthy breakfast and gym thing. But my health and fitness had become a priority to me. I treated it just like one of my courses… not to be missed. So I would drag my booty out of bed and hit the weights. Over time, it became easier and easier for me to manage my time… I MADE the time for my workouts and healthy cooking. Not only did I manage to get all of my workouts in, I also managed to get a 4.0 every quarter. (Which is a miracle considering I had to take a couple statistics courses… I am terrible at math! haha).
Whether you are a full-time student, have a full-time job and/or have kids… there are always ways to fit more exercise into your day! It’s easy to say we “don’t have time” and simply accept that. But we make time for what is important to us. Here are some easy ways to fit more exercise into your day, no matter how busy you may be:
1) Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier. I know waking up early can be a drag. But a 30 minute workout in the a.m. can boost energy throughout the day and elevate your mood (hello endorphins!). Try to get to bed earlier so you don’t cut down on your sleep-time!
2) Don’t take the shortcuts. Instead of hunting for the absolute closest parking spot, park at the other end of the lot. (Obviously this isn’t a wise decision at night, be safe). Instead of waiting for the elevator or cruising up the escalator, take the stairs! Adding extra exercise like this throughout the day causes you to burn more calories!
3) If you sit at a desk all day, stand up and stretch! Excessive sitting can actually cause a variety of health problems. You can combat this by moving often. Stand up and stretch at regular intervals. Dance around, get moving!
4) If your job, school or errands aren’t an extremely far commute, leave the car at home! Biking, walking or running to school or work is a great way to fit more cardio into your day. If you have an office job, take your work clothes in a backpack and change when you arrive. That way they don’t get dirty!
5) Use your lunch break or time between classes for more than just eating and hanging out. Sneaking in a quick workout during your break is a great way to boost your activity level for the day… not to mention it helps break up the monotony of an office job and classes! If your work or school doesn’t have a gym, take it outside… or use your cubicle or dorm room! Keep some dumbbells or a stability ball nearby to fit in some different exercises when you get the chance!
6) Instead of forking out tons of cash for a babysitter, invest in a jogging stroller! That way you can take your babes with you while you get your exercise in! There are a lot of fun “mommy and me” workouts on YouTube as well! Get creative and get your kids to participate! You will not only be spending more time with them, you will be exposing them to a healthy lifestyle at a young age. (Great role model!)
7) Use TV as your motivation! Netflix and cable can be addicting, I admit it. It’s all too easy to plop down on the couch and spend hours vegging out. Instead of being a couch potato, turn your favorite shows into workouts of their own! In college, we would turn TV shows into drinking games quite easily. “When Phoebe says something silly to Chandler, drink!”. The same can be done for exercise! (Just substitute the booze for push-ups or crunches). During commercial breaks, do some push-ups, crunches, squats… whatever you want to get moving!
Remember, we make time for what is important to us in life. Make your health and fitness a priority… you’re worth it! =)
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