Think it’s necessary to carve out two hours to go to the gym to work exercise into a routine? Think again!
No one is technically too busy for starting a fitness routine that can have a positive impact on health. Even when only 10 minutes a day can be spared, real results can be seen if a person sticks with the plan.
To get started when time is at a premium, consider opening the calendar and carving out just 10 minutes or 20 or 30, if possible. Schedule the time and stick with it. At the end of the day, consider if the brief change in plans impacted productivity. Chances are it won’t. Even a few minutes of exercise can, in fact, energize a person and increase overall productivity.
What Kinds of Exercises to Do
The key to sticking with an exercise plan – especially on a busy schedule – is to do something that’s relatively easy to accomplish and enjoyable. Here are some ideas for fast workouts that will at least get the habit of exercising built into the routine:
- Take it to the stairs – Even if the only time in the day for a workout is a 30-minute lunch break, consider carving a chunk of it out for some quick exercise. Grab the iPod, turn up the tunes and walk up and down the stairs at the office or at home. As fitness levels increase, consider upping the speed level or adding to the number of times flights are climbed.
- Move without going anywhere – Even 10 minutes of jogging in place while watching a favorite television show is better than getting no exercise at all. Turn down-time into exercise time by getting active in front of the tube.
- Just do anything – Getting up and moving – doing anything at all – is better than remaining seated. Find something that’s fun and just do it for 10 minutes or more.
When the simple facts are explored, it’s pretty clear that almost no one is “too busy to exercise.” Even working in a small amount of activity every day can have positive results.
