Finding Time for Exercise

Fitness is a way to celebrate and thank your body. It’s good for your physical wellbeing, your mental and emotional wellbeing, improves sleep and more. However, finding time to exercise isn't always easy, especially as seasonal routines change. 

If you are struggling to find time to exercise, here are some ways to help make it happen:  

1. Reframe it: instead of a chore, think of exercise as a privilege.  Whatever ways you can/do move, dwell on how great it is that you are capable of action. Think of all the ways it would affect your life if you could not exercise. 
   
   
2. Think of exercise as a key part of a healthy lifestyle, not just workouts. Make exercise a part of your life by noting fun active hobbies and scheduling in plenty of time for them in addition to working out. Think going out for a picnic with friends, gardening, a bird watching hike to the habitat of your favorite warbler, or ice skating. 
   
   
3. Make it fun! Get creative and center movement around something you enjoy, like taking a class, spending time with your favorite people, walking the dog, listening to a podcast or music that pumps you up.
   
   
4. Start small. Create tiny habits, knowing you can build on them over time. If you start with 5 minutes of exercise each day, in one year that is 1,825 minutes more than you would have done otherwise. But often, the hardest part is just starting and you may find your exercise pattern creeping into 10 minutes or more depending on the day. 
   
   
5. Track your progress. Keep an activity log or use a fitness app. Set very specific, measurable, achievable, relevant goals for yourself and take pride in every day that is accomplished.  Ensure that these are time bound, meaning that you choose when you reassess activities and when you would like to accomplish a goal by. Don't forget to reward yourself in a meaningful way each time you achieve a goal!
   
   
6. Be flexible and kind to yourself. Don’t let perfectionism take away from the successes you are achieving.  Remember, progress is very rarely linear.  
   
   
7. Do you know your “why"? How will your life be different if you remain consistent with exercise? Or take it a different direction, and sign up for a walk or run to support a cause that’s important to you.  Your exercise now benefits others, too!
   
   
8. Prepare your environment and reduce obstacles to exercise. For example, set clothes out the night before a morning workout. Leave a reminder on your phone, or a sticky note in the bathroom, and ready the coffee maker and a breakfast option the night before. What else would be helpful? A great workout plan, music to get you going while waking up. Knowing yourself is helpful in setting up your environment to encourage exercise.