Exercise is one of the most beneficial activities you can do. It makes you fit and strong, benefits your mental health, and keeps you living for longer. Yet so many of us have busy lifestyles with hectic schedules that make it difficult to fit in a regular workout.
Plans change, meetings overrun, and deadlines creep up. Before long, you realize you haven’t been to the gym in two weeks. So how do you keep your endorphins flowing and your blood pumping when you’re overwhelmed by other commitments?
Here are four ways you can start fitting more exercise into your busy schedule today.
Make the most of your commute
For many people, the journey to and from work is dead time in the day where little productivity takes place. But if you live within a reasonable distance of your workplace, why not use it to squeeze in some exercise? Hop on your bike and ride to work instead. Not only will you save money otherwise spent on public transport or petrol but you’ll be fitter and healthier for it too. If you’re feeling particularly energetic, you could run instead. If you live too far away from work, you could still hop off the train or park your car a short distance away and finish the journey under your own steam.
Use your lunch break
Everyone is entitled to a lunch break but be honest, how often do you end eating your packed lunch at your desk? Instead, why not reclaim those 60 minutes and head to the nearest gym or go for a run around the block? Your lunch will still be waiting for you when you get back. Just make sure it’s something healthy with plenty of protein to rebuild those muscles after a tough workout. It might be a good idea to keep a protein powder supplement such as oxyshred on your desk for this reason.
Set yourself up for home workouts
Actually going to the gym takes a significant chunk out of your schedule. You have to make the journey, navigate the locker rooms, and often queue up for your turn on the machines. Alternatively, you could save yourself some time by setting yourself up with a home gym. That doesn’t mean spending thousands of dollars on expensive equipment. All you need is a repertoire of exercises requiring little or no equipment, and you’ll be burning off the calories in no time. And if you want to go a bit further, you could always invest in some dumbbells or resistance bands.
Stay on your feet
If you work in an office, chances are you’re sitting at your desk for long stretches at a time. It’s not a healthy way to work, and it goes against everything our bodies are made for. Keep active throughout the day by taking regular breaks to stretch and give your back a break. Take meetings standing up or go for a walk while you make important phone calls. Do whatever it takes to squeeze as much physical activity into the working day as possible.