Physicians and experts constantly preach the importance of exercise—and although we’re not arguing that it’s not an essential activity, we are arguing that there’s a pressing issue that must first be dealt with: time. Time is of the essence and the older we get, the less we have of it. Comparably, the older we get, the more we need exercise. So, exactly how do we mend this imbalance? Below, four tips on how to sneak in a daily workout amid the chaos of your busy schedule.
1. Make Your Commute Your Workout
Okay, so maybe don’t workout on yourway to work (no one wants to arrive sweaty), but perhaps on your way back home. If you’re house is in walking distance from your job, take advantage by jogging back in the evenings. If that’s out of the question, make little changes like using stairs instead of escalators. Biking is also a great change of pace from crowded trains and buses that steadily puts your body to work.
2. Use Work As Your Gym
Wait—what? Yes, you read right. Working out at work can be as simple as taking a long walk during your lunch break, or stretching for five minutes at your desk. In a statement to Fitness Magazine, personal trainer and CEO of Fitness First Inc., Gregory Florez, advices: “Sit on a stability ball to strengthen your core, and keep dumbbells or exercise tubing at your desk. Squeeze in 12 to 15 reps of exercises like dumbbell curls, overhead presses, and ab crunches; aim for two or three sets of each. This gives you more free time to fit in fun workouts like biking or tennis.”
3. Burn Calories While You Watch TV
Sometimes we find ourselves melting into our couch, burrowed in the many layers of fuzzy blankets as we inhale our second pint of Ben & Jerry’s—but not anymore. Take full advantage of your TV-watching sprees and clear some space between the television set and sofa. By doing this, you’ll have enough room to do push-ups, crunches, squats, and jumping jacks as you take in the new plot twists in Homeland (Carrie did what?!).
4. Multitask on the Treadmill
If you do have the time and energy to hit up a gym, use the treadmill to do more than just the treadmill. Personal trainer and author of Body Express Makeover: Trim and Sculpt Your Body in Less Than Six Weeks indicates, “Save time at the gym with this 10-minute cardio/sculpt session: Hop on a treadmill holding a three- to five-pound dumbbell in each hand, and set the speed to a brisk walk. Do a one-minute set each of shoulder presses, biceps curls, triceps extensions, side laterals, front laterals, and standing triceps kickbacks one after another as you walk. It’s an amazing upper-body challenge that also gets your heart pumping. Do this series two or three times each week. As you improve, work up to doing four-minute sets.”
