Redefine Your Idea of "Exercise"

Oftentimes the biggest obstacle to getting enough exercise is lack of time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week AND muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms). Unfortunately, many people feel they are just too busy to exercise or they find that other obligations will often elbow exercise out of the way. Even as our lives change, they will never be less full. There will always be work to do, friends and family to spend quality time with, and those unplanned challenges that life likes to throw at us. Instead of waiting around for the perfect schedule, the perfect hour of time, the perfect window of opportunity to start working out, make the time now to start moving just a little bit more every day.


Schedule it... & Stick to it!

Each weekend take a moment to plan out your exercise activities for the following week. Then, write them into your calendar. Here's the tricky part: learn to view these scheduled workouts as a top priority and don't let other events override your planned fitness breaks. If it helps, think of your workouts as important appointments with yourself.

Cobble it together

Don't throw in the towel just because you can't find a whole 30, 45 or 60 minute chunk of time to devote to exercise. Every little bit counts and the TOTAL amount of exercise that you get per week is more important. See how many fun fitness combos you can come up with. For example: A 10-minute yoga series in the morning + a 10-minute brisk walk at lunch time + 10 minutes of strength training at home at night = 30 minutes of exercise in one day!

Think creatively

Exercise doesn't have to mean running on a treadmill, lifting weights, or taking a kickboxing class at the gym. All those things are great but to make more time for exercise and to find the fun in it, expand your definition to include anything that gets your body moving and increases your heart rate. Go out dancing with friends or just boogy around your living room. Run around with your kids or nieces or nephews. Sign up for a lesson in a new activity like rock climbing, surfing or skiing. 

Have fun with it

If you find a particular workout boring, move on and find something else that you are actually happy to do. As a former dancer, I find myself groaning "I'm so over this!" after just 15 minutes on an elliptical machine or in a spin class. I know this about myself so I don't do those activities very often but a Zumba class makes me feel alive so I'll sign up for one every chance I get.

For more tips on fitting fitness into your busy, active life, check out this great May 2012 Harvard Business Review blog post by Nick Crocker, entitled: Find Exercise in Life's Margins.

And to learn more about the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, click here.


Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net / graur codrin

Oftentimes the biggest obstacle to getting enough exercise is lack of time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week AND muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms). Unfortunately, many people feel they are just too busy to exercise or they find that other obligations will often elbow exercise out of the way. Even as our lives change, they will never be less full. There will always be work to do, friends and family to spend quality time with, and those unplanned challenges that life likes to throw at us. Instead of waiting around for the perfect schedule, the perfect hour of time, the perfect window of opportunity to start working out, make the time now to start moving just a little bit more every day.


Schedule it... & Stick to it!

Each weekend take a moment to plan out your exercise activities for the following week. Then, write them into your calendar. Here's the tricky part: learn to view these scheduled workouts as a top priority and don't let other events override your planned fitness breaks. If it helps, think of your workouts as important appointments with yourself.

Cobble it together

Don't throw in the towel just because you can't find a whole 30, 45 or 60 minute chunk of time to devote to exercise. Every little bit counts and the TOTAL amount of exercise that you get per week is more important. See how many fun fitness combos you can come up with. For example: A 10-minute yoga series in the morning + a 10-minute brisk walk at lunch time + 10 minutes of strength training at home at night = 30 minutes of exercise in one day!

Think creatively

Exercise doesn't have to mean running on a treadmill, lifting weights, or taking a kickboxing class at the gym. All those things are great but to make more time for exercise and to find the fun in it, expand your definition to include anything that gets your body moving and increases your heart rate. Go out dancing with friends or just boogy around your living room. Run around with your kids or nieces or nephews. Sign up for a lesson in a new activity like rock climbing, surfing or skiing. 

Have fun with it

If you find a particular workout boring, move on and find something else that you are actually happy to do. As a former dancer, I find myself groaning "I'm so over this!" after just 15 minutes on an elliptical machine or in a spin class. I know this about myself so I don't do those activities very often but a Zumba class makes me feel alive so I'll sign up for one every chance I get.

For more tips on fitting fitness into your busy, active life, check out this great May 2012 Harvard Business Review blog post by Nick Crocker, entitled: Find Exercise in Life's Margins.

And to learn more about the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, click here.


Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net / graur codrin