How Long?

Raise your hand if this sounds like your typical day: ‘You wake up and brush your teeth. If you have kids you get them ready for school and see them off to the bus. Or you have to drop them. You only have enough time now to get to work so no time for breakfast, you hit the road. Have to beat the traffic. If you don’t have kids you wake up just in time to brush your teeth (hopefully), get dressed and hit the road. You spend your seven, eight, or nine hours at work then head back home. 


After sitting in that traffic, you pick up the kids from daycare. If you don’t have kids you head home. Before you get home you remember you don’t have anything for dinner, so you stop by the closest fast food spot and take it to go. Nice and quick dinner. You’re exhausted after your long day so you unwind. Kick your feet up on the couch and catch up on your favorite show then head to bed. Have to get ready to do it all over again.'


Does this sound like your day or pretty close to it? It may look a little different from person to person, but I think this paints a close to accurate picture. So where in all that cluster do you fit your workout in?


“But Vandie”, you may be shouting out loud, “You just described everything I have to do, where am I going to fit a workout in!?” 


I get it and I know. You’re busy. We all are. Your workouts and your health shouldn’t have to suffer as a result of your busy life though. It’s all about what you make a priority. If your health is one of your priorities, you’ll make time to workout out. Ideally you may want to workout for 45 minutes to an hour. That may not always be possible. 


The key thing is to get something in. Your workouts don’t have to be that long. You can get a good efficient workout done in 30 minutes, or even 20 minutes. It’s all about maximizing your time in your workout. 


If you get to the gym, focus on compound movements so you’re working multiple muscles with one exercise. Take your dog for a walk (yes that counts as a workout). Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk around on your lunch break. 


There are plenty of ways you can fit a workout into your day that you might not have realized. If you’re not on a workout program right now, that’s fine. Just start by making small changes such as the ones just mentioned. You’ll see an improvement in your health and an increase in your energy. 


Oh yeah, and instead of that fast food meal, take a few minutes to put a healthy meal together. It won’t take long. Your body and mind will thank you for it. I guarantee it. 


Be Greater!