Every week you swear you’re going to exercise, but your busy schedule crowds out the possibility? Let go of the idea that you have to invest hours at the gym to stay fit, and try some of these tried and true tricks to stay toned.
Take advantage of lunch break opportunities. Set yourself up such that you have to eat far from where you work. Spend a good part of your lunch break walking to and from your lunch designation, making the trek as challenging as possible and inviting coworkers to join you if you must work over lunch. Promise yourself ten minutes of exercise each day. Make ten minutes of exercise–sit ups, planks, push ups, squats–a part of your bedtime routine. Promise yourself you’ll devote two mornings (or late nights) a week to exercise. Exercise will give you more energy, so it’ll actually counter the fact that you’re losing out on sleep on those two incredibly valuable days a week. Just as some people consider going to religious services as non-negotiable, treat these two days as such and carve out some precious time that cannot be touched by anyone. Make these two days your precious workout days, where you push yourself the hardest and get the most out of your fitness plan. Think of ways to make chores and errands more physically challenging. Make yourself walk as much as possible while running errands (park far away, make yourself walk fast) and turn the loading and unloading of bags into a workout by bending your knees, lifting them high, etc. Along the same lines, challenge yourself while doing chores. Take advantage of the physical challenges presented by vacuuming, scrubbing, and putting away laundry. Relax by engaging in active hobbies. Instead of watching a movie, meet a friend for a walk. Instead of surfing the web, do something outside. Exchange athletic hobbies for sedentary ones. If you look for alternatives, you’ll find it’s possible to cram exercise into even the most overflowing schedule.