How to Fit Fitness Into Your Busy Life
Work, kids, daily household responsibilities and now the Holiday season, how on earth are we suppose to keep up with our fitness routine. Working out is always on the daily to do list but somehow time goes on through the day and workout gets pushed to the bottom of the list and then they drop off the list completely.
Motivating people to workout and stay fit is a huge part of my job and through the years I have compiled a few tips and tricks to help you get your workouts in and stay fit while keeping up with your busy life.
Think out of the box:
The first and probably most important tip I can offer is to let go of your idea of what working out should look like. Leisurely walking down the street with Starbucks in one hand and a yoga mat in the other with your best friend looks fun in a hallmark movie but may not be realistic in your life. Maybe working out looks more like a 15 minute living room workout in the morning, a walk during your lunch hour and a nightly abdominal routine before bed or maybe you drop your child of at a sports practice all bundled up and ready for a jog. Get creative, think out of the box and come up with something that works for you. Make it unique to your lifestyle. Check out my Express workout idea board on Pinterest for inspiration.
Make it easy:
Make working out more likely to happen by settling yourself up for your workout. If you work from home and it is possible put workout clothes on first thing in the morning. You not only save yourself a step but you have a constant reminder to fit it in. Plus workout clothes are more stylish than ever! You can slip on a pair on nice leggings and a tank and layer it with a sweater and you are ready for anything. Set your workout space up so its ready for you to jump right into it. Lay out your mat, set your hand weights, bands or straps right out and ready to go. If you head to an office daily pack your bag the night before, even put it in your car so you are armed and ready for your lunchtime or after work workout. Set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself it is time to work out or drive to the gym. Take the thinking right out of it and trust the plan you made for yourself. You will be glad you did. By literally dressing the part you can ensure that your fitness will be front of mind and success will follow.
There is no such thing as a bad workout:
Whether you get in 15 minutes or a full hour, you moved today. Maybe you got interrupted with a phone call or a crying child but you showed up and accomplished something. Showing up for yourself and your workout is an accomplishment all on its own and should be celebrated. The more times your show up the more you will make it a routine in your life and will stay committed to your goals, your health and your selfcare routine. Unfortunately the reverse is also true. The more you blow off your workouts and do not show for yourself that becomes a habit, sending a message to yourself that you are not important enough to spend time on. So lets create good habits by showing up, making yourself and your health a priority. Try not to worry at first at the amount of time you get in, if you are late, interrupted, or have to leave early focus on the fact that that you fit it in! It doesn’t have to be pretty to count, I have often found myself at the end of my workouts realizing my shirt is on backwards or inside out or that my socks do not match but hey I did it! Try out a sample of my favorite on-demand Hit the Spot workouts, it is a great way to get in a quick workout when time is limited and you have specific areas you would like to focus in on. For more workouts like this enjoy a 2 week free trial.
Invest in some small fitness equipment:
In the spirit of setting yourself up for success investing in some small and inexpensive gym equipment can help you stay motivated to get your workout in and get a lot of bang for your buck. You do not need a fancy home gym in fact there are things you can use right around your house that can yield great results. Pieces of equipment I believe are worth investing in that cost under $10 are a set of hand weights, resistance bands, round bands and a mat. A household item you can use to enhance your workouts is a hand towel. This can be used in place of sliders you see in fitness classes. A playground ball, even the ones you see with the characters on it can be used for inner thigh work, abdominal work and even leg exercises. Finally my favorite piece is something we all have, a trusty old chair can be used for so many exercises, from barre work, to planks, to triceps dips, abdominal work and even lying outer/inner thigh. I have had a lot of fun getting creative with chair workouts in my on-demand workouts.
Motivate yourself with mantras:
Sometimes we have to be our own cheerleader. Sure it would be great if everything aligned and everyone in our life made sure we took good care of ourselves but the truth is it is up to us. No one can do it for you. No one is to blame for getting in our way either. We have to create a healthy mindset around our workouts, stay focused when things do not always go our way and pick ourselves back up when we fail and get back on track. Stay motivated by putting your completed workouts in your daily calendar or journal, and take time to feel pride in each completed workout. Write notes to yourself and place them next to your alarm clock or on your mirror. Here are a few to get you started! Create a mantra that embodies the kind of life you are working towards. Look at that mantra often and live it, again feel free to check mine out for inspiration.
Lastly and most importantly I want you to know, you got this! Today is a new day a chance to set a new intention, let go of any negative dialog holding you back and bring in a positive perspective on your health and wellness. Set a new intention and live the life you have always wanted. Take control of your thoughts, bringing positivity into your life, take action towards your goal and manifest the life you desire.
Join me in January beginning 1/3/2021 for my 30 days to Healthy Living Program incorporating Arbonne nutrition plan, health coaching and fitness. All you have to do is purchase the Arbonne essentials special value pack to be part of the program, Contact me for more information or join today.
