Please note that this post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
In a world where hectic commutes, long days, and a constant, persistent sense of being rushed is ordinary, staying fit and healthy may seem more like a fairytale than a reality.
For the vast majority of us, being flat-out busy all the time is normal, meaning that it often feels like we have to sacrifice our personal fitness.
Luckily though, there are a few, slight modifications you can make to change this. Even for the busiest of us, exercise is possible as long as you make it a priority and commit yourself to it.
Here are 8 easy ways to stay active if you’re always on the go, traveling, or just insanely busy.
8 Ways to Stay Active Even When You’re Insanely Busy
1. Make fitness your first priority of the day. For those insanely hectic days where you know you’re to be running short on time, try to make exercise your first priority of the day. Even if it means getting up a few minutes earlier than normal, by taking care of your fitness first thing in the morning, you’re setting the tone for a healthful, active day.
2. Schedule it like you would schedule a meeting. If mornings are already rough for you and you’d rather not work out first thing, schedule your exercise like you would schedule a meeting. Get it on your calendar, and commit yourself to it.
3. Park a little farther away. One way to make being active as routine as running an errand, even on the busiest of days, is to just park a little farther away than you normally would. This way as you head into the grocery store, into your office, or to the post office, you’re adding on just a few minutes of walking time. Think about it, if you walk 5 minutes both ways to your car and back, that’s 10 minutes. And if you’re running multiple errands or making several stops, your overall walking time quickly adds up!
4. Work yoga into your nighttime routine. Another way to stay active is to work fitness into your evening routine. This way, doing yoga in the evening will become as normal as taking a shower at night. Set aside just a few minutes every night to do a calming session of yoga. YouTube has plenty of nighttime yoga videos that are the perfect compliment to a relaxing evening routine.
5. Take the stairs. Did you know that stair climbing burns more calories than jogging? Whenever possible, skip the elevator or escalator and take the stairs. This is a great, easy way to get your heart rate up, while strengthening your bones, muscles, and joints.
6. Take advantage of whatever free time you have. On those days where even a spare five minutes is hard to find, make the most of those few minutes. Hold a plank for a minute. Do 10 push-ups. Or 20 lunges. Stay active in whatever short bursts of time you have, and remember: something is better than nothing.
7. Build accountability through workout buddies or fitness classes. Accountability can be a powerful, motivating force when you know others are relying on you to come through. Set up regular workout sessions with your friends (e.g., weekly). Walk, jog, or do weights at the gym with your friends and stick to your planned workout time with them. Or alternatively, sign up for a fitness class to meet new friends. You’ll be surprised by how much more committed you feel to your workout when others are counting on you to be there.
8. Turn your Netflix sessions into mini workouts. If you’re someone that likes to catch up on your Netflix shows in the evenings or on the weekends, multitask and work out while you watch. Do an ab workout, stretch, or even do Pilates. A 40 minute episode of Riverdale can also be a 40 minute toning session!
Drop a line