Beep! Beep! Beep! When your alarm blares in the morning, you are booked and busy. You have work to get done, tasks to complete, and an endless to-do list. You know that working out is important for your health, but most days you just can't find the time or energy to go to the gym after a long day.

SpongeBob completing lots of chores and tasks. He says,

Does this sound like you?

If so, you may need a little help finding ways to incorporate exercise into your busy life. Now we will explore some simple and easy ways to increase your motivation to exercise!

1. Plan Ahead

A digital calendar with 9am: start work and 6pm: finish work on each day's entry.

After a busy day, it can be tough to get the motivation to exercise, especially if you have to go to the gym.

To avoid skipping your workouts, try incorporating these tips:

  • Create a schedule that includes time to work out.

  • Pack a gym bag the night before.

  • Keep a pair of sneakers in your car or office.

Quiz

You want to attend workout class every Monday morning. What are some ways you can help yourself stick to this routine?

2. Find Your "Why"

When you're busy, you want to spend your time doing something meaningful. To feel more invested in working out, consider these ideas:

  • Find an accountability partner. Having someone to keep you on track is a great way to find motivation to exercise!

  • Train for a race or event. This can be a great way to support your favorite charity or organization, too!

  • Set realistic and doable goals. Maybe you want to do 20 push-ups? Or run a 6-minute mile? Make sure your goals are challenging, yet doable!

a group of people working out outside Photo by Gabin Vallet on Unsplash

3. Incorporate Small Changes

If the thought of an hour-long workout at the gym stresses you out, try incorporating small bursts of movement throughout your day. Here are some simple ways to get more active throughout the day:

  • Choose the stairs instead of the elevator.

  • Do jumping jacks, squats, push-ups, etc., while watching TV.

  • If you drive to work, park far away from the door to get some steps in.

  • Take a quick walk in the morning or evening.

  • Incorporate stretch breaks throughout the day.

Flaticon Icon

4. Find Activities You Love

People stretching in a inside group fitness class. Photo by Anupam Mahapatra on Unsplash

Doing the same workout all the time can feel a bit boring. Try switching it up and see if that makes you more motivated to work out when you're busy. Here are some ideas:

Take Action

Flaticon Icon

Now that you have some tips for increasing your motivation to exercise on your busiest days, here are a few ideas to get going:

License:

Your feedback matters to us.

This Byte helped me better understand the topic.

#health

#physical-health

#fitness

#applying-concept