Creative Ways to Exercise When You’re Short on Time
We all know that time is not our friend. No matter how much of it we have, it’s still not enough. Mainly since we can’t spend the time doing only things we like. After all, if we don’t go to work, we wouldn’t be able to afford everything we like. Add to this looking after your home and raising kids; your day is packed. But wait, experts also tell you that if you want to live a long and happy life, you must inspect your diet and exercise. So, when is a human being supposed to do all of this? Well, the only solution is to get creative and make time for everything. For example, take a look at these creative ways to exercise when you’re short on time.
No. 1 House chores
One of the top creative ways to exercise when you’re short on time is doing house chores. Our hectic schedules rarely enable us to spend an hour or more at the gym. Of course, this would be optimal, so if you can make the time, don’t hesitate to do it. But for those who don’t have this option, house chores represent a great way to work out at home. Yes, you can burn lots of calories while you scrub your bathroom and kitchen and vacuum your home. And you don’t have to stop there. You can also wash the windows and the car, do some gardening, clean the pool, etc.
House chores are a great way to exercise; just take your vacuum cleaner for a spin.
No. 2 Keep moving while you wait
Have you ever noticed how much time you spend waiting? For example, you wait for your food to cook, for your kids to come to dinner, for TV commercials to finish, etc. So, why waste all that time when you can squeeze in some exercise? Just stand up and do some walking or running, jump up and down or dance a bit. Yes, you might feel exhausted after a long day at the office. But remember that exercising is good for your health.
No. 3 Wake up early
Everyone dreads waking up early. But don’t worry, you only need to wake up 5 or 10 minutes earlier to do a bit of exercise. And this morning routine doesn’t have to be extreme. You can simply do some stretching and power walking in place. Exercising like this every morning improves your mood, flexibility, and health. So, it’s worth getting out of bed a few minutes earlier.
One of the top creative ways to exercise when you’re short on time is to wake up 5 or 10 minutes earlier to stretch and power walk in place.
No. 4 Use the car only when it’s necessary
If you overslept and have to run late or your kids miss the school bus, you have no other option but to take the car. However, you should ditch the car on those regular days when you leave home on time. Instead of wasting all that time stuck in traffic on your way to work, you can do some exercise. Now, depending on how long your commute is, you can substitute the car for a bike or walk.
Substituting the car for a bike or walk is a great way to exercise.
There are many health benefits to riding a bike or walking. They both improve cardiovascular fitness, increase energy levels, can prevent heart diseases, and can help keep your weight under control. And in bad weather, just take the stairs instead of the elevator to make up for the lack of walking or bike riding. Plus, whenever you drive to work or the store, park as far as possible from the entrance to be forced to walk more.
No. 5 Use technology to your advantage
Among the many benefits of technology is that it can help you exercise. You can set alarms or notifications to remind you to get up and move a bit throughout the day. There are also many apps that help you track what you eat and how much you exercise. And this, in turn, can help you stay motivated. Furthermore, you don’t need to hire a personal trainer or go to the gym because technology has you covered. You can learn exercises from free online videos. Or you can subscribe to an online workout program. The sky’s the limit when it comes to technology.
No. 6 Split your lunch break
Of course, you shouldn’t skip lunch or eat it very fast, because this is bad for your health. However, if you have a one-hour break, you can try splitting it in two. This way, you can do a bit of exercise during the first half and eat a healthy meal during the second half. You can simply keep a pair of sneakers at the office. This way, when it’s time for your lunch break, you can change into them and start exercising. You won’t have much time, so you can just take a walk or jog in the vicinity of the building or run up and down the staircase.
No. 7 Allocate 10 minutes to a proper workout
While all these creative ways to exercise when you’re short on time are great, you’ll get better results with a proper workout. And you don’t need much, just 10 minutes per day combined with one or more of the above solutions. A 10-minute workout should include cardio, strength, and core training. And if you do the exercises without any rest between them, you’ll see the results in no time.
No. 8 Exercise in your spare time as well
Exercising doesn’t only improve your physical health but your mental health as well. For example, the addiction treatment experts at Bright Futures Treatment Center FL advise recovering addicts to exercise because it helps them stay clean. Moreover, exercising makes you feel better about yourself and lightens up your mood. Therefore, it’s good to exercise even during your spare time. And have some fun while you’re at it. Go hiking or cycling with your family or organize a soccer match with friends and family. In the end, everyone will enjoy it.
In conclusion
There’s no denying that we live hectic lives. But eating right and exercising are essential for our physical and mental health. So, we must make time for them. Use these creative ways to exercise when you’re short on time to start. And feel free to use your imagination to come up with additional ones. After a while, it will all become a habit, and you will no longer need any reminders.