Ok so if you’re anything like me, you *hate* taking the time to exercise.
I would try doing workout routines, quickie workouts, morning workouts, hyped up, expensive videos, but they just never stuck.
It not even that I hated doing them, I would just rather be doing something else.
There’s only so many hours in a day to begin with, after all.
One of the keys I have found to still exercise without spending time on it (because we all want to be healthy and feel good, right?)
What is that? Yes, you heard right!
I exercise without spending time “exercising”
Some people would consider exercise not exercise if they like it, like sports, running (if you’re into that type of thing), or even fitness games, which I do as well. Love the game options!
Also many articles out there will talk about mowing the lawn, running errands, or vacuuming as ways to exercise… which is great and active, but isn’t fun and isn’t going to get your blood pumping in the same way exercise does.
What I am referring to in this post, is finding ways to exercise while doing regular day to day activities.
Which doesn’t just save time (like shortening it) but actually isn’t spending it on exercise itself!
I’m already doing something I need to be doing – I’m just combining exercise with it!
If you’ve ever wondered how to not spend time exercising, this trick is for you!
Examples:
- Calf raises while brushing my teeth (using the automatic timer on my Sonicare
toothbrush. Get one, your teeth will thank you!)
- Leg raises while in the kitchen cooking dinner
- Ab vacuums in the shower (don’t do anything with large body movements in the shower – you might slip and fall!)
- Free weights while I’m watching a show
- Quad raises while I’m reading
- Etc!
Everyone’s lives and daily routines are different, so find what works and fits into your daily routines!
Think of it this way – always wanted those sexy legs or shoulders?
Find a way to squeeze in four exercises per week, just two every other day, and you’ve got them!
One body part down, one less to go! Find more to get more! You got this!
Next Steps:
- Find your “idle” times of day – when you’re standing or sitting or laying down for periods of time. Even as short as 3 minutes! That’s all it takes to complete a set of exercises!
- Figure out what you can do during that time – find what’s available around you. Kitchens have counters that could be used as support, chairs can be used to straddle, and your own body weight can be used anywhere!
- If you don’t have free weights
, remember you can use household items like milk jugs (filled with water) and water bottles, and anything else you can find that is the right weight!
- Set reminders for yourself – you’ll forget, trust me! These are parts of your day you’re used to just going through the motions, so keep reminders around you or put them in your phone to go off. After a few days, they become automatic.
- Remember to switch off exercises every other day – you can’t do the same exercises every day. So switch it up!
You only need a handful exercises to complete a simple upper or lower body workout
So if you could get even one of these done during your “idle” times of day, you are halfway there to a full body workout! Without spending ANY “TIME” on it at all!
Don’t wait, start today!
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Clever! As I was reading this I realised I was slumping over my laptop so straightened my posture as another thing to ‘practice’ while not taking up any extra time. I’ll definitely think about other movements I can add to tonight’s tooth brushing. Thanks.
Ha, I am one of those that hates “exercise”. Ok, that doesn’t mean I don’t do it but I do hate the routine of it. Several years ago I got into hiking, which is great exercise but certainly not enough. I started about a year ago to do squats while on the telephone (gotta love headsets), and I have a set of small weights in both my living room and bedroom…right out in the open so I remember to use them! But I must admit that I never thought about doing something while brushing my teeth! That will certainly be added to my “routine”.
I one of those “health-freaks’!! I love exercise and passionately love running, thats my thing. But like you say we are not all like this. Love all of your ideas on how to incorporate exercise into your day, even when doing the boring daily stuff of every day life. Very inspirational for people who dislike exercise and prefer to sit on the couch instead. Keep on writing and encouraging others to keep healthy and fit, its so much needed.
This is such a great idea – so simple and none of the stressful ‘when am I going to find time for this’ thinking! I use ‘dead’ time such as waiting for the kettle to boil to stretch or do a little balancing yoga pose! Any time is a good time to get moving I say!
Great tips, Wendy. It’s so true that we can easily build exercise into our day. It’s all about changing the mindset and making it easy to do – just like you have brilliantly described. I think people tend to overcomplicate the whole exercise topic by telling themselves that they must go to the gym 3 times per week and then Thursday arrives and they haven’t gone yet so they feel like a failure and then it’s all downhill from there.
What I love about your suggestions is they are so accessible to anyone. And doing little things over time can create a foundation for doing more exercise if someone feels like it. Thanks for this reminder that exercise isn’t an all or nothing scenario. It’s easy to do if we just make it part of our day.